Durham University Swimming Club

Durham University Swimming Club (or DUSC) is the swimming club of Durham University. The club is made up of a wide selection of swimmers throughout the university from the various colleges, though is mainly aimed towards swimmers competing for the University. They compete every year in the British Universities and Colleges Sport Championships (or BUCS)[1] in both the Short Course and Long Course championships, both held at the international swimming pool Ponds Forge, Sheffield in November and February respectively.

Durham University Swimming Club
Founded1832 (1832)
UniversityDurham University
ConferenceBUCS
LocationDurham, County Durham
Home poolFreeman's Quay
Durham School
NicknameDUSC
ColorsPalatinate and white
   

The club also competes in the BUCS team championships,[2] where the 1st team compete in the Northern Division 1 and the 2nd team in Northern Division 2, having both winning promotion from Northern Division 2 and 3 respectively in the 2012/13 season.

Club information

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DUSC is associated with Team Durham,[3] and receives funding as well as help in other areas from this organisation. DUSC does not have access to a university owned pool, and instead train predominantly at the Durham County Council owned Freeman's Quay, which opened in 2008, as well as weekly sessions at Durham School. They also have access to gym facilities at the Graham Sports Centre at Maiden Castle. DUSC were able to finance the services of part-time coaches; as of the 2014-2015 season, Durham student (2012-2015) Chris Dove (also a coach at local club Derwentside ASC) coaches the university squad several mornings each week. The club's gym sessions are also monitored by employees of Team Durham.

The BUCS championships at Sheffield twice a year are the most significant event of the club's competitive calendar.

The Inter-Collegiate swimming competition, hosted at Durham School on two separate nights (one for Hill colleges, the other for Durham colleges on the Bailey), is also a regular annual event with the winners receiving the Inter-College Cup.

History

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The club traces its origins back to the formation of the university in 1832. Gary Hollywood was the Swimming Club's first professional swimming coach from 2001 to 2005, having coached Caroline Saxby to two Commonwealth Games finals in 2002. Under Gary Hollywood's coaching DUSC had its most successful season finishing in 8th place overall at BUSA National Swimming Championships in 2004.

Notable alumni

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Name College Notes
Caroline Saxby coached by Gary Hollywood from 1998 to 2005 competed for England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where she reached the final in the Women's 800m & 400m Freestyle, coming 6th and 7th respectively
Adam Jackson competed for the Isle of Man in the 50m & 100m Breaststroke at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne
Matt Gunby former U23 European Duathlon Silver Medalist, member of the British Triathlon team
Nick Zissler represented Great Britain in Modern Pentathlon
James Benson three-times British Champion in the 50m,100m & 200m Butterfly
Alex Smith British Champion in the 200m Backstroke

Results

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BUCS results

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Season Championship Top 12 finishes Top 12 swimmers
2008-09 Short Course '08
6
Louise Griffiths (x3), James Benson (x2), Julie Wardlow
Long Course '09
18
Tom Bill (x3), Louise Griffiths (x3), Julie Wardlow (x3), James Benson (x2), Vikki Frith (x2), Men's Relay (x2), Graham Bruce, Lucie Edmunds, Marc Hansen
2009-10 Short Course '09
8
James Benson (x2), Vikki Frith (x2), Men's Relay (x2), Tom Bill, Annie Knapman
Long Course '10
14
James Benson (x3), Tom Bill (x3), Graham Bruce (x2), Vikki Frith (x2), Men's Relay (x2), Vicky Bradshaw, Julie Wardlow
2010-11 Short Course '10
11
Annie Knapman (x3), James Benson (x2), Men's Relay (x2), Vicky Bradshaw, Becky Green, Charlotte Lilley, Emma Schofield
2011-12 Short Course '11
9
Becky Green, Charlotte Lilley, Emma Schofield, Vicky Bradshaw, Annie Knapman (x3), James Benson (x2)
2012-13 Short Course '12
4
Vicky Turner (x2), Chris Dove, Jenny Fowler
Long Course '13
2
Vicky Turner, Jenny Fowler
2013-14 Short Course '13
4
Leah Altoft (x3), Luke Belton
Long Course '14
6
Vicky Turner, Leah Altoft (x3, including 100m Butterfly Bronze Medal), Tom Stuart, Luke Belton
2014-15 Short Course '14
4
Alastair Bingham, Luke Belton, Leah Altoft (x2)
Long Course '15
1
Leah Altoft

Team Championships results

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Season Team Division Northern Division points Northern Division placing National Division points National Division placing
2008-09 Durham
1
96
6th (Relegated)
DNQ
DNQ
2009-10 Durham A
2
250
2nd (Qualified)
176
4th (1st North - Promoted)
Durham B
3
232
5th (Qualified)
152
5th (3rd North - Promoted)
2010-11 Durham A
Banned
DQ
DQ
DQ
DQ
Durham B
Banned
DQ
DQ
DQ
DQ
2012-13 Durham A
2
216.5
4th (Qualified)
94
6th (1st North - Promoted)
Durham B
3
414
2nd (Qualified)
158
4th
2014-15 Durham A
2
276
4th (Qualified)
121
8th (Promoted)
Durham B
2
146
10th
DNQ
DNQ

Inter-College Championships

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Colleges compete annually for the Inter-College Championships, with the winning College receiving the Inter-College Cup.

The inter-college championships has not been continued in recent years.

Year Winners Runners up Top Bailey college Top Hill college
2010   Trevelyan   George Stephenson   University   Trevelyan

Records

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Men (Short Course)

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Event Name Time College Date Location
50m Butterfly James Benson 26.01   University 15/11/09 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Butterfly James Benson 56.86   University 14/11/09 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Butterfly Chris Dove 2.03.88   Collingwood 03/11/12 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Backstroke Tom Bill 26.99   Collingwood 13/03/10 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Backstroke Andrew Norman 58.78   Collingwood 15/11/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Backstroke Alastair Bingham 2.06.68   St Chad's 15/11/14 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Breaststroke Luke Belton 29.45   Josephine Butler College 07/12/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Breaststroke Luke Belton 1.04.76   Josephine Butler College 08/12/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Breaststroke Luke Belton 2.20.32   Josephine Butler College 07/12/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Freestyle Alex Reay 23.93 St Cuthbert's Society, Durham 12/11/16 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Freestyle Oliver Harris 52.94   Collingwood 13/11/11 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Freestyle James Benson 1.55.87   University 06/12/09 University of Nottingham
400m Freestyle Chris Pratt 4.23.37   St Aidan's 05/12/04 Wear Valley
800m Freestyle Adam Lewis 9.20.20   Hild Bede 13/11/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
1500m Freestyle Adam Lewis 17.35.90   Hild Bede 13/11/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Individual Medley Tom Bill 59.48   Collingwood 13/03/10 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Individual Medley Graham Bruce 2.14.25   Van Mildert 15/11/09 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
400m Individual Medley Alastair Bingham 4.49.16   St Chad's 14/11/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
4x50m Medley Relay Alastair Bingham, Luke Belton, Alex Reay, Aaron Waterhouse 1.46.86   Durham University 16/11/14 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
4x50m Freestyle Relay Tom Bill, James Norman, James Benson, Alex Smith 1.35.13   Durham University 13/11/10 Ponds Forge, Sheffield

Women (Short Course)

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Event Name Time College Date Location
50m Butterfly Leah Altoft 29.25   St Aidan's 15/11/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Butterfly Leah Altoft 1.03.35   St Aidan's 07/12/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Butterfly Grace Fletcher 2.41.19   John Snow 08/12/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Backstroke Vicky Turner 30.66   St Chad's 02/11/12 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Backstroke Leah Altoft 1.03.04   St Aidan's 08/12/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Backstroke Leah Altoft 2.20.73   St Aidan's 15/11/14 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Breaststroke Danielle Gilbert 33.59 St Cuthbert's Society, Durham 12/11/16 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Breaststroke Leah Altoft 1.12.95   St Aidan's 08/12/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Breaststroke Danielle Gilbert 2.34.89 St Cuthbert's Society, Durham 12/11/16 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Freestyle Emily Jones 26.92   St Mary's College 14/11/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Freestyle Laura Welford 59.80 Unknown 09/10/04 Groningen, Netherlands
200m Freestyle Leah Altoft 02.10.54   St Aidan's 24/11/13 The Edge Leisure Centre, University of Leeds
400m Freestyle Caroline Saxby 4.23.04   George Stephenson 06/12/03 Wear Valley
800m Freestyle Becky Green 10.09.00   St Aidan's 12/11/10 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
1500m Freestyle Emma Schofield 19.10.77   Hild Bede 12/11/10 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Individual Medley Annie Knapman 1.08.97   St Aidan's 13/03/10 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Individual Medley Jenny Fowler 2.27.41   Trevelyan 03/11/12 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
400m Individual Medley Jenny Fowler 5.09.87   Trevelyan 03/11/12 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
4x50m Medley Relay Vicky Turner, Leah Altoft, Ruth Ewing, Jenny Fowler 2.03.43   Durham University 16/11/14 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
4x50m Freestyle Relay Leah Altoft, Megan Hipkiss, Jenny Fowler, Vicky Turner 1.52.62   Durham University 14/11/14 Ponds Forge, Sheffield

Men (Long Course)

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Event Name Time College Date Location
50m Butterfly Jono Dixon 26.45   Collingwood 25/02/17 Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Sunderland
100m Butterfly James Benson 58.36   University 21/02/10 Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Sunderland
200m Butterfly James Benson 2.10.30   University 20/02/10 Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Sunderland
50m Backstroke Tom Bill 28.62   Collingwood 14/02/09 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Backstroke Tom Bill 1.01.73   Collingwood 15/02/09 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Backstroke Alastair Bingham 2.15.88   St Chad's 23/02/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Breaststroke Luke Belton 29.96   Josephine Butler College 01/03/15 Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Sunderland
100m Breaststroke Luke Belton 1.07.47   Josephine Butler College 22/02/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Breaststroke Luke Belton 2.32.05   Josephine Butler College 22/02/14 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Freestyle James Norman 24.91   St Mary's 23/02/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Freestyle Oliver Harris 53.96   Collingwood 12/02/12 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Freestyle James Benson 2.00.19   University 06/12/09 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
400m Freestyle Luke Belton 4.24.48   Josephine Butler College 22/02/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
800m Freestyle James Benson 9.08.58   University 21/02/09 Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Sunderland
1500m Freestyle James Benson 17.13.31   University 21/02/09 Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Sunderland
200m Individual Medley Luke Belton 2.15.77   Josephine Butler College 28/02/15 Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Sunderland
400m Individual Medley Alastair Bingham 4.59.14   St Chad's 07/02/16 Sunderland Aquatic Centre
4x100m Medley Relay Tom Bill, Graham Bruce, James Benson, Marc Hansen 4.04.88   Durham University 14/02/09 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
4x100m Freestyle Relay Tom Bill, Graham Bruce, James Benson, Marc Hansen 3.38.36   Durham University 13/02/09 Ponds Forge, Sheffield

Women (Long Course)

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Event Name Time College Date Location
50m Butterfly Leah Altoft 29.05   St Aidan's 22/02/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Butterfly Leah Altoft 1.03.49   St Aidan's 22/02/14 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Butterfly Jenny Fowler 2.37.92   Trevelyan 24/02/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Backstroke Vicky Turner 31.96   St Chad's 23/02/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Backstroke Leah Altoft 1.07.16   St Aidan's 23/02/14 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Backstroke Caroline Saxby 2.25.42   George Stephenson 21/02/04 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Breaststroke Vicki Beaney 34.75   University 11/02/06 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Breaststroke Vicki Beaney 1.15.69   University 12/02/06 Stechford, Birmingham
200m Breaststroke Vicki Beaney 2.41.14   University 11/02/06 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
50m Freestyle Laura Welford 27.58 Unknown 19/02/05 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
100m Freestyle Laura Welford 1.00.13 Unknown 20/02/05 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Freestyle Caroline Saxby 2.07.27   George Stephenson 15/02/03 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
400m Freestyle Caroline Saxby 4.20.66   George Stephenson 15/02/03 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
800m Freestyle Caroline Saxby 8.55.00   George Stephenson 15/02/03 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
1500m Freestyle Vicky Bradshaw 20.57.94   University 12/02/10 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
200m Individual Medley Leah Altoft 2.26.31   St Aidan's 23/02/14 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
400m Individual Medley Jenny Fowler 5.26.61   Trevelyan 23/02/13 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
4x100m Medley Relay Laura Welford, Vicki Beaney, Becky Lister, Jo Sherwood 4.48.93   Durham University 19/02/05 Ponds Forge, Sheffield
4x100m Freestyle Relay Amy Williams, Megan Hipkiss, Jenny Fowler, Leah Altoft 4.10.63   Durham University 20/02/15 Ponds Forge, Sheffield

References

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  1. ^ "BUCS-Championships (25m & 50m)".
  2. ^ "BUCS - Team Championships".
  3. ^ "TeamDurham.com - University Sports".
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