BURNLEY BOBCATS
Burnley Bobcats is a performance swim squad that works hard with local clubs in the area including Burnley Aquatics, Clitheroe Dolphins, Blackburn Centurions and Colne Amateur Swimming Clubs. Theyidentify talented swimmers and develop their own swimmers to achieve their potential through structured coaching in a competitive yet friendly environment. Many swimmers have gone on to distinguish themselves at National, Regional and County level. The squad has approximately 50 members, ranging in age from 8 years to 18 years, which are split into three different training groups – National, Regional and County and we have recently developed our Bob-Kitten Academy as an introduction to competitive swimming. The majority of the training sessions take place at St Peters Centre, Burnley with some sessions being held at Padiham Leisure Centre. The swimmers can choose to train six days a week both morning and evenings, as well as land training sessions, under our highly qualified Level 2 coaching team Noel Horton and assistant Craig Lord, with Lewis Fox, Strength & Conditioning Coach. The squad enters swimming galas from Levels 3 to 1 throughout the season from October to July and compete all over the UK and are shortly to experience their first competition abroad in Northern Ireland. We have swimmers who represent the Lancashire County Team and the North Lancs Team; two Senior swimmers who have been selected to undertake the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence; five squad swimmers who qualified for the National Short Course Championships at Sheffield; two disability swimmers who have just competed in the National Para-Swimming Championships at Manchester and a number of swimmers who swim for their school at the English Schools Swimming Competition; and finally a number of swimmers who compete as athletes in Biathlon and Modern Pentathlon events. Bobcats Swim Squad are a non-profit making club run by volunteers. All fees and sponsorship money are re-invested in to the club to pay for coaching costs, pool provision, equipment and to ensure sustainability.
Harry Pilkington (15 yrs)
A Year 10 pupil at St Christophers High School, Accrington who lives in Padiham with his parents and younger brother, learnt to swim with Burnley Aquatics and has been swimming as a Bobcat since the age of 8 years old. He has been achieving National qualifying times from the age of 12 and was selected as part of the Lancashire County team last year and has represented his school in the English Schools competition at the Olympic pool in London. A typical day for Harry will start by climbing out of bed at 4 am to be on pool side for 5 am for the first two hour training session of the day until 7am. He grabs a quick breakfast, usually en route to school and then after school finishes it’s down to the pool again for another two hour training session from 5.30 to 7.30pm, then a 45 minute land training session to finish the day off. Finally he’s home around 9 pm to his family, homework and a little chill out time before starting the whole routine again the next day. Three members of the squad were lucky enough to meet one of their swimming idols, European Champion, Commonwealth Gold and World Silver medallist Fran Halsall whilst competing at the Manchester International Meet in October. burnleybobcats.org.uk
Harry has been achieving National qualifying times from the age of 12 and was selected as part of the Lancashire County team last year and has represented his school in the English Schools competition at the Olympic pool in London.
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