Animals of 2023/2024 - Stand Up And Be Counted!
Towards the end of 2009 we decided something needed to be done to get more of Doncaster's finest contesting the big events (distance Freestyle, the Big Medley, and the dreaded 200m Butterfly). So we invented the Animal Squad to recognise those competing in the killer events. The results were extraordinary, especially for the 200m Butterfly.
We immediately doubled (or close enough) the previous year's tally and the following year almost matched it again, with an increase in numbers competing across all 4 events year upon year it proved to be a fantastic addition.
With now being the perfect time to bring the Animal Squad into the fold, what the table below shows, is that although 3 events are seeing numbers similar to the glory days, we are shying away from the big 1500m Freestyle in comparison to the oter events, with only the bravest going for the big swim! So a huge pat on the back to all those swimmers (and supportive parents) who took the challenge to heart and were brave enough to have a crack.
There have only been two opportunities so far to earn a place among the 2024/2025 Animals. The upcoming licensed time trials give you all the opportunity to add all 4 events. That will give us 40 already this season (already smashing the number of 1500m Free entries from 2023)!
Start the season as you mean to go on.
For those of you too chicken (note: chickens aren't animals!) to enter these more painful events, take note. It's an ethos we've held to proudly for many years, and one to continue in to the future.
Think of your body like a race car. Somehow we need to turn your heart (your engine) in to an enormously powerful muscle capable of pumping fuel (blood) around the body in vast quantities - a bit like a 5 litre V8 muscle car. We don't want to be left with the heart equivalent of a 1.2 litre Fiat 500 - pretty though that might be.
It turns out we can do just that. We can build your engine much bigger by focusing on the longer distance events. Training for them, and getting good at racing them. More than that, before age 14, we can jump on your natural growth spurts to accelerate that engine building even more!
Wannabe Sprinters beware!
At that age range, your body is not biologically equipped to sprint. Sure, some will be faster than others, and sprinting is fun, but that's not what we're talking about. Nothing you do at this age, will contribute to making you a fast sprinter post 16 any better than focusing on the 400m IM. You will still need the 5 litre V8 - no one sprints fast with a 1.2 litre engine!
