Choosing swimming as a sport in my first term at Oundle, I imagined lengthy training sessions spent in the monumental 50m pool, fit for Olympians. The lingering smell of chlorine and endless counting of lengths came to mind, as I attempted to picture myself continuing what started out as a hobby, in a new school, with a new team.
What I never could have envisioned was helping to plan a 24-hour swim, being coached by Andy, (an ex-soldier who enjoys expressing himself in Shakespearian English), and above all fostering such valuable friendships with my teammates.
Although swimming fixtures may not entice as many spectators or animate as big a buzz as rugby or hockey, team spirit is a central quality in our proud team.
Each year, eight to ten swimmers are selected to represent the School over two days of competition in both individual and team events in London. For this year’s weekend of swimming, we were fortunate enough to be re-joined by Mrs Julie Clipstone, our former head of swimming who had begun her retirement the previous summer. It was a delightful surprise for our whole team, on whom Julie had such a profound impact with her lively spirit and her commitment to Oundle swimming over her extensive career at the School.
The weekend begins with the annual Whitgift Invitational Gala. The team takes this fixture as an opportunity to prepare for a more drawn-out (and arguably more exciting) day of swimming ahead. Racing suits make an appearance after spending an extend period of time in sports bags and cupboards, while we cheer each other on to make Personal Bests of a mere split second.
The traditional visit to the flamingos in the Whitgift water garden puts an end to the evening, as our minibus sets off for Stratford with blaring victory music, celebrating the Boys’ squad taking the Invitation Swimming Trophy in both 2023 and 2024.
The doors of Pizza Express welcome our team upon arrival in London, as we are treated to a fulfilling dinner along with lively chat and laughter. Despite a day of intense swimming and what feels like endless travelling, spirits remain high as excitement for the Bath and Otter Cup exceeds all fatigue.
As we arrive at the London Aquatic Centre, the Oundle Team is met with possibly the only swimming pool in the country held in higher esteem than our own. Representative students of over seventy schools across the UK sit in their own sections on the grandstands, as we attempt to size up the competition before racing.
Reality sets in as we find ourselves standing on the same diving blocks as Olympians do, with professional high-divers springing and twisting in the air, as they splash into a smaller pool to our left.
We warm-up alongside hundreds of others, performing our relay-takeovers so diligently practised, and get a feeling for the depth of the extraordinary pool. When the moment comes for us swim our leg of the relay, each Oundelian undeniably performs to the best of their ability.
This was echoed in our results, with the girls’ squad placing eleventh and twelfth in our relays, and the boys making the finals and placing an impressive seventh in both the Medley and Freestyle Relays.
Not only do we return to Oundle with pride and spirit, but even more motivation to outperform ourselves in upcoming competitions.
The Oundle Swimming Squad is always on the search for new swimmers and ready to welcome specialists of any stroke. Do not hesitate to escape the frosty outdoor Lent term sports and maintain your fitness in the water instead; you may then be lucky enough to witness one of Andy’s famous speeches in-person! However, for those who evade the mere thought of ‘plunging into the aquatic haven’, I will leave you with a snippet of last year’s motivational Christmas Speech:
‘May the other teams know us, and tremble in fear when they hear the coming sound of the Oundelian onslaught. Fair thee well this great Christmas, to alms, to alms, and victory home once more!’
