Holywell ASC Attends the Swim Wales North East Wales Skills Academy

What a fantastic opportunity for some of Holywell Swimming club’s up and coming starlets! Swim Wales Skills Academy session was held at Rhyl Leisure Centre on the 8th of March 2026.The event was run by Alys Thomas and Graham Wardell, Dan Jones and Harriott Jones.

Holywell Swimming Club selected 5 swimmers to attend the event. Swimmers from clubs in the region needed to be aged 11–14 (11–15 for para-swimmers) at the end of 2026 and had to show the following attributes:

Aspiration: A desire to progress and improve.
Attitude: Consistently delivering the best version of themselves.
Attendance: Regular commitment to training as agreed by their coach.

A registered 200m IM time on rankings (LC or SC).

During the day the team were involved in the following activities

Introduction to shoulder health and Pre-pool.
Technical pool focuses around Drill Progression framework for Butterfly and Freestyle.
An introduction to basic nutrition for the young developing athlete.
An opportunity to learn from elite athletes, ask questions and gain experience directly from some of our most successful Welsh swimmers.

Holywell Coach Kate Turner, who took the team to the event and helped out poolside; said that it was a great day of learning for her and the girls. The drills demonstrated by Dan and Harriott were amazing! Graham and Alys explained to the swimmers that focusing on the tiny details of the skills and getting them right was super important.

The girls had a brilliant day and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Swim Wales North East Wales Skills Academy.

#holywellasc #TeamHolywell #swimwales #swimwalesskillsacademy

About Terry Boardman

I have been coaching at Holywell ASC for nearly 19 years, beginning as a volunteer when my two sons swam for the club. After earning my Level 1 coaching qualification in 2005, I progressed to Level 2 and became head coach in 2010. In 2013, I achieved my UKCC Level 3 Senior Coaching Certificate and completed a degree in Sports and Exercise Science to deepen my understanding of the sport.

I’ve gained valuable experience from renowned coaches and programs, including Swim Wales, British Swimming’s S&C coach Barry Shillabeer, and mentoring from industry experts like James Stannard and Barry Healey. I also hold training in disability coaching and am a deaf-registered coach.

My coaching philosophy spans all levels, from entry to performance and masters swimming, focusing on skill development, inclusion, and following British Swimming’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model. My goal is to empower swimmers to achieve their aspirations through a holistic approach that combines technical skills, personal growth, and life skills.

Holywell ASC Attends the Swim Wales North East Wales Skills Academy