Coach Profiles

Photo of Mark Stowe
Mark Stowe
Head Coach

I learned to swim at age 8 and proved “a natural”, soon swimming competitively in Diddy League for Stratford-upon-Avon. I was pretty successful as a junior, winning County titles and achieving National qualifying times though I struggled a bit through my teenage years, balancing school work and training commitments.

Whilst I swam for three Counties (Warwickshire, Somerset and Wiltshire) my proudest achievements came when I was at the University of Bath where I earned a Full Blue for Swimming, and an Honorary Blue for Contribution to University Sport as the Athletic Union President. I was selected several times for British Universities and represented England students in the home nations gala against Scotland, Ireland & Wales…where incredibly I swam the 200m Butterfly, not my favourite event, I was much more of a 50/100m swimmer!

I quickly fell into coaching when I left University and enjoyed success as Head Coach at Melksham and then Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire either side of a spell at Worcester when I moved briefly to the area with work in the 1990s. I fell in love with the Club then, encouraged by the likes of Andy MacBeth and Malcolm Latta so it was natural that when I returned to Worcester in 2003, I would want to get involved, initially as a volunteer assistant coach and then in 2008, leaving my “proper” job with Lloyds TSB behind, as the Club’s first ever full time Head Coach

To my mind, we blend competitive success and a community / family oriented ethos brilliantly, and it is my absolute privilege to be Head Coach.  I have no desire to pursue a wider coaching career, I bleed Blue & Green, all I want is for each and every swimmer here to have the opportunity to achieve their potential in a long-term athlete development programme that is fun but challenging

On the back of the first class pool time and coaching resources we have in Worcester, the Club has enjoyed remarkable success in recent years, most notably the incredible medal winning performances of Paralympian Becky Redfern plus at a team level, two National Arena League Finals in 2017 and 2018, wow!

We are one of the most successful Club programmes in the West Midlands and I believe wholeheartedly that our swimmers will continue to do amazing things.  I am constantly inspired by their talent, commitment and work ethic…without doubt, I have the best “job” in the World!

Favourite stroke
To swim – Butterfly, it feels so good…until the wheels come off!?!
To coach – Breaststroke, highly technical with lots of different styles

 

Favourite training set
For endurance:

10 x 100, 1 x 125, 1 x 75
8 x 100, 1 x 125, 1 x 75
6 x 100, 1 x 125, 1 x 75
4 x 100, 1 x 125, 1 x 75
2 x 100, 1 x 125, 1 x 75
* all F/C with 100/125/75 all off the same turnaround times
* 100’s at Threshold pace, 125’s max, 75’s recovery
* total 4K

For race pace:
4×50/2×25/3×50/4×25/2×50/6×25/1×50/8×25 all best effort No.1 Stroke from a dive (£1K lactate production or aka “pip squeak”!”)

 

3 things you couldn’t do without
1. Pizza
2. Red wine
3. Nysha (not necessarily in that order though!?!)

 

If you won the lottery what would you do?
I would still coach…working with the team of athletes and coaches that I do on a day in day out basis is so rewarding…but I would take a few more holidays as I love to travel, and there is so much of this wonderful world we live on that I haven’t seen yet.

 

 

No results.

Photo of Kate Lloyd
Kate Lloyd
Junior Development Coach

I have been a member of Worcester Swimming Club since 2011 and I have been involved in swimming all my life, having grown up in a very successful swimming club in London. I love all aspects of the sport and I love to swim, still competing at masters level both in the pool and open water. I will always look for new ideas to enhance the swimmers’ experience and I am a strong believer in “enjoying the journey”.

Whilst my main role is with the junior section of the Club, I have also spent many years coaching our top athletes and continue to be involved in coaching or leading all squads. It’s particularly rewarding to be able to watch swimmers progress from the swim schools where I have worked, through to their first team competition and then onto County, Regional and National success.

I am a level 2 coach, level 2 open water coach, level 2 teacher and after many years of either coaching or observing on County, Regional and National level development camps have been selected as a skills coach by the Region for 2022/2023.

Photo of John Pridden
John Pridden
ChairmanVolunteer Sub-Committee

Swimming and water polo has been a part of my life from a very young age, whether competing, coaching or officiating it has always been there. I was at my previous club for approximately 23 years, before I arrived at Worcester SC in 2014. The attributes required to be a swimmer, build skills way past the pool and give a sense of belonging where you learn to overcome disappointment and celebrate milestones all of the way whether, diving for the first time, hitting the times on a hard set, Swimming a PB or gaining a County/Midland or national time.

The club has helped me gain a wealth of experience where I have now achieved my level 2 coaching qualification, my disability awareness certificate of officiating and I extended my knowledge of the rules by becoming a Referee.

 

In addition to our lead coaches, we are extremely fortunate to have the following qualified coaches as part of our team: Margaret Comerford, Simon Goodall, Chris Joiner and Mark O’Connor.