Step Rock ASC

It was the last training session of the season for the OW squad this evening.

With only one event left in the calendar, North District Open Water Champs, which takes place next weekend, we can reflect very positively on yet another fantastic year in the Open Water.

With new recruits, big personal challenges as well as medals galore and Swim England qualifications, it’s safe to say that every single swimmer has enjoyed significant progress over the season. Well done to you all.

At this point it’s also worth celebrating the huge contribution of the support team that make our OW training and events happen:
Thank you to Helen, Kirsten, Gayle, Jamie, Jane, Katie, Kieron, Peter, Ronan, Stuart and Sally for supporting our training each week as well as Steph, Maria, Nicola, Kath, Laura, Louise, Eoghan, Beth, Jonathan, and Anne for supporting the events as officials and time keepers.

It’s that bittersweet time of year when the senior squad starts to say farewell to some of our squad members as they head off on their exciting new life adventures.

Last night was Euan’s last session with us before he heads to Spain for a year to study in Bilbao.

Euan has been a hugely valued member of the senior squad since he joined us back in 2023. An excellent role model who fully applies himself to his swimming, he also adopts a respectful, calm approach to his peers, the coaching team and the club in general, making him a positive addition to any session

Whilst training with University of Aberdeen during term time, he has remained committed to Step Rock, training with the club over the holidays and representing the club at a number of National events, providing an important boost to more than one of our relay teams.

Euan’s one flaw is that, as his own harshest critic, he sometimes forgets to reflect on his amazing achievements. As he goes into this next chapter, we hope he takes the time to recognise all that he has achieved and we look forward to hearing all about his future successes.

Thank you Euan and good luck in Spain. Bilbao is lucky to have you!

Well done to Anna B, Mhairi and Oscar who all raced at the Go Swim event in Loch Tay yesterday

In changeable conditions all three swam really well, with Oscar winning the 5km, Mhairi finishing top 10 (3rd female) in the 10km and Anna swimming brilliantly to complete her very first 10km.

Anna, last year’s worthy recipient of the Step Rock Golden Bobble, is such a fantastic example of personal challenge. Only starting her Open Water journey in 2025, she’s gone from the 250m novice event at EDOWS ‘25 to a 10km swimmer in only 14 months!!

Well done to all three

We are delighted to introduce our new Club Captains, Max and Mhairi

Both are committed members of our Senior and Open Water squads, as well as volunteers, and in Mhairi’s case, part of our coaching team as a qualified swim teacher

We know they’ll both be fantastic in their new role and look forward to seeing them lead the swimmers over the next year.

Thanks go to our outgoing Club Captains, Anna and Oscar, who officially handed over the reins to Max and Mhairi this weekend at WDOWS.

Well done all!

A fantastic day today at the West District Open Water Championships at Loch Venachar with 20 Step Rockers in action.

With so many different meets in the Open Water season swimmers gets the chance to challenge themselves in different ways whether it’s their longest ever swim, a podium challenge or putting into practice key skills. Today didn’t disappoint with amazing efforts from the whole squad.

The 4km saw medals for Eva, Isla and Max who all took silver in their respective age groups. It also provided an opportunity for Anna B, Eddie and Eva to take on their longest ever swims. Freya smashed her swim with a fantastic 4th place in her first race since returning from injury and for Ella, it was a fantastic effort in her longest swim for over a year.

In the 1km, Finch and Alex dominated the male race finishing first and second respectively, with Anna H taking the gold in the female race. Ellen topped off the medals with a silver in the 11-12 age group. A great race from Hannah saw her just miss out on the medals in 4th place. The 1km also provided Ingrid and Siena with their longest ever swims, both looking fantastic and putting into practice all their OW skills.

The 2km provided more medal opportunities with Isla, Sam and Oscar finishing within touching distance of each other and claiming gold (Isla and Sam) and silver (Oscar). Maia and Mhairi, who so far this season have challenged themselves with distance swims, switched up their race plans to take on the shorter sprint distance, both adapting and racing really well. Murray also showcased his skills, sighting brilliantly and looking really strong in only his second ever 2km.

The final event of the day saw all 20 swimmers take part in the relay event with first ever relay swims for Ellen, Ingrid and Siena and a fantastic silver medal for the A team of Sam, Finch, Anna and Isla

Well done to all the swimmers. Each of you should be really proud of your individual and team achievements

Thank you to SASA West District for a fantastic day!!

Good luck to the 22 Step Rock swimmers who are heading to Loch Venachar for the West District Open Water Championships tomorrow

Taking on individual distances of 1km to 4km, our swimmers will also (hopefully) finally get the chance to take on the now infamous Open Water Medley Relay. The event has unfortunately been cancelled for the last two years so we are still waiting to see what a 200m backstroke or butterfly leg looks like in the open water!!

Good luck all (and let’s all keep everything crossed for good weather!)

A huge well done to Max who smashed his race today at the Swim England Open Water Age Group Champs

Max has had a fantastic season in the open water so far, earning himself medals at District and National level.

He’s arguably one of our most skilled OW swimmers with fantastic pacing, great sighting and the ability to use those around him in a race, and today’s race didn’t disappoint.

An excellent 5km race with exemplary pacing, holding his own against the best in the country.

Congratulations Max. Fantastic job!!

Well done to Eddie, Elodie, Max and Murray who have all qualified for the Swim England Open Water Age Group Championships

The event sees the top three regional qualifiers in each group racing against the best from around Britain with the Step Rock swimmers qualifying based on their performances at SNOWS

Congratulations to all

Another very positive day for the Step Rock team to round off this year’s Summer Meet, which will be the last for both Sam and Finch as they have reached the top of the 17/18 age group.

Great swimming from all four of our swimmers, with each of them earning themselves a final or reserve final place

An awesome 6th place finish for Elodie in the 200 fly; two PB’s from three swims from Oscar, with a reserve final in the 100bk; a fantastic 100 fly from Finch matching his new PB which he set two weeks ago at the Open; a new PB in the 100m brst for Sam, and a great 50 brst final finishing 9th place.

Well done to you all on what has been a tough but rewarding three days.

The end of the Summer Meet also concludes what has been a very busy time with three National events over three consecutive weeks. Well done to all involved for keeping the stamina going with a shout out to Finch who has competed across eight days of the Open, SNOWs and the Summer Meet, all in the last 17 days!

Rest up and recover all of you….4 weeks until we’re back for more fun at WDOWS!

Great day for the Step Rockers on day one

PB’s for Sam in the 100brst and Oscar in the 50 bk earning them reserve final spots

Elodie went one better and qualified in 7th for her 200 fly final which she then smashed taking 2 seconds of her heat time and finishing up 6th overall

Well done to all four and here’s to more great racing tomorrow