Mansfield Nova Swim Squad celebrate 30 year milestone

All swim squad members and representatives celebrate 30 year milestone
The Mansfield Swim Squad is celebrating 30 years

Paralympic swimming champions Ollie Hynd MBE and Charlotte Henshaw MBE toasted to the next generation of swimmers, as celebrations got underway to mark the swim squad’s 30th birthday.

Mansfield District Council’s Elected Mayor, leisure portfolio holders past and present, along with Serco representatives attended the bash at Water Meadows Swimming and Fitness Complex with cake and bubbles to mark the milestone.

The event was an opportunity for all squad members to share their success stories from the last three decades and to look to the future of what can be achieved in Mansfield by the next generation.

The evening began with a welcome speech by the Mayor and a photo call followed by swimmers taking the plunge into the pool alongside the Mayor for a relay race. 

Mayor Andy Abrahams said the evening was a brilliant opportunity to celebrate local success.

He said: “It has been fantastic to hear first-hand how far the squad has come in the last 30 years. Mansfield is firmly on the map thanks to the hard work of the team members and staff who put in the hours to help our young people achieve their full potential.

“Keeping active and leading a healthy lifestyle becomes second nature when you are part of a team such as this, and I would encourage our young people to take the plunge and try swimming to see what possibilities are out there.”

The swim squad has been run and financially supported by Mansfield District Council since 1992. The council secured its long-term future in August by approving the decision to transition the day-to-day operations of the squad to Nottinghamshire ASA County Swim Squad/Nova Centurion SC. The changeover will be in place from 1 January 2023.

Glenn Smith, swimming development coach for Mansfield District Council coached double Olympic medallist Rebecca Adlington OBE in her early development sessions as well as Paralympic Swimmers Ollie Hynd MBE, Charlotte Henshaw MBE and Sam Hynd, and is retiring at the end of the year.

He took the opportunity to look back on the squad’s successes in the last three decades.

He said: “Looking back it is hard to believe we have had 30 years of the Mansfield Swim Squad, it has whizzed by in the best way possible.

“I am happy to have played my part in bringing success to the district with so many achievements from coaching swimmers to 10 Paralympic Games medals, including four gold, to producing swimmers to make Senior British Championship Finals.

“Winning several personal accolades over the years and being given Freedom of the District has been a highlight for me too. I look forward to seeing what the next 30 years of the squad brings now they are in the best hands with Nova and will enjoy watching their continued success from the side-lines.”

Over the last 30 years, the swim squad has not only produced Olympian and Paralympian champion swimmers but has also seen successes with the likes of Callum Lawson - Paralympic Games reserve finalist in Athens, 2004 and Silver medallist at the IPC World Championships, in Durban 2006.

Charlotte Henshaw MBE, Mayor Andy Abrahams and Glenn Smith pose with 30th balloons

Charlotte Henshaw MBE, Mayor Andy Abrahams and Glenn Smith

Charlotte Henshaw MBE attended the event to celebrate the milestone having being a member of the squad since the age of 12, and said: "I'm immensely proud of what the club and squad have given me and I had an amazing swimming career. It instilled a work ethic that I don't think I would have got anywhere else and it has put me in a really good stead for moving on to my canoeing career where I went on to win Paralympic Gold in Tokyo. 

"I am so proud we are 30 years old and happy to have played a small part in the Nova Swim Squad's history."

Serco Leisure and its operating partner More Leisure manage the Water Meadows, Oak Tree and Rebecca Adlington centres on behalf of the council, following the award of a new 10-year contract in May of this year.

Darren Kissane, Facility Manager at Water Meadows added: “We have been pleased to give the Mansfield swim squad its home for the last decade, and to see them during that time go from strength-to-strength. 

“It is a milestone moment to reach 30 years, and to have been a part of so many successes during that time is special to us. We look forward to continuing with our support for the squad over the years ahead.”

Published: October 6th 2022