12/07/2026
Message from our head coach Rick Young:
We hope you’re all enjoying your summer break. Having come to the end of another year it’s only right that we show our appreciation for the many people who help keep Annan Alligators going year after year.
The club continues to thrive and we have welcomed a number of new members this year, but, as is the nature of things, we’ve also lost a few as well.
The club would not exist were it not a large team of people, and it doesn’t stop with those you see on poolside week after week. So, in no particular order, and with the usual disclaimer that I do
apologise now if I miss anyone’s name out, you are all included.
Firstly, our thanks to the staff at Annan Swimming pool. We have a great working relationship with the pool staff and they have supported us for a great many years. This does not go un-noticed by the club and is greatly appreciated, so our thanks to everyone of them.
I would also like to thank Hardip Atwal who has been a long term supporter and sponsor of the club for many years. His support has been important for and, again is greatly appreciated.
The swimmers, and their parents, without whom there would be no point in the club. Thankyou for all your hard work, coming and enjoying your swimming, listening and encouraging the other
swimmers around you. Keep it up.
To the young ladies who work tirelessly behind the scenes keeping us organised, taking registers, monitoring changing rooms, fund raising, organising galas, sorting the coaches out and a myriad of
other activities that keep the club operating. I would also add to these the numerous volunteers who turn up to help at galas and other events. So to Karen, Rachel, Jade, Paula, Lara, Jen, Hazel,
Jackie, Jade, Lou, Iona, Josh and anyone else I have missed, a huge thankyou.
To our team of Coaches who give their time week after week and teach and inspire the swimmers to improve, thank you for your hard work in what has been another successful year for the club, so
massive thanks to Sylvia, Jodie, Margaret, Cass, Matt & Ellie. We also have our poolside helpers and senior swimmers who come on poolside and help coach our younger swimmers and, in some cases, go on to be teachers/coaches themselves, so again, huge thanks to all of you.
As I said at the start, the natural order of things is that people move on, and after more years than we care to remember we are all sad that Sylvia has decided to hang up her stopwatch and retire
from coaching at the club. Sylvia has been part of the club from it’s very early days, has taught and coached hundreds of swimmers in that time, giving them a life skill and encouraging their talent in
the pool. We’d like to thank Sylvia for being a huge part of the club and for her unerring support and contribution in keeping the club going. Time to chill, and put your feet up, Thankyou.
Everyone mentioned, and those I may have missed out, are volunteers and have been serving the club for several years. We would love to have some fresh faces, additional help both on poolside and behind the scenes. Please let anyone at the club know if you would like to get involved, or just come along and see what happens. We don’t bite, honest!
Finally, have great summer break, keep swimming and support the pool, we’ll see you in August when we’ll do it all again for another year..
Cheers!
Rick
