Durham University Swimming Club (or DUSC) is the swimming club of Durham University. The club is made up of a wide selection of swimmers throughout the university from the various colleges, though is mainly aimed towards swimmers competing for the University. They compete every year in the British Universities and Colleges Sport Championships (or BUCS)[1] in both the Short Course and Long Course championships, both held at the international swimming poolPonds Forge, Sheffield in November and February respectively.
The club also competes in the BUCS team championships,[2] where the 1st team compete in the Northern Division 1 and the 2nd team in Northern Division 2, having both winning promotion from Northern Division 2 and 3 respectively in the 2012/13 season.
Club information
DUSC is associated with Team Durham,[3] and receives funding as well as help in other areas from this organisation. DUSC does not have access to a university owned pool, and instead train predominantly at the Durham County Council owned Freeman's Quay, which opened in 2008, as well as weekly sessions at Durham School. They also have access to gym facilities at the Graham Sports Centre at Maiden Castle. DUSC were able to finance the services of part-time coaches; as of the 2014-2015 season, Durham student (2012-2015) Chris Dove (also a coach at local club Derwentside ASC) coaches the university squad several mornings each week. The club's gym sessions are also monitored by employees of Team Durham.
The BUCS championships at Sheffield twice a year are the most significant event of the club's competitive calendar.
The Inter-Collegiate swimming competition, hosted at Durham School on two separate nights (one for Hill colleges, the other for Durham colleges on the Bailey), is also a regular annual event with the winners receiving the Inter-College Cup.
History
The club traces its origins back to the formation of the university in 1832. Gary Hollywood was the Swimming Club's first professional swimming coach from 2001 to 2005, having coached Caroline Saxby to two Commonwealth Games finals in 2002. Under Gary Hollywood's coaching DUSC had its most successful season finishing in 8th place overall at BUSA National Swimming Championships in 2004.
Notable alumni
Name
College
Notes
Caroline Saxby coached by Gary Hollywood from 1998 to 2005
competed for England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where she reached the final in the Women's 800m & 400m Freestyle, coming 6th and 7th respectively
three-times British Champion in the 50m,100m & 200m Butterfly
Alex Smith
British Champion in the 200m Backstroke
Results
BUCS results
Season
Championship
Top 12 finishes
Top 12 swimmers
2008-09
Short Course '08
6
Louise Griffiths (x3), James Benson (x2), Julie Wardlow
Long Course '09
18
Tom Bill (x3), Louise Griffiths (x3), Julie Wardlow (x3), James Benson (x2), Vikki Frith (x2), Men's Relay (x2), Graham Bruce, Lucie Edmunds, Marc Hansen
2009-10
Short Course '09
8
James Benson (x2), Vikki Frith (x2), Men's Relay (x2), Tom Bill, Annie Knapman
Long Course '10
14
James Benson (x3), Tom Bill (x3), Graham Bruce (x2), Vikki Frith (x2), Men's Relay (x2), Vicky Bradshaw, Julie Wardlow
2010-11
Short Course '10
11
Annie Knapman (x3), James Benson (x2), Men's Relay (x2), Vicky Bradshaw, Becky Green, Charlotte Lilley, Emma Schofield
2011-12
Short Course '11
9
Becky Green, Charlotte Lilley, Emma Schofield, Vicky Bradshaw, Annie Knapman (x3), James Benson (x2)
2012-13
Short Course '12
4
Vicky Turner (x2), Chris Dove, Jenny Fowler
Long Course '13
2
Vicky Turner, Jenny Fowler
2013-14
Short Course '13
4
Leah Altoft (x3), Luke Belton
Long Course '14
6
Vicky Turner, Leah Altoft (x3, including 100m Butterfly Bronze Medal), Tom Stuart, Luke Belton
2014-15
Short Course '14
4
Alastair Bingham, Luke Belton, Leah Altoft (x2)
Long Course '15
1
Leah Altoft
Team Championships results
Season
Team
Division
Northern Division points
Northern Division placing
National Division points
National Division placing
2008-09
Durham
1
96
6th (Relegated)
DNQ
DNQ
2009-10
Durham A
2
250
2nd (Qualified)
176
4th (1st North - Promoted)
Durham B
3
232
5th (Qualified)
152
5th (3rd North - Promoted)
2010-11
Durham A
Banned
DQ
DQ
DQ
DQ
Durham B
Banned
DQ
DQ
DQ
DQ
2012-13
Durham A
2
216.5
4th (Qualified)
94
6th (1st North - Promoted)
Durham B
3
414
2nd (Qualified)
158
4th
2014-15
Durham A
2
276
4th (Qualified)
121
8th (Promoted)
Durham B
2
146
10th
DNQ
DNQ
Inter-College Championships
Colleges compete annually for the Inter-College Championships, with the winning College receiving the Inter-College Cup.
The inter-college championships has not been continued in recent years.
