SWIFTS TRAINING IS NOW OPEN TO POTENTIAL NEW PLAYERS FOR ALL ITS TEAMS BUT IN PARTICULAR BOYS & GIRLS FROM CURRENT SCHOOL YEARS 7 & 8. JUST TURN UP TO THE APPROPRIATE TRAINING SESSION AS DETAILED BELOW - NO CHARGE FOR THE FIRST SESSION AND THEN £2 PER SESSION AFTER THAT.

THURSDAY JULY 2ND  - U16 & U18 GIRLS v CANADIAN NBC

U16's at 6.30pm   U18's at  8.30pm   approx

TRAINING THIS SATURDAY (July 4th)

12.00 - 2.00     Senior/U18/U16 Men

2.00 - 4.00       U16/U18 Girls & Senior Women

4.00 - 6.00       U14 Boys & Girls

INTERNATIONAL HONOURS FOR SWIFTS!!

Rebecca Brough and Francesca Whitby have gained selection for the England under 18 team to play in the European Championships in Israel in July.  There are a total of 16 countries in the tournament with Estonia, Romania and Hungary in England's initial group, with the games on 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th July.  Depending on the results, the team with go onto further qualification groups to decide the final placings. 

Rebecca has been the captain of both Swifts under 18 and senior womens teams in the past season.  She led the under 18s to second place in the South division and to the national finals at RAF Cosford.  This is her second appearance in the European Championships having been on the under 16 team in 2007.  

For Francesca, the selection is even more impressive as she is one year below the age range.  She, too, has played on Swifts under 18 and senior teams.  The current English under 16 player of the year, she has been the captain of the only two Swifts teams to have won National Championships in 2006 and 2008.

Christina Gaskin and Joe Hart have been picked for their respective England under 16 teams to play in the European Championships in the summer.  Christina goes to Estonia where the team meets Ukraine, Portugal and Holland between 30^th July and 3^rd August.  Joe goes to the Island of Madeira (which is part of Portugal).  They play Finland, Georgia, Ireland and Denmark on 6^th to 9^th August.    Depending on the results, both teams then move to play for final positions.

Christina has done remarkably well to be selected having been out of action with a serious knee injury for practically the whole season. Joe has also been selected as the England U16 Team Captain, a wonderful honour and thoroughly deserved.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOUR PLAYERS FROM ALL OF US AT SWIFTS - WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU!

ESSEX CENTRAL VENUE COMPETITION

SATURDAY JUNE 27th at Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre, Chelmsford

U14's at 3pm, U16's at 6pm - no games for the U12's.

See that week's update letter for team details

The Essex Central Venue Finals Day takes place on Saturday July 11th at Garon Park, Southend and is for the top four teams in both the U14 & U16 Leagues  -  at the moment Swifts are TOP of both leagues with the U16's undefeated - more details of the day nearer the time.

PLEASE NOTE - COACHING FOR YEARS 5 & 6 BOYS & GIRLS HAS STARTED AGAIN!!

THE COACHING TAKES PLACE ON FRIDAYS FROM 4pm - 6pm AT EASTWOOD SCHOOL - NEWCOMERS WELCOME!!  (NB. no session on Friday May 29th due to half term)

SWIFTS SUMMER TRAINING SCHEDULE - from May to August

TUESDAYS : 6-8pm U14 Boys & Girls  (Yr 8's and below)    

8-10pm U16 Boys (Yrs 9&10)  U18 Men (Yrs 11&12) & Senior Men

THURSDAYS : 6-8pm Open Session (All boys and girls - any age group)        

8-10pm U16 Girls (Yrs 9&10) U18 Women (Yrs 11&12) & Senior Women

SATURDAYS : 

12 - 2pm    U16 Boys (Yrs 9&10)  U18 Men (Yrs 11&12) & Senior Men

2 - 4pm     U16 Girls (Yrs 9&10) U18 Women (Yrs 11&12) & Senior Women

4 - 6pm      U14 Boys & Girls (Yr 8's and below)

SWIFTS PLAYERS at National Schools Inter County Finals on May 9th (Girls U14 & U15) and May 16th (Boys U14 & U15) - Nottingham Wildcats Arena:

ESSEX GIRLS WIN BOTH U14 & U15 NATIONAL INTER ASSOCIATION FINALS AGAIN!!

Congratulations to Beth Robson, Sophie Hankin, Amy Rodgers, Fay Solkhon, Shannon Matthews, Georgia Lovell,  Rona Bloomer, Gabby Freedman, Samantha Toole, Francesca Moody, Sarah Cozens who played for Essex in those finals.

ESSEX BOYS were beaten in both age groups by the eventual winners Suffolk

David Goates and George Cassidy played for the U14 & U15 Essex teams respectively.

FIVE SWIFTS GIRLS WERE SELECTED FOR THE EAST OF ENGLAND 1996 GIRLS SQUAD AFTER WINNING THE EAST REGION TOURNAMENT FOR THAT AGE GROUP AT THE WEEKEND (MAY 16th)  -  Fay Solkhon, Samantha Toole, Bethany Cooper, Kate Livermore and Abbie Jones.

Steve Pearl receives England Basketball Coach of the Year Award!!

At the England Basketball Volunteer Awards Luncheon held on Sunday (7/9) in Birmingham,

Steve was presented with the prestigious Coach of the Year Award by England Basketball.

'For the outstanding successes he had achieved with Southend Swifts this year and

in recognition of his dedication and services to basketball coaching for the past 30 years.'

I am sure you will all join me in congratulating Steve on this richly deserved award - Paul

DIRECTIONS TO EASTWOOD SCHOOL :  POSTCODE  SS9 5UU

Take A127 towards Southend, go through the Rayleigh Weir underpass

and keep going until you reach the 40mph signs (watch out for the speed cameras!),

keep going along the dual carriageway through several sets of lights until you reach the

traffic lights next to 'Essex Ford', turn left into Rayleigh Road, school is 500m on the left

Sports Hall is on the right. From Southend just turn right at the Essex Ford lights and follow as above.