Torfaen Dolphins
Head Coach
Gareth
McNarry
Head Coach Profile
Gareth Mc Narry was a competitive swimmer for 15 years,
competing at both national and international events for Ulster and
Ireland. After graduating from UWIC in 2002 he retired from
competitive swimming but stayed involved in the sport through
masters swimming and water polo. Gareth started his coaching career
by coaching the UWIC Swim Team while undertaking his Masters
degree. In 2005 he had the opportunity to work alongside Dave
Haller at the City of Cardiff Swimming Club, coaching athletes of
various abilities from club swimmer to Commonwealth and Olympic
medallists. This period of time proved invaluable in shaping his
direction and philosophies as a coach, especially how to manage
different athletes at various stages of their development.
Since 2007 Gareth has been the head coach of Torfaen County
Swimming, leading the club to great successes. He is also involved
with the Welsh coaching staff, attending several camps and
competitions at home and abroad. His broad coaching experience has
given Gareth a thorough insight into the world of performance
sport, and techniques for helping swimmers deal with the inevitable
pressures and expectations.
Gareth McNarry's qualifications include:
- PGCE Post Compulsory Education and Training (Newport
University)
- MA Sports Development and Coaching - Merit (UWIC now Cardiff
Met)
- BSc Honours Sports Development - 1st Class (UWIC now
Cardiff Met)
- ASA Club Coaches Certificate
- YMCA Level 3 Personal Trainers Award
- Sports Massage Therapist
Club Profile
Torfaen Dolphins is the new performance programme for swimming
in the Borough of Torfaen. It has been established from the merger
of Torfaen Swim Squad, Pontypool Dolphins and the former Torfaen
County Swimming programmes.
During the five years (2007-2012) of Torfaen County Swimming the
programme grew from strength to strength and produced the following
results:
- 20 Swimmers competing at British Swimming National Age Group or
Youth Championships (7 of whom have progressed to Semis or Finals
and 1 Silver Medallist)
- 6 Swimmers competing at British Swimming National Championships
(World Championships or Olympic Trials events)
- 6 Swimmers achieving selection to Welsh Regional Squads
- 2 Swimmers achieving selection to Welsh National Youth
Squad
- 1 Swimmer achieving selection to Welsh Senior Elite Squad
- 1 Swimmer competing at Commonwealth Youth Games 2011 (Gold
Medallist)
- 1 Swimmer representing Great Britain on an Open Water Talent ID
Camp
- 2 Senior Welsh International Caps at Celtic Tri-Nations events
(2011 and 2012)
- 6 Swimmers competing for Wales at UK School Games (1 Gold, 2
Silver, 1 Bronze)
- 2 Swimmers regularly competing in Elite Races of Great Swim
Series Events
- Numerous Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals from Welsh Age and
Youth Championships
Looking to the future, there are ambitions to place swimmers
onto Youth Olympic, European Junior, Commonwealth Games and Olympic
Games teams. The merger of clubs with the county programme will
help achieve these goals by creating an even more effective
environment for the nurturing and development of talented swimmers
from in and around the Torfaen area. To ensure that all swimmers
are given the best chance to succeed, Torfaen Dolphins has up to 20
hours of pool time, access to land training facilities and a wide
variety of expertise from coaches, support staff and team
managers.
The over-riding aim of Torfaen Dolphins is to prepare swimmers
for success as senior athletes. This requires an holistic approach,
enabling the long-term development of a swimmer as a well-rounded
athlete, capable of handling every situation presented by this
demanding sport.
Linked Swimming Clubs
Abergavenny Aquatic Squad
Abertillery Pirhanas
Blaenafon Barracudas
Cwmbran Otters
Pontypool Dolphins