James Doolan and Luke Wood - Our Auzzie Boys
After a good few years at Salford, James and Luke have exceeded their potential here in Great Britain and have gone on to train with some of the biggest and the best over in Austraila. They are both doing fantastically well, and even though we all miss them we wish them every success over there.
An account on life down under by Luke Wood
Being part of British Swimming’s, Offshore Centre Programme, is a lot different to being part of any normal club programme.
The facilities out here in Australia are second to none. For example, we get as much pool time as possible and we have access to a quality gym whenever needs be. Not many clubs get to train in a 12x50 metre pool 10 times a week, and we can even train in the 6x25 metre pool situated right next to it.
An average week over here would involve around 4 quality sets (e.g. Heart rate and race 200 speed etc) and these would often be on a Monday morning, Tuesday afternoon, Thursday morning, and Saturday morning. There is also a kick test every Friday.
The sessions in Aus will vary from 2 hours to two and a half – sometimes longer. In these sessions we would range from around 6-7000metres. In an average week, we will complete around 60 000 metres. That is a lot more than most clubs will do back home and it shows one of the advantages of the programme.
Core body work is also a main focus out here, a lot of work is spent on strengthening the core area of your body rather than just being able to lift weights.
All of this work in the pool and gym though must also be done whilst continuing going to school every day and maintaining your education.
To give you an average outline of a normal school day, have a read of this timetable-
5.15am – Wake up and head down to the pool
5.30 - 7.45: Train in the pool
8.00am – Have breakfast in the dining hall
8.30am - 10.25am: Attend 1st two lessons of school
10.50am - 12.35pm: Attend periods 3 + 4 of school
12.35pm - 1.35pm: Lunch
1.35pm – 3.20pm: Attend final two periods in school
3.20pm – 6.00pm: Head straight to pool after school and train
6.00pm – 6.30pm: Core (sometimes before training)
6.30pm: Dinner
7.00pm- Finish any work from school
8.30pm – BED!!!
The timetable there is only rough as sometimes we will have gym in the morning before the pool work and sometimes you will go to bed a bit earlier/later than 8.30pm.
Although being in Australia is a lot of hard work and requires a lot of effort, it is still an amazing way of life out here and is well worth trying to get onto the programme. Unfortunately the programme is only set up for boys as it is an all boys school, but I would definitely advise any guys from Salford to get their heads down in the pool and try and make it out here.
As much as I love being at Salford, I also love being out here in Aus.
Finally I would just like to stress how much of the success I have had is down to all the coaching staff at Salford, especially John Stout who I believe I have a great relationship with, in and out of the pool. Every bit I of success I have had has also been John’s too and I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for him. So thanks for everything john. Equally, the same goes for my parents who have been through everything I have, whether it is when I am swimming well or when I am not- they have always been there and supported me all the way.
These are two very important things that have helped me get to this point in my swimming career, and I would tell any swimmer to make their relationship with their parents and coaches, and even the other swimmers, the best as they can as it will give them more chance of success.
