About Us
#Halestorm
Halesowen Swimming Club was founded in 1963 and is based at Halesowen Leisure Centre.
Our club night is held every Friday and offers something for everyone - from those starting their swimming journey with Learn to Swim sessions, all the way up to competitive swimmers reaching National level..
Meet the Team
Marc Soulsby
Head Coach
Coach (Level 3) - Seniors
With over four decades in swimming and water polo, our Head Coach Marc Soulsby brings exceptional experience and leadership to the club.
Beginning his career in 1980 with Oldbury Swimming Club, Marc competed at County, Midland District, and National levels and has represented Worcester County across age-group and Masters events. A long-time member of Warley WASPS, he played water polo at Division 1 level and coached both water polo and swimming from a young age.
Since 1999, he has held senior coaching roles at clubs including Warley WASPS, Stourbridge, Chase, and now Halesowen. Marc has coached swimmers to County, Regional, and National success. He was twice selected for Swim England's England Talent Programme and played a pivotal role in Worcestershire's County Development Camps.
Marc holds the ASA Level 3 Coach Certificate and has trained under leading figures in the sport, including Mark Bennett MBE and Fred Furniss.
Ruth Hitchins
Chairperson
Hello and welcome to Halesowen Swimming Club. Our club has a long and successful history of nurturing talent and competing at county, regional, national and international levels. However, first and foremost are enjoyment and participation.
At Halesowen swimming club, we consider ourselves a team and a family. Our swimmers and members build lifelong friendships and gain a lifetime love of aquatic sports along with strong and meaningful relationships.
We have over 400 members, and our swimming squads go from strength to strength due to our highly experienced and enthusiastic coaches.
As a club continually improving, we welcome and value our member’s feedback and ideas. We look forward to striving forward together as we celebrate our 60th anniversary in 2023.
Liane Fowkes
Teacher
(Level 2) - Juniors
I love sport. I’ve swum for GB Police and West Midlands Police and participated in many World Games.
I made the under 18’s National selection at Netball, then picked up a knee injury which I never recovered from. I played tennis and swam at county level.
How did you get into coaching?
I’m a swimmer, even now! I was a Lifeguard at Halesowen Leisure Centre and eventually became a Swimming Teacher there.
I taught children and adults to swim at Halesowen LC for many years. 24 years later my daughter started swimming with HSV, and I offered to teach/coach. It’s much more rewarding than spectating!
Favourite Event/Stroke?
100 IM
Josh Bradley
Director of Swimming
SE Senior Coaching Qualification
I was a National level swimmer for over a decade, setting County and Midland records in the process and reaching British top ten status on numerous occasions.
Over my career, I competed at Nationals in all four strokes both individually and as part of a team. I also enjoyed competing at British and Scottish International meets, racing against swimmers from all over Europe.
My event preference was for sprint/middle distance events, particularly the 100 IM, but have also enjoyed open water swimming for many years and in 2021 completed an ultra-marathon by swimming the length of Lake Windermere - 11 miles.
In 2022, I returned to National competition in the 5K half marathon open water event.
Favourite Event/Stroke?
100 IM and the 200 IM
Andy Butler
Assistant Teacher
(Level 1) - LTS Widths & Juniors
Masters Coordinator
I have been a member of the club for most of my life. I saw success as teenager as a breaststroker where I qualified for nationals in the 200 and as a part of our biathlon team.
I still swim regularly and lead our masters swimmers.
I also enjoy teaching our young swimmers as part of LTS widths and in our Foundation squad who are just starting out on their journey.
Favorite Event/Stroke
Breaststroke
Tracy Bailey
Teacher
(Level 2) - Water Confidence & LTS
Paul Fiddler
Assistant Teacher
(Level 1) - Juniors
How did you get into coaching?
My daughters & nieces have both been training at the club since they were very young.
I stepped up to assist the teachers & coaches poolside to increase my own understanding of the sport and help the ace kids who make up such a brilliant and special team.
Favourite Event/Stroke?
Relays
Craig O'Connor
Associate Coach
(Level 2) - Seniors
I am also the Head Coach at Heath Town swimming club in Wolverhampton.
Favourite Event/Stroke?
100 Fc, 50 Fly
Matt Cherry
Teacher
(Level 2) - Juniors
I love sport. I’ve swum for GB Police and West Midlands Police and participated in many World Games.
I made the under 18’s National selection at Netball, then picked up a knee injury which I never recovered from. I played tennis and swam at county level.
How did you get into coaching?
I’m a swimmer, even now! I was a Lifeguard at Halesowen Leisure Centre and eventually became a Swimming Teacher there.
I taught children and adults to swim at Halesowen LC for many years. 24 years later my daughter started swimming with Halesowen Swim Club, and I offered to teach/coach. It’s much more rewarding than spectating!
Favourite Event/Stroke?
100 IM
Kate Miller
Assistant Coach
(Level 1) - Juniors
I'm a French teacher currently teaching French to secondary and primary aged pupils.
My main and extremely time-consuming hobby is training for and competing in Triathlon, Aquathlon and Aqua-Bike events.
I've been fortunate enough to represent my age-group for Team GB and travel to compete in many different countries including Russia, Romania and Ibiza.
As well as teaching for Halesowen Swimming Club, I also volunteer for a youth running club once a week where I support and encourage children of all abilities to enjoy the benefits of running and exercise.
How did you get into coaching?
Through initially helping out as a Covid Liaison Volunteer. I then looked into completing the Level 1 Assistant Coach qualification and decided to book onto the course!
Favourite Event/Stroke?
Front crawl
Ade Worton
Coach
(Level 2) Seniors
Regan Whitehouse
Teacher
(Level 2) LTS and Juniors
Julie Egerton
Associate Teacher
(Level 2) LTS & Juniors
CLUB CAPTAINS
SENIORS
Ruby Glover
Braydn Daly
JUNIORS
Evie Egerton
Theo Hickman
In-pool & Poolside Assistants
Ellie Mellor
Erin Kelly
Issy Sykes
Olivia Fiddler
Jake Gillon
Troy Hill
Swimmers wishing to volunteer as part of their DofE please speak to the head coach.
Sophie Dearn
Teacher
(Level 2) LTS
I competed internationally as a youth and junior, in both triathlon and duathlon.
I won BUCS medals in triathlon, biathlon, rowing and skiing during my 6 years at University. I also taught spin during my PhD to both community members and university students.
How did you get into coaching?
I started teaching swimming age 16 for a family friend. I predominantly taught children with additional needs on a 1-to-1 basis.
I started helping at Halesowen Swimming Club as a parent liaison after COVID-19 and then started teaching my own group after the Halesowen pool shut.
Favourite Event/Stroke?
Relays
Adam Ryan
Former Captain & Poolside Assistant
Juniors
How did you get into coaching?
I started helping out for my Duke of Edinburgh award, then enjoyed it so much I kept going.
Favourite Event/Stroke?
100m Fly
Gordon Ryan
Associate Coach
Former Junior Coach
A scientist by trade took me to New Zealand for 11 years where I lucky enough to travel and play/coach football in their national league.
For the last 30 years I have been chasing a ball around the squash court when not poolside helping our young swimmers achieve their potential in a wonderful sport that they participate in for the whole of their life.
Favourite Event/Stroke?
Backstroke