Parrack talked with host Peter Busch about how the training centre came about and who has been through the doors since the Centre opened in July 2009. We talked about exactly what we were looking for when searching for the location and why the BEST Centre meets the needs of swimmers and coaches better than any other training site in Europe. The show was interested to know how different teams train and we talked about the kind of sets we had seen from the international groups that had been training here.

To see the interview in full, check out the Morning Swim show here at Swimming World magazine.

The athletes from Mick Massey’s group in Manchester and Billy Pye’s squad in Swansea held their preparation camp at the BEST Centre in September and we contratulate all the performances of those athletes.

We wish everyone the best of luck at the world championships to come and hope to see you again at the BEST Centre in 2010.

With the Commonwalth Games late in the season 2010, many of Britain’s elite have been easing gently into the new season and enjoying the relaxing surroundings of the BEST Centre.

Land training and pool work were punctuated by trips out on the bikes, sea swims and yoga. The coaches and athletes thoroughly enjoyed their time in Mallorca. Keri-anne Payne from Stockport ITC said it was a “fantastic facility,” and Cassie Patten said, “Amazing pool! We had a great time.” See more comments about the BEST Centre in the Testimonials area.

Ben Titley’s Loughborough group stayed on after the relay camp, and were joined by Rob Greenwood and Sean Kelly from Stirling and Stockport. Rob and some of his group took the speedboat over to Cabrera and had a fantastic afternoon on the water and at the beaches.

Dave McNulty’s group from the ITC in Bath spent two weeks here in September, and at the end of OCtober, Bud McAllister rounded off the ITC set with his team based in Swansea, joining 7 other squads in the busiest week of the year at the BEST Centre in 2009.

Relays are an important part of any major championships when up to 8 people can return home with medals in one event. With the London Games of 2012 on every coach’s planning sheet, the focus of this camp was to make the relay teams at the centre of the squad that will compete in front of a home crowd.

The sports sceintists were also kept busy with filming every takeover from above and below the water. The relay takeover equipment was set up and Jodi Cossor and Gemma Smith woked with Jonty to ensure all the data was captured for analysis. Read more from Jodi and Gemma in our 10 of the BEST section.

VIP guest

British Consul in Palma, Paul Abrey, came to the camp to say hello to some old friends. Paul was on hand to welcome the GB women’s team on their camp in Mallorca before heading to Beijing in 2008, and spent some time catching up with the latest developments and future plans ahead of 2012.

Much of the work involved practising the timing of the starting movement with the incoming swimmer and stepping forward on the block as part of the diving action. The scientists working the cameras were amazed with the clarity of the water and rated the BEST Centre as one of the best in the world for clarity of the water.

VIP guests were on hand to praise the elite swim centre in Colonia Sant Jordi, Mallorca, as British Consul Paul Abrey officially opened the BEST Centre.

The Centre opened its doors on July 4th to welcome its first teams and after a successful summer the official innauguration was held on Thursday 24th September, 2009.

Co-founders Matthew O’Connor and James Parrack both spoke to thank everyone who had helped bring the idea to reality and after the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon from Paul Abrey, Balearic Sports minister Mateu Canellas Martorell and Tourism minister Miquel Nadal Buades gave speeches to celebrate the opening of the centre and wish the landmark project every success in bringing the sporting elite to the island and helping to develop the champions of the future.

The local hotel community helped stage the event at the pool and the local town hall were also involved in the ceremonies. Bartolome Lladonet Salva added his voice to the best wishes of others and spoke for the community of Ses Salinas in welcoming the BEST Centre and the economic impact it will bring to the region, as well as raising the profile of Colonia Sant Jordi as a centre of sporting excellence.

Pernilla Kile won gold at the Deaflympics in Taipei in September, setting a world record 29.16 sec on her way to victory in the 50m fly.

Pernilla and her family made the trip to Mallorca from Sweden to take advantage of the superb facilities at the BEST Centre for a two week camp.

Sverre, her father and coach said that the outdoor 50m pool and relaxing atmosphere played their part in his daughter’s success.

Like many elite teams currently, the team swam plenty of drills using a paddle on one arm only and a one fin only on the opposite foot.

For our part, we were most impressed with the fact that Pernilla could lip read in three languages!

Nystrand is a world record holder in the 50 and 100 free short course, and is a European and World medalist. He also has a pretty mean 50 breast!

Fellow sprinter Petter Stymne, who joined Nystrand when Sweden set the world record in the 4 x 50m free at the European short course in 2006, was part of a large Neptun sqaud that enjoyed their early season workouts in the sunshine in Mallorca.

Landwork, drills and sprints

The team did plenty of long technique work and land work. The land work invovled running, jumping, bodyweight balance and movement, and these were done during swim sets as well as before and after. There were wheelbarrow races along the pooldeck as well as traditional weight training in the gym.

We enjoyed watching the team enjoying their training and they were for sure the loudest team we have had at the BEST Centre so far. Especially when they were doing head to head 25m sprints with the swimmers starting at opposite ends of the pool and racing towards each other!

Like many elite teams currently, the team swam plenty of drills using a paddle on one arm only and a one fin only on the opposite foot.

Head Coach Anne Forsell said, “For us it was a perfect campsite. The pool was excellent with a good gym as well as extra training equipment. The surroundings was calm and everything was nearby. And not to forget; a friendly staff who knew swimming and the needs we have as a sport, no matter if you are aming for the Olympics or just a small competition in your hometown.”

Double Paralympic gold medallist Eleanor Simmonds was in great form, and the youngster was an inspiration to all the participants on the Family Swim Holiday who were thrilled to have their picture taken with Simmonds and the rest of Billy Pye’s Swansea based squad who were training at the BEST Centre in the last week in August.

A week earlier the Machester HPC group were at the site, led by 11 time Paralympic medallist Matt Walker. Head coach Mick Massey brough 6 athletes on the camp and we wish both groups every success for the Europeans and World championships this year.

Alberta, Alberta, by Eric Clampton rang out across the pool deck as the Alberta provincial team began their land warm up each morning. Canada’s most experienced international coach, Dave Johnson, who has been on every Canadian Olympic team from 1972 – 2004, oversaw the programme as the athletes worked towards the Canada Games.

King Karl also educated the swimmers through the Elvis Presley songbook!

Landwork and drills

The team did plenty of long, slow technique work and very hard kicking. A drill they did often was a coupling drill, where two or more sculling or stroke drills were put together and then repeated through the length. The Alberta athletes were highly talented and knowledgeable about their swimming and the politest group we have had so far! The land work was all about body weight and body balance exercises to support the work in the water.

We really enjoyed watching the team train and evenings in the White Horse; especially when Bill brought out his guitar!

Head Coach Dave Johnson said, “The BEST training centre in Mallorca provided the right ingredients for a first class experience for our swimmers and coaches. The services of the staff, the hotel proximity, food quality and especially the swim facility and training environment were fantastic and contributed to the positive results of our team.
In over 35 years of attending training camps and staging of teams, the BEST centre experience ranks at the top for performance needs.”

British Swimming has issued a statement of intent to work with Blue Water Elite Swimming Training (BEST) at a new, purpose built centre in Mallorca, Spain.

Based around a 10-lane, outdoor, 50m pool at Colonia de Sant Jordi on the south coast of the island, the deal will see British Swimming become a priority client in terms of warm weather training camps.

The BEST Centre, founded by former Olympic swimmers, will be available for national team, Intensive Training Centre and other agreed British Swimming camps under the agreement between the parties.

Training groups will be able to use the new pool, gym, dry land area, meeting room and changing facilities while open water swimming will be well served in terms of the near-by coast.

The centre, which has preferred accommodation close by, will be officially opened next spring.