40th Celebration Activity Day with Sportsman’s Week Presentations

This was a big one – Celebrating the 40th year of Louth ‘Dolphins’ Swimming Club – a club totally run by volunteers for the benefit of young people (and some adults as we have a Masters Section) 

 We asked for sponsorship and had a brilliant response which meant we were able to cover the costs for all the participants. 

 Our brilliant sponsors for the event were:

• Russells Louth (Field family) 
• Fish & Chik (Libell family) 
• Lincs Weddings (Templeman family) 
• Darkes Louth (Burke family) 
•  Ralegh (Nicci Evans) 
•  WTG Electrical (Garlic Family) 
• Louth Building Supplies (Roscoe family) 
• Wells Plant Hire (White family) 
• Waitings Plant Hire (Holmes family) 
• L.R.A.C. (Lincs Rural Activities Centre)

Spencer, Katie and their brilliant staff provided the perfect day at the Back2Bear Activity Centre. The weather was kind being overcast, dry and not too hot with a refreshing breeze which meant the fabulous indoor arena was not needed this year (thank you Sarah for keeping it free – just in case). 

80 members and some of their siblings aged 7 years and over where spit into competitive 8 teams – led by Mark Anstey, Jake Adams, Sarah Lawrence, Hollie Field, Jo Price, Jamie Whatton and Emma Middleton. 

The 7 events included Archery, Crossbow, Angel Throwing (a 3 headed axe), Disc Golf, an inflatable ‘assault course’, the ‘Tower of Power’ and probably the most popular Gutter Ball. 

8 team and 7 events left time for teams to refresh, downtime and enjoy a delicious pizza, cheesy chips and barista coffees from ‘Bills Field Kitchen’ The last event and always the loudest both from the teams and spectators was the now famous Tug of War. 

The eventual winners (disputed of course) were the black team led by Jamie Whatton.

In the overall team events 3rd with 122 points were the Pink team led by Sarah Lawrence and Purple team led by Jo Price. 2nd with 132 points were the yellow team led by Ian Roscoe. 1st place with 145 points were the Black team led by Jamie Whotton.

Sportsman’s Week ran for 42years and was originally started in 1953 by the former Mayor Frank McDonald to mark the Queen’s Coronation that year. It folded in its original form at the end of 1994, when unfortunately, there were no presentations or awards evening. To enter, you had to live within a 10-mile radius of Louth, and the events included were many and varied, from Tennis, Athletics, Cycling, Angling to Swimming, etc. 

In 1996 Bob Wells, as the Chairman of Louth Swimming Club, took ownership of the swimming trophies with a promise to keep the swimming event going! 

The event is a second Club Champs and embraces Louth’s history of holding Sportsman’s Week events (the club believes they are the only one still using the original trophies) So, this was the 70th event – 30 years organised by the club.

Sportsman’s Week 2026 – Most Points Winners

• Pods Boys Winner, Sportsman’s Week Trophy Cup, Elliott Krohen 
• Pods Girls Winner Scunthorpe Builders Merchant Cup Lizzy Archer 
  
  
•  9/10 Boys Winner Blackbourne Cup: Noah Lawrence 
•  9/10 Boys Runner up Cup: Arnas Meskauskas 
•  9/10 Girls Winner Harry Blackbourne Cup: Edith Templeman 
•  9/10 Girls Runner up Louth Dolphin Trophy: Shield Elisie Wood 
•  11/12 Boys Winner Tunnicliff Shield: Brody Lentz 
•  11/12 Boys Runner up Stephenson Cup: Ben Noakes 
•  11/12 Girls Winner Vera Blackbourne Cup: Erin Mellor 
•  11/12 Girls Runner up Borough of Louth Shield: Jessica Davison 
•  13/14 Boys Winner Ian Munro Ferguson Cup: Zach Evans 
•  13/14 Boys Runner up LCVYS Cup: Albert Haile 
•  13/14Girls Winner Borough of Louth Cup: Arabella Pearce 
•  13/14Girls Runner up Sportsman’s Week Shield: Maddie Seagroat 
•  15+ Boys Winner La Ferte Bernard Cup: Matthew Tompkinson 
•  15+ Boys Runner up Louth Dolphin Shield: Layton A-Snowden & Tom Wells 
•  15+ Girls Winner Anstey Family Cup: Maisie Mathews 
•  15+ Girls Runner up Twidale Shield: Suzie Burke 
•  Fastest Boy ‘Skins’ McIntyre Family Cup: Matthew Tompkinson 
•  Fastest Girl ‘Skins’ McIntyre Family Cup: Suzie Burke 
•  Special Award The Captains Plate: Hayden Whittaker 
•  Most Pb’s @ County Champs Helen West Shield: Dominic McLaughlin 
  
  
•  2025/26 Boys Captain Layton Annison- Snowden 
•  2025/26 Girls Captain Erin Ingham 
•  2025/26 Boys Vice Captain Matthew Tompkinson 
•  2025/26 Boys Vice Captain Josh Hanks 
•  2025/26 Girls Vice Captain Suzie Burke 
•  2025/26 Girls Vice Captain Maisie Mathews

The Presentations opening introductions and thanks by Club Chair Bob Wells Announcer- Club Director of Swimming Ian Roscoe.  

Awards were presented by the hard-working Squad Coaches. 

Director of Swimming Ian Roscoe “Back to Bear Activity Day was a fantastic celebration of everything our club stands for on its 40th anniversary – teamwork, friendly competition and a shared club spirit. Seeing swimmers compete together across a variety of fun and challenging events created a brilliant atmosphere, with every team giving their all. It was also the perfect opportunity to recognize the achievements of our Sportsman's Week award winners and to announce our new club captains. Congratulations to all our winners and the new club captains and to everyone who took part and helped make it such a memorable day." 

Performance /Development Coach Mark Anstey, “As coach of the two top squads in Louth Dolphins, it was great to see and get to know lots of the younger swimmers and parents. A superbly organized and very entertaining day. 

Club Secretary Emma Middleton, “It was the first time I have ever been to Back2Bear and what a great day we had. I had the most fantastic team who showed that their competitive spirit extends outside of the pool as well. It was a great opportunity for swimmers to meet others from different squads, and it was brilliant that some of their siblings got to join in the fun as well. The food provided by Bill was delicious and a real treat during a short break”. 

www.louth-dolphins.org.uk 

A massive thank you to everyone who contributed in any way. Report by Bob Wells (Chair)