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Left to Right; Duncan Ward, James Washer, Maria Eagland(coach), Jade Eagland, Jo McCarthy, Amanda Powell, Rachel Washer, Naomin Bilsland, Helena Donaldson, Nathaniel Johnston. Front; Kevin Nunn, Andrew McInnes, Steven Farmer, Darren Rye, Michael Whittle.

Exchange Trip to Enschede

The bi-annual trip to Enschede, Holland took place this easter and once
again was a tremendous success.  The 5 day trip was organised by dutch trip
veterans Maureen Nunn and Margaret McInnes, this being the 4th time that a
party of White Oak swimmers have travelled to Enschede.  Much had changed in
the 7 years that we have been exchanging and new parents and swimmers join
the trips as the older ones move on.

Joanna MacCarthy took top honours at the International gala, winning
backstroke gold and breaststroke bronze whilst Steven Farmer was our most
consistent with 3 silvers. James Washer was our other medal winner with a
freestyle bronze.  Competition at the gala was quite strong with dutch
international level swimmers representing one of the clubs.  The gala was
very enjoyable, if not difficult to follow what was going on and who was
winning as it was run on an Open Meet HDW style event.  The PA was up to the
usual swimming pool standard and obviously in dutch.  Steve Rye and Dave
Washer were the most relieved competitors at the gala when they found out at
the last minute that the parents race was off.  Steve however still found
time for a swim when he was thrown in fully clothed at the end.  The other
dutch tradition is to have an interval half way through the gala but our
swimmers were most disappointed when they found out that the ice cream shop
was not going to open, unlike in previous years. Many swimmers also had to
cycle to and from the gala, another dutch tradition.

We also took in Arnham, the Hellendoorn Theme Park and the Aquadrone during
the 5 days (and a coach trip round the outskirts of Brugge)and several local
trips with our dutch hosts.  All the swimmers had a great time and all said
that they would go again.  Obviously the recent tragic events in Enschede
have overshadowed everything and our thoughts are very much with our dutch
friends at the moment.

Zwemclub Enschede (ZCE) are planning to merge with another club in Enschede
and it is rumoured that one of the benefits mentioned by the other club was
the chance to visit England next year.

Here's looking forward to next time!

Special thanks go to Barry Nunn for driving the coach (and officiating at
the gala).

In one of the quieter moments on the coach trip home, the swimmers and
parents voted the following awards -  see bottom of this page.

Below is a note from our friends in Enschede who have as we all know have suffered

 a terrible tragedy in the Town.

I've worked a lot last week, because a lot of our students (from the school

I work) lost mostly of all their things during the explosion and the fire

after that. We were very lucky that we live in the south of Enschede and the

disaster take place in the north. But everyone in Enschede is shocked. Last

friday their was a still walk through the town with about 150.000 people, it

was very sad.

One of our swimmers (she was in the trip to Swanley last year) Evelien

Oude Nije Weme lost her father. He was with the firebrigade.

About 1000 people lost all their things and there are about 400 houses who

have to rebuild. It takes many years to do that.

It is also very sad that the people who has lived in that houses, where not

the richest ones. If you understand what I mean.

Thanks again for your note and I'll wait for your message to put your

internet address on ours.