Lead Coach - Sam Vagg

Sam joined the Swim Team as a 13 year old when it was started up in 2013 and trained and competed with us for 5 years before leaving to attend Exeter University. Sam has also worked at the Academy as a Lifeguard and then as a Swim Teacher, gaining her Level 1 Teaching qualification in the process.

Sam continued to swim for the Exeter University team during her time there. After graduating she moved back to the local area for work and since the start of 2023 started helping out by Coaching the Academy Swim Team and being part of the Coaching team at various team gala's and Meets. During this time she also gained her Level 1 coaching qualification. Since the end of April 2024 Sam has taken up the new role of Lead Coach as part of our leadership team alongside Liz Power to continue her professional development. Sam will be taking her Level 2 Coaching qualification in September 2024 and on completion of the course will be assuming the role of Head Coach.

Lead Development Coach - Liz Power

Liz swam as a child, having learnt to swim at the B-O-S Swim Academy. Unfortunately a spinal injury prevented her from pursuing her competitive ambitions, but her love of swimming for health and leisure remained. Liz decided to retrain in later life to incorporate her love of swimming into her work life. She qualified as a level 2 Swim Teacher in 2016 and went on to specialise in SEND and School swimming and regularly runs swim sessions for the local primary schools. In 2022 she was awarded a place on the prestigious Swim England Tutor program and completed the qualification in July 2023.

Liz now delivers training of Level 1 and Level 2 teachers, as well as running swim teacher Continued Professional Development sessions whilst working at the Burnham Swim & Sports Academy. Liz started coaching with the swim team on an adhoc basis in 2021 and joined the team on a permanent basis in January 2023. She has two children who both swim for the Academy Team. Since the end of April 2024 Liz has taken up the new role of Lead Development Coach as part of our leadership team alongside Sam Vagg. She has extensive experience in developing swimming skills and can also pull on her other experience as a Teacher and in Project Management to help ensure that all of the elements of swim team leadership are fulfilled.

Coach - Nic Hazelton

Nic is a qualified Level 2 Teacher and Level 2 Coach. She has been a swimmer since the age of 5 and her main event was the 50 and 100 Backstroke. As a young swimmer she achieved a number 1 ranking at County level and was top 5 at Regional Level. Nic has also competed at Masters level, achieving top 3 in the country for her age group. In 2005 she went to the world Masters Games in Canada and won the Gold and Bronze for the 100 and 50 Metre Backstroke.

Nic loves to coach and help the children achieve their goals and is motivated to help our young swimmers make the most of the opportunities available to them. At the end of 2023 Nic was given some much deserved recognition for her coaching when she was nominated for Swim England South West Coach of the Year.

Outside of swimming she is an Architect Technician although one day she hopes to be able to devote more time to swimming and helping future swimmers.

Coach - Oliver Astill

Oliver joined the club in April 2023 and started to assist the other coach's during training sessions each week whilst undergoing his Level 1 Swim Coaching qualification. He also started to help out on the side of the pool at many of the club's swim meets and gala's as a Team Manager as he is also a swim team parent with his son currently part of the Academy Swim Team. In March 2024 Oli gained his Level 1 Coaching qualification and since then has taken a more active role in the Coaching Team, taking training sessions and Coaching at Meets. He is aiming to keep gaining more coaching experience before taking the Level 2 qualification, hopefully by the end of 2024 depending on the availability of courses.

Coach - Lewis Duggan

Lewis has been with the Academy Swim Team since 2015 and at age 16 started working at the Burnham-On-Sea Swim and Sports Academy as a Lifeguard and Level 1 Swim Teacher. Lewis has since qualified as a Level 2 Teacher in October 2023. He is currently undertaking a sports apprenticeship at the pool alongside his teaching and coaching committments, which are mostly focused on delivering stage lessons and school swimming lessons at the moment.

Lewis is still an active member of the Academy Swim Team and part of the National Squad, competing regularly at team galas and each year at the Somerset County and South West Regional Championships. His favourite event is the 100M Fly for which he won the County Championship Gold Medal in 2023. Lewis has also won multiple medals in other County Championship individual events and team relays. He remains a keen competitor for the swim team and also loves to take on the last leg of any Cannon relay race, often anchoring the team to victory. In April 2023 he set the Club Record for the Boys 100M Fly and in April 2024 broke that record again whilst also breaking the club record for the Boys 200M Fly at the same meet. In March 2024 Lewis gained his Level 1 Coaching qualification and with his main focus still being on his swimming for now, he is aiming to keep gaining more coaching experience before taking the Level 2 qualification.

Coach - Lewis Plume

Lewis joined the club in April 2024 to help set up and coach the newly formed Junior Squad. Lewis's aim is to help develop the skills and confidence of new swimmers who have an understanding of the 4 strokes in a fun and competitive environment. Lewis also organises and supports the club entering various team gala's around the county. Lewis is a Level 1 qualified coach and is aiming to take the Level 2 qualification by the end of 2024 depending on the availability of courses.

Coach - Chris Wood

Chris also joined the club in April 2024 to work with Lewis Plume in support of the club's Junior Squad and to help support the swimmers at various team gala's around the County. Chris is also a qualified Level 1 coach.

Coach - Nick Faubel

Nick is also one of the club's volunteer official's and is a Level 1 qualified swim coach. He is also a swim team parent and has 2 children who are currently part of the Swim Team.

Coaching Volunteer - Rich Horsfall

Rich is qualified to deliver land training sessions which he has been able to do from time to time for the swim team. He will also help out on the side of the pool sporadically when needed during training sessions. He is also a swim team parent and has one child who is currently part of the Academy Swim Team. Along with his daughter and many others at the club he is also a keen Triathlete and runner.