Coaches

Chris Keegan

Head Coach

I currently work as a swimming teacher in my occupation , teaching all abilities and ages. I have taught ages 18 months to 75 year old , so it's never too late to learn to swim. I have been teaching swimming for over 10 years and I regularly coach for Derby Triathlon Club. I've been looking to set up my own swim school for a while , so I could give more back to the individual and give personal feedback , rather than just turning up for general swimming lessons.

  • BTF Level 2 triathlon coach

  • ASA level 2 swimming teacher

  • ASA level 1 disability swimming teacher

  • RLSS National Pool lifeguard Trainer Assessor

  • ASA national curriculum for swimming tutor

Andy set up CA Swim Coaching with Chris in November 2014 but as he will be moving to New Zealand in early 2016 and therefore his full time involvement in CA Swim Coaching came to an end in October 2015. Until Andy leaves the country he will support Chris in anyway he can.

I am a BTF Level 2 coach and I have been coaching swimming along with all other aspects of triathlon regularly at Derby Triathlon Club since 2010. In 2011 I attended the BTF Open Water Coaching Workshop and thus became qualified to coach open water, which I am able to do at the Club's open water site at Barton Marina. In 2012 I attended the 3 Day Swim Smooth Coach Education course where I received instruction into the Swim Smooth methodology and how to effectively use video analysis in assessing a swimmers stroke.

As a triathlete myself and one who's swimming ability has not developed at the same rate as my biking and running I understand the frustrations of trying to improve as a swimmer. This means as a coach both in the Club environment and privately through my Triathlon Coaching business I constantly looking for new ways to make the process of improving your swim stroke as straightforward as possible.

When Chris is unavailable for any reason or need some additional help then Rich is the man they turn to. When not helping directly in a coaching capacity Rich can be found regularly in the pool on a Sunday night training which is regularly interrupted when he is called upon to demonstrate drills.

I have been a competitive swimmer since I was 7 years old and I still compete in master swimming at a variety of distances from 50m -1500m. I have competed up to a County standard representing Oxfordshire and North Buckinghamshire at 100m Butterfly and held the Country record. I have swum with many clubs including City of Coventry and more recently City of Derby.

I started Triathlons back in 1997 at the Oxfordshire Fire service sprint distance triathlon, and on my 6th attempt I won the event. I have also competed at a number of Olympic distance triathlons including Windsor and London with my quickest time over this distance being 2 hour 5 mins. I hope to break the 2 hour barrier (maybe next year).

I started coaching swimming at DTC in the summer of 2008 and since 2012 this has been a regular Tuesday session coached with Andy. I do not have a formal qualifications but I hope to pass on my wealth of swimming experience to whomever I coach. One of my aims is that people feel that they are able to take away something from each session even if that is just enjoyment.

Andy Thornton

Richard Hale