2010
- Dorset County Championships
February 2010
 Twenty swimmers from North Dorset Turbos Swimming Club took part in the Dorset County Championships over the last two weekends in February and achieved the Club's best ever results.
Medals were won by Seren Banneel (2 golds in the 100m and 200m breaststroke), Matthew Appleby (bronze in 50m breaststroke), Connor Craft (silver in 50m breaststroke and bronze in 100m breaststroke) and Sam Louth (bronze in 50m butterfly).
Ellie Harris, Stephen Appleby, Matthew Curtis, Sam Louth, Connor Craft and Seren Banneel also won ribbons for gaining 4th to 8th place in other events. Connor Craft received a further medal for being the second fastest junior boy in the 50m breaststroke. Almost all of those taking part gained personal times in at least one event.
Turbos train at St. Mary's School, Shaftesbury on Thursdays and Port Regis on Fridays and Sundays with additional sessions at Bath University.
2009
December 2009
Turbos took the wooden spoon in the League for the first time. The club were unable to swim their best team in any of the 3 rounds due either to illness or other commitments. However we take some satisfaction in scoring more gala points than some of the clubs above them. The Committee agree that despite being the smallest club in the league, we have come a long way since taking part for the first time three years ago.
- Christmas Gala at Littledown
December 2009
Three swimmers took part in Bournemouth Dolphins' Christmas Gala on December 22nd (two others were struck down by 'Flu). Seren Banneel won a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke, Sam Louth gained silver and Bronze in the 50m Butterfly and Freestyle and Tom Austen achieve two excellent personal best times.
- Riversmeet Leisure Centre
December 2009
We are all pleased to see that the building of the new leisure centre in Harding's Lane, Gillingham is proceeding well. The dry side is due to open in May and the pool in July.
August 2009
Turbos are holding 'Pre Club' Sessions from 1800 to 1900 on Wednesday evenings at Shaftesbury Community Pool until the pool closes for the winter at the end of October. These sessions are open to children from the age of 8 upwards who are able to swim lengths but don't feel confident enough to join the club yet, or who need to improve their strokes, starts and turns in preparation for club swimming.
August 2009
Congratulations to Gemma Appleby, Megan Hill and Shannen Heckford on gaining their ASA Young Volunteers awards and qualifying as timekeepers, and also to Sam Louth and Gemma Appleby who have passed the S.T.A. Swimming Teachers Certificate.
All aspiring swimmers are invited to attend the Turbos pre-club group which meets on Wednesday evenings from 6-7pm at Shaftesbury Community Pool.
August 2009
Hopefully by the end of this year the North Dorset Turbos will be able to return to Gillingham. Since the closure of the Gillingham Pool the Turbos have led a rather nomadic life, having training sessions at various pools in the area with some extra weekend sessions at competition size pools in Bath and Exeter.
August 2009
The Turbos took part in the ASA County Development Meet at Littledown, Dorset which was for club swimmers to compete to improve their times. Swimmers taking part were: Francesca Hill, Megan Hill, Dan Hill, Stephen Appleby, Matthew Appleby, Luke Pope, Ben Pavey, Thomas Appleby, Matt Berry, Connor Craft, Sam Louth, India Atlee, Seren Banneel, Matt Curtis, Kayleigh Harris, Charlotte Hill, Sara Murrison, Phillipa Murrison and Georgia Heckford.
Medals won:
- Daniel Hill - Gold 400m (9yrs)
- Connor Craft - Gold 50m freestyle and Bronze 100m individual medley (14yrs).
- Seren Banneel - Bronze 50m freestyle, Bronze 50m fly, Silver 50m breaststroke (9yrs).
- Matt Curtis - Silver 50m breaststroke, Gold 50m backstroke (13yrs).
- Dan Hill won the award for the most improved 400m swimmer.
32 personal best times were achieved making the Turbos one of the most improved clubs in Dorset.
- Rivers Meet Refurbishment
Saturday, 16th May 2009
Following a turf cutting ceremony on May 16th, work has now started on the refurbishment of the old Gillingham Leisure Centre now renamed Rivers Meet.
The project is due to be completed for April 2010 and Turbos can look forward to a 25m deck level pool built to competition standard. We are now raising money to buy starting blocks and lane ropes.
Almost £450 was raised from the Swimarathon in March and we are holding a Car Boot sale in Marnhull on July 11th and a Quiz night at the end of November.
April 2009
In the first round at Bath in April the juniors scored 51 points.
Great improvements came in the second round however, although a depleted team meant that we were unable to compete in 8 events. Turbos achieved a score of 89 points, which was an excellent result due to a great all-round effort with almost everyone gaining at least one personal best time.
April 2009
Congratulations to Amelia Maughan on her international debut. Amelia, who swims with Bournemouth Dolphins goes to Port Regis School and swims with us on Friday evenings and with Chris Gassmann on Tuesday mornings.
She trained in Greece over the Easter holidays and took part in an International Open Meet in Thessalonica. At the recent National Swimming League Finals in Sheffield Amelia broke the record in the 13/U 100m freestyle.
She currently holds two Dorset County Junior records.
March 2009
In March of this year the Turbos were presented with The Blackmore Vale Lions Club Shield for raising the most money and for the furthest distance swum (lengths: boys 210 / girls 206) during the Swimathon.
Saturday, 28th March 2009
There was success for our swimmers in the annual Blackmore Vale Lions Club Swimarathon on 28th March. The senior boys completed a record 105 laps, while the senior girls set a record of 103 laps.
2008
- Name Change for Turbos Swimming Club
November 2008
Because of the closure of Gillingham Leisure Centre, and subsequent change of training venues, Turbos has changed its name to North Dorset Turbos Swimming Club.
- Southern Junior League #2
July 2008
The past few months have seen mixed fortunes for Gillingham Turbos Swimming Club. Entering the Southern Junior League for the first time they took the wooden spoon. All was not doom and gloom however as a lot of younger swimmers took part in their first competitions and most gained personal best times over the three rounds.
Over the weekend of 5/6 July, 18 swimmers aged from 10 to 15 took part in the Dorset County A.S.A.'s Development Meet at Littledown, Bournemouth. Between them they gained 15 medals:
- Matt Curtis won 3 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze and achieved 3 competition best times in 50, 100 and 200 metres backstroke.
- Fergus Dalwood won 4 silvers.
- Gemma Appleby 1 silver.
- Connor Craft 1 Gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze and achieved a competition best time in the 50m breaststroke
- In addition 42 personal best times were achieved.
The Club meets on Monday, Thursday and Friday evenings at Shaftesbury Community Pool, Port Regis School and St Mary's School Shaftesbury. New members are always welcome; for details ring Chris Gassmann on 01258 820202 or Nicki Payne at Blandford Leisure Centre on 01258 455566.
- Southern Junior League #1
Saturday, 19th April 2008
On Saturday 19th April a team of 9, 10, 11 and 12 year old swimmers took part in the first round of the Southern Junior League for the first time. The meet was held at Horfield Leisure Centre, Bristol.
Turbos were by far the smallest club out of the 6 taking part and although we came 6th, 15 personal best times were achieved in the 26 individual events in which we competed. All of the team learned a great deal from the experience and look forward to the next round on Saturday 17th May.
From Monday 21st April training for junior members of the Club will be at Shaftesbury Swimming Pool in Bell Street. This is mainly due to pressure of numbers and also to enable coaches to give more time to individual swimmers.
Thursday, 17th April 2008
Congratulations to Fergus Dalwood on becoming Gillingham School's male Swimmer of the Year. Fergus was presented with his trophy at a Sports Awards Presentation Evening which was held at the School on Thursday 17th of April.
- Dorset County Championships
February 2008
These were held over 3 weekends in February and March. 23 Swimmers took part and we scored a best ever 62 points, which gives us something to build on in the future.
Fergus Dalwood and Charlotte Hill entered all 3 long distance freestyle events [400m, 800m and 1500m], Fergus gaining a 1st and a 3rd place and Charlotte a 5th in the 1500m.
Connor Craft gained three 3rd places in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke and he, Fergus and Matt Curtis were in the top eight in all their events. All of those who took part achieved a personal best time in at least one event. The club hopes to have an even bigger representation in the County Development Meet in July.
2007
- Gillingham Swimming Pool Closure
December 2007
Gillingham Swimming Pool is due to close on 31 Match 2008.
From April 2008, Turbos will train at St. Mary's School, Shaftesbury and Port Regis School, Motcombe at the following times:
- Monday: St. Mary's 6.00 to 7.30pm
- Tuesday: Port Regis 7.30 to 8.30pm
- Thursday: St. Mary's 5.00 to 6.00pm
- Friday: Port Regis 7.30 to 8.30pm
- Saturday: St. Mary's 4.30 to 5.30pm (Pre-Club)
- New Leagues, New Personal Bests
December 2007
Having won the Jurassic League for 3 years running, Turbos have been asked not to take part in that league in 2008.
It has been a big step from this to Division 3 of the Speedo League. In the first 2 rounds at Riverside Leisure Centre, Exeter, the Club finished 6th out of 6, but most swimmers achieved personal best times at each gala. In the 3rd round at Cleveden in December, we came a convincing 3rd and so avoided the wooden spoon.
More personal best times were achieved at a Christmas open meet at Bridport on 1st December and the club championships on 15th December 2007.
In April, Turbos will compete in the Southern Junior League for the first time. Our aim is to improve the standard of our members' swimming through training and competition.
- Turbos Achieve a Clean Sweep
May 2007
Gillingham Turbos Swimming Club made it four-wins-out-of-four in the Jurassic League on Saturday 14th July at Bridport, so winning the League for the third successive year.
Final League places are:
- Gillingham Turbos SC 24 points
- Bridport Barracudas 15
- Blandford Flyers 15
- Ilminster SC 14
- Heron, Yeovilton 12
- Wincanton SC 4
Turbos are planning to enter the Western Division of the Speedo League for the first time in October, with the first round in Exeter.
The club has come a long way since it started five years ago with then a dozen swimmers – it now has almost 70, training 3 times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at Gillingham Leisure Centre.
A weekend earlier the 22 swimmers took part in the Dorset ASA Development Meet at Littledown. Everyone gained at least one personal best time and 7 won medals, five of them gold: Matt Curtis 2, Charley Stone, Matt Williamson and Daniel Till one each.
The club will continue to train during the summer holidays at Gillingham Leisure Centre.
- Results of the Third Round of the Jurassic League
Saturday, 16th June 2007
Gillingham Turbos Swimming Club made it three wins out of three at the latest Jurassic League gala, held at Bridport last Saturday.
They made a shaky start however and by the third event they were last of the 6 teams taking part. By event seven though Turbos were leading and stayed in front for the rest of the 49 events.
Final scores were:
- Gillingham Turbos SC 207
- Bridport Barracudas 186
- Ilminster SC 183
- Heron, Yeovilton 157
- Blandford SC 148
- Wincanton SC 146
League positions:
- Gillingham 18 points
- Bridport 12
- Ilminster 11
- Heron 10
- Blandford 9
- Wincanton 3
The final gala will be at Bridport Leisure Centre on Saturday 14th July at 17:15.
 
- Turbos Head Jurassic Swimming League
May 2007
Gillingham Turbos Swimming Club hosted the second round of the Jurassic League at Gillingham Leisure Centre. Although they were without several first choice team members, Turbos managed 17 first and 14 second places, with 19 swimmers gaining personal best times.
When the final results were announced, Turbos had won with 218 points, 26 ahead of Illminster, who had 196; third was Heron with 185, fourth Blandford, fifth Bridport and sixth Wincanton. Turbos head the Jurassic League with 12 points, Ilminster, Bridport, Heron and Blandford all have seven and Wincanton two.
The club would like to thank the parents and centre staff for their help in making the day run so smoothly. The next round is at Bridport on Saturday 16th June.
- Maureen Bennett Trophy Award
June 2007
Gillingham Schools' Swimmers of the Year were Turbos' Charlotte Stone and Conner Craft, both in year 7.
- Dorset County for Schools Gala
Saturday, 9th June 2007
Matthew Curtis came first in the 50m FS and second in the 25m butterfly at Dorset County for Schools Gala at Littledown Leisure Centre on Saturday 9 June 2007.
Holly Fripp was fifth in the 50m backstroke and Yasmin Dalwood seventh in the 50m butterfly.
- Turbos Get Medals At Swindon Open Meet
January 2007
Swimmers from Gillingham have managed to rack-up some more medals in the Swindon Open Meet.
Charlie Stone and Gareth Ball managed to gain places in the Open Meet, with Charlie getting a gold, a silver and 2 bronzes, and with Gareth mangaging to collect 2 bronzes, which was a major achievment for the club.
Congratulations to the 2 swimmers. So, we've won the Jurassic League twice, and we've done well in Swindon - the future looks bright!
2006
- Turbos Win Second Round By Record Margin
May 2006
In March Turbos lost the first round of the Jurassic League by 22 points to Ilminster. Blandford Flyers were ½ a point behind in third place.
On May 20th Turbos made amends by winning the second round in their own pool by a record 33 points over Ilminster with 188 points, with Blandford third on 176. Bridport were fourth on 170, Yeovilton fifth with 129 and Wincanton sixth with 126. Most of the Gillingham swimmers achieved personnel best times.
Congratulations to 8 Turbos swimmers who won their event at the North Dorset Schools Gala on the 12th May and who will go on to the County Schools finals at Littledown Pool at the end of June.
2005
December 2005
During 2005 over £4000 has been raised in sponsorship and donations by the club. This will help us buy new starting blocks, lane ropes, small items of equipment and Log Books for all of our swimmers.
Our donors include:
We would like to thank all of our donors for their help and encouragement.
Monday, 28th November 2005
The club gained a Highly Commended place in this year's North Dorset District Council's People and Places Awards.
November 2005 Results
- Gillingham Win the Jurassic League
Saturday, 16th July 2005
Gillingham Turbos Swimming Club came close to scoring a fourth straight win at Bridport but in the end had to settle for second place to Ilminster. The lead fluctuated from the start between these two and hosts Bridport Barracudas who came third.
The final leading scores were Ilminster 179 and Gillingham 178. The result means that Gillingham win the Jurassic league with 19 points, Ilminster 15, Bridport Barracudas 13, Blandford Flyers 7 and Wincanton 5. This is a remarkable result for the club that was only started 3 years ago and now has over 60 members.
   
- Jurassic League Third Win
Saturday, 18th June 2005
Gillingham Turbos won their latest Jurassic League meet on Saturday 18th June at Bridport Leisure Centre. It was their third win on the trot and their first ever away from home since the club was formed three years ago. This puts Gillingham four points ahead of their nearest rivals Bridport Barracudas with one gala to go, once again at Bridport, on July 16th.
- Dorset County Junior Schools Gala
Saturday, 11th June 2005
Two Turbos swimmers, Zak Reed and Alex Shaw came second and third respectively in the Boys' 50m Breaststroke and 50m Backstroke events at the Dorset County Junior Schools Gala at Littledown Leisure Centre, Bournemouth on June 11th.
- Maureen Bennett Trophy Award
Friday, 20th May 2005
Turbos backstroke and Individual Medley swimmer Abbie Williamson was presented with Gillingham School's Maureen Bennett Trophy as their Swimmer of the Year.
Saturday, 21st May 2005
Gillingham Turbos Swimming Club notched up their second successive Jurassic League win on Saturday against Bridport, Ilminster, Blandford and Wincanton Clubs. Competing without six first choice swimmers their task seemed to be more difficult this time especially as after six events they had had 3 disqualifications. However, some inspired swimming, which brought 17 personal best times, saw Turbos home by 11 points over Ilminster (second) and Bridport (third).
 
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