New head coach ‘highly recommended’

TOP COACH: The youngsters of the Comet Swimming Club have a new head coach and he's been there and done that when it comes to swim coaching. Glenn Hamblyn started work on Monday last week and was pictured poolside with some of his young swimmers.Picture by Paul Rickard

Comet Swimming Club has a new head coach and Glenn Hamblyn, who has moved here from Auckland's Mount Eden club, comes highly recommended.

The 42-year-old has coached members of the New Zealand swimming team.They have included 2008 Beijing Olympians, and swimmers at the World Youth Championships.

In his role as head coach at the Mt Eden club, Hamblyn worked with swimmers at all levels, from teaching them to swim, to helping them prepare for international competitions.

At the world youth (under-18) championships in 2008 his swimmers won two gold medals.

He coached at Mt Eden for 25 years.

Hamblyn's wife Lisa and their four young children will join him in Gisborne at the end of the year.

“The opportunity came up to come to Gisborne and for lifestyle reasons we made the choice to start a new life here,” he said.

“Lisa and I want to give our children the chance to grow up in a smaller place like Gisborne.”

He has been here several times on swimming trips.

“It's a great place, close to the beach, and it's always had a reputation for producing good swimmers. Also, I've worked with former Comet head coach Greg Meade in coaching roles with national teams.

“It was just too good an opportunity to pass up.”

Hamblyn got straight into coaching the Comet youngsters last week.

It was “pretty full-on” because he was preparing to take three of them to the New Zealand short-course championships in Hamilton this week.

He said his philosophy in swim coaching was to get young swimmers to love the sport.

“You can develop them from there, and they can start talking about the goals they want to set for themselves.

“The idea is they want to come to training and they want to race.”

Hamblyn said the welcome he had received was “fantastic”.

“I've had all kinds of offers of help. I've got a couple of real estate agents looking for a house for my family and me.

“I could not have asked for things to be any better.”

Hamblyn's a keen golfer, and looks forward to trying out the local courses.

Comet general manager Rochelle Somerton said Hamblyn had made an immediate impact.

“We were ecstatic to receive such a high-calibre applicant when we advertised for a new head coach this year,” she said.

“Glenn is the total package when it comes to swim coaching.

“He brings so much experience and fun, and a love for the sport.

“We're lucky to have him.”