Coach of the Year 2007  The committee, swimmers, coaches and parents of Blackburn Centurions Amateur Swimming Club would like to nominate GAVIN BUTTERWORTH as Coach of the Year 2007.  Gavin joined the Club over 9 years ago as a Coach and since that time has worked tirelessly on behalf of the swimmers of this club.  However you may ask why have we chosen this year in particular to nominate Gavin?   2007 has been a particularly busy, challenging and ultimately successful year for the Club and Gavin has played a pivotal role.  This year has seen an extraordinary and remarkable development of performance by individuals and teams, which is all the more amazing given the difficulties experienced following the departure of the Chief Coach and the Community Coach in the first quarter of the year.    However the remaining coaching staff led by the indefatigable Senior Club Coach, Gavin Butterworth stepped up to the plate. Gavin with his energy, commitment, humour and expertise galvanised the swimmers and teaching and coaching staff to heights previously unknown which include record numbers of National Qualifiers, finalists, medallists, international honours and recognition of true Olympic potential.  The Micro League of the North West Team (9 – 12 year olds) produced 5 gala swims over the year that saw them finish in a highest ever third place – this being a wonderful achievement and reflecting great credit on the swimmers and Gavin played a key role in this success.  Similarly, the National Speedo League Team (11 and under to Open) capped off a fantastic series of individual and relay performances over the closing months of the year by finishing in a magnificent 8th overall position in the North West Region, which is a remarkable result for a club of our size.  The Club managed in partnership with the Schools Sports Partnership the Blackburn Primary Schools Swimming Gala’s. Two Semi Finals and a Final later they had proved to be a big success with many Head Teachers and families complimenting the Club for managing the “best ever” swimming gala that they could remember. As ever Gavin was a key player in delivering these highly successful and well-organised events.    During the year our Website has been completely revised and continues to have more features added almost on a monthly basis. It is a superb source of information and Gavin was instrumental in developing and maintaining this superb resource. Indeed he works tirelessly to keep swimmers and their families informed of any relevant news through the website and countless invaluable e-mails. The most extraordinary thing about Gavin is not the hundreds of hours of unpaid time and effort that he freely gives to us, nor the work he actually does but the way in which he does it. Gavin has a remarkable bond with all the swimmers. The children blossom under his care, encouragement and guidance. He is a primary influence on the swimmers’ sporting success. There is nothing like a high five from Gavin on their way back from a good race. Even after disasters there is never a cross word, just advice and encouragement. At our annual presentation evening last week the Chairman asked the swimmers who they thought deserved an award and instinctively the children all started to chant Gavin’s name. If only a moment like that could be captured in words, you would understand instinctively why Gavin has been nominated as Coach of the Year. Enclosed with this nomination letter is a stack of nominations written by the children, parents, coaches and committee members at the Club. Everyone wanted to tell you in their own words what Gavin’s contribution has meant to them. Gavin has been a tremendous servant to the Club for many years, but in 2007 he has in effect stepped into the breach left by the departure of our former Head Coach, and worked if its possible more hours off poolside than on. Without his support the many moments we have enjoyed this year would not have occurred. We would formally wish to record our sincere gratitude for his massive contribution to the Club in the last twelve months and The Coach of the Year 2007 would be a fitting and well deserved tribute to a remarkable man.