MEET OUR COACHES
Embark on a swimming journey that transforms challenges into achievements with our professional and highly skilled team.
Explore their background, including their qualifications and experiences. Each biography showcases their unique journey in the sport and commitment to excellence in coaching.
Coach SARAH
Co-Founder / Director
I’ve been involved in swimming in one capacity or another for most of my life. I started as a 7 year old with a love for the water and swam for a number of clubs across Staffordshire, regularly attending Nationals throughout my teenage years in Butterfly, Backstroke and Individual Medley.
These days I’m a very proud Head Coach and my background in education has provided me with some very valuable skills. I’m known for connecting well with young people and providing supportive environments where swimmers can enjoy learning.
I’m a Level 3 Swim England Senior Swim Coach with an understanding of advanced stroke mechanics and experiences in developing competitive athletes at elite levels.
I’m incredibly proud to have coached both English and British Age Group Swimming Champions, along with elite triathletes including a British Super Series Champion and Junior World Championship Qualifier.
My swimmers discover that they are capable of far more than they think. I find nothing more rewarding than ‘that lightbulb moment’ - that exact second when a swimmer masters a skill that they have been struggling with.
As cheesy as it sounds, I help turn effort into progress and potential into performance. Swimming is the best sport in the world I know that discipline and resilience learnt in the water is a lifelong skill that nobody should be without.
Much love, Sarah
Qualifications
National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC)
Swim England Level 1 Assistant Teacher
Swim England Level 2 Teacher
Swim England Level 1 Assistant Coach
Swim England Level 2 Coach
Swim England Level 3 Senior Coach
Swim England Level 2 Open Water Coach
Swim England Safeguarding
First Aid at Work
BA (HONS) Primary Education with Physical Education
Coach CLAIRE
Co-Founder / Director
After a long hiatus I have returned to the sport of swimming, I swam competitively when I was younger and I swam at Dane Valley ASC in Congleton and at Biddulph ASC as a dual club member taking part in galas for both clubs.
Parenthood brought swimming back into my life with both my children swimming at the club and I really value the setting there and what swimming as a sport has to offer. When Sarah asked me to help coach at the club it unlocked a passion in me which had laid dormant in me since I was a teenager.
Fast forward to now after being a ‘swim parent’ for 5 years (which is a job in its own right) I’ve been in a swim coaching role in the last 2+ years as an Assistant Coach to Sarah at Biddulph Swimming Club and most recently I have completed my Level 2 Swim Coaching qualification. The joy of my experience in coaching so far has been focussed on county/regional standard swimmers – but I love working with the children that have just entered the competitive swimming scene too. Seeing the progress a swimmer can make, I know I thrive in being able to be part of their journey in reaching and achieving their goals.
The idea of ‘Hydra’ was born whilst Sarah and I were nurturing our now cherished friendship on a beach in Spain during a well-earned ‘short’ break between swim seasons... IYKYK!!
I have worked in the public sector and for the last 15 as an analyst and I look forward to being able to master the technical elements using our Elite Endless Pool and be able to provide useful practical feedback to our customers in the process.
Alongside my analyst role I have also maintained several volunteer roles over the years including swim coaching at the club, being a vice chair of governors at the local primary school and the chair of the large annual village fete committee in Hydra’s home of Astbury.
So, I feel like I have acquired lots of the necessary skills along the way...It almost feels like (if you believe in that type of thing!) my path in life has brought me here and I am ready to immerse myself into the sport I love. I am eager to see age-group swimmers, masters and multi discipline athletes such as triathletes have access to the accelerated progress tool that is our Endless Pool. We can give you specific drills that will help you improve further which can be taken back to you club/pool or lake!
Qualifications
Swim England Level 1 Assistant Teacher
Swim England Level 1 Assistant Coach
Swim England Level 2 Coach
Swim England Safeguarding
Emergency First Aid at Work
Annual Certificate for understanding the Prevent Duty 2025
HND Sport and Leisure Management