The Mount Kelly Swim Squad was formed in 1978 in conjunction with the opening of the new 4-lane 25m pool. The then Headmaster, Mr Dennis Ball, and the Head of PE, Mr Bob Govier, invited local girl, 16-year-old Sharron Davies and her father/coach, Terry Davies, to benefit from the school’s facilities in preparation for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.
Sharron was the new rising star in world swimming and had already competed, at the age of 13, in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.
Mount Kelly was one of the first schools of its kind in the UK to provide specific coaching and training opportunities for high calibre swimmers alongside their academic studies. The combination of education and boarding was a considerable draw and 16 high calibre swimmers were recruited into the Sixth Form to create a Junior International Swim Squad and train alongside Sharron. Terry Davies continued to coach the squad for the two years leading up to the Moscow Olympics, where Sharron Davies went on to win a silver medal.
Archie Brew was appointed as Director of Swimming in 1980. Under Archie’s guidance, the Swim Squad went on to achieve some quite remarkable results. During his time at Mount Kelly, Archie produced more than 40 International Swimmers and 12 Olympians, which included his two sons, Robin and Paul. Robin captained the British Team at the Los Angeles Olympics, setting a new Olympic Record in the heats of the 200m Individual Medley and finishing 4th in the Olympic final. Paul competed at the Seoul Olympics four years later, setting a new British record in the 400m Individual Medley.
Kelly swimmers such as Andrew Jameson, who went on to win an Olympic Bronze medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, and also an incredible three Gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, helped to establish Mount Kelly as one of the strongest swimming squads in the country.
Robin Brew joined Kelly from the British Swimming National High Performance Centre at the University of Bath.
Mount Kelly Swim Squad was selected by the ASA to be the first school to pilot the quality assured accredited Swim 21 award. Mount Kelly attained the prestigious “Performance Club” and also UK Sports “Club Mark” awards, which draw together the many strands involved in the management of the coaching process at a performance level. Since receiving the awards in 2004, Mount Kelly has also successfully achieved the “Competitive Development” and “Skill Development” awards.
Emma, who has medalled at international level, started her coaching career in 2002. Beginning at Loughborough, Emma went on to coach at Millfield School and in 2010 was appointed Head Coach at Rushmoor Royals Swimming Club. Emma joined the coaching team at Mount Kelly in 2012, and before her appointment worked as the Assistant Director of Swimming.
Bronze – Sydney 2000 – Modern Pentathlon
Gold – Tokyo 2020 – Triathlon (BER)
Silver – Moscow 1980 – 400m Ind. Medley (GBR)
Silver – Moscow 1980 – 4x100m Medley Relay
Silver – Beijing 2008 – Modern Pentathlon
Bronze – Tokyo 2020 – 200m Butterfly (ITA)
Bronze – Tokyo 2020 – 4 x 100m Medley Relay (Butterfly leg) (ITA)
Bronze – Seoul 1988 – 100m Butterfly
Olympic Record – LA 1984 – 200m Ind. Medley
Women
Men