Swimming has been an academy sport at St Peter’s, Cambridge since 2009. Our Swimming Academy has produced a number of national titleholders at various age levels as well as New Zealand representatives. We have some of the best on-site facilities in New Zealand, including a 10 lane, 25 metre pool that is heated and variable depth, and a superb training gym. We have nationally renowned coaches who provide holistic, tailored programmes that develop talent and pathways for students to excel as swimmers.
Programme structure
Our junior squad caters for swimmers aged 12 and under. This is the first of the competitive squads, with each session lasting 1 hour. Swimmers are encouraged to attend at least 2 - 3 sessions per week. The key objectives introduced are:
- Swim training, using the pace clock.
- Mastering correct starts and turns.
- Increasing the aerobic base.
- Racing at club nights and local swim meets.
- Working towards Waikato Junior Championships.
Our regional development squad is the second competitive squad, Each sessions last one hour and swimmers are encouraged to attend at least 3 - 4 sessions per week. The key objectives introduced are:
- Introduction to interval training, using the pace clock.
- Increasing the aerobic base.
- Basic dry land training e.g stretching, sit ups, press ups.
- Racing at club night, local and regional swim meets.
- Working towards Waikato Junior Championships and Zonal Junior Championships.
Our regional performance squad attends 4 - 5 sessions per week which last from 1 - 1.5 hours. The key objectives introduced are:
- Introduction to interval training, using the pace clock.
- Increasing the aerobic base.
- Basic dry land training e.g stretching, sit ups, press ups.
- Racing at club nights, local and regional swim meets, and Zonal Junior Championships.
- Working towards top 8 at Zonal Junior Championships and Div II.
The national development squad is the fourth level in the competitive programme, with sessions lasting 1.5 - 2 hours. Swimmers attend at least 5 times a week. Key objectives introduced are:
- Using heart rate, stroke rate and developing self-awareness in the water.
- Goal setting.
- Developing swimmers aerobically and anaerobically.
- More advanced dry land training e.g core stability, cords and more.
- Racing at local, inter-regional and national swim meets.
- Working towards SNZ National Age Group Championships and SNZ Division II Championships.
Our national performance squad is the fifth level and sessions last 1.5 - 2. Swimmers attend at least 6 - 7 sessions a week. Key objectives introduced are:
- Using heart rate, stroke rate and developing self-awareness in the water.
- Goal setting.
- Developing swimmers aerobically and anaerobically.
- More advanced dry land training e.g weights, core stability, cords and more.
- Racing at local, inter-regional and national swim meets.
- Working towards SNZ National Age Group Championships and Open Nationals.
Our senior performance squad is the highest level in the competitive programme with each session lasting 1.5 - 2 hours. Swimmers attend 8 - 10 sessions per week plus two gym sessions a week. Swimmers have finished school (university or tertiary) and are qualified for Open Nationals. They key objectives of this squad are:
- Developing swimmers to perform on the international stage.
- Goal setting.
- Developing swimmers aerobically and anaerobically.
- More advanced dry land training e.g weights, core stability, cords and more.
- Racing at local, inter-regional, national and international swim meets.
- Working towards international swim meets.
Swimming Accolades
- Numerous national titleholders at junior and age-group levels.
- Numerous swimmers representing St Peter’s at regional and national levels.
- Top swimming club at Swimming Waikato Junior Championships in 2015.
- Top school in the Waikato in 2014.
- Top girls school in the Waikato in 2015.
- Top club at the Swimming NZ Division II Championships in 2015.
- Top Waikato club in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
- 6th equal at the Open National Championships.
- Won Central Zone (Waikato, BOP, Taranaki, HBPB) Junior Championships in 2017.
- 2nd place at the Swimming NZ Division II Championships in 2017.
- Alumni student Sam Perry is representing St Peter’s and NZ at the World Champs in Hungary.
