STA Name Aquatic Excellence Award Winners for 2024
On Friday 11th October, STA hosted its annual Aquatic Excellence Awards to celebrate and showcase the achievements of all those who have been involved in delivering learn to swim programmes and aquatics training over the last 12 months, in line with STA’s charity objectives.
For 2024, ten STAr winners were announced at the presentation ceremony, which was held at the Radisson Blu East Midlands Airport Hotel, as part of STA’s 2-day national conference, and hosted by STA’s President Ali Beckman, STA’s CEO Dave Candler and STA’s Water Safety Ambassador Mike Goody.
The ten 2024 STAr winners, with the Trustees comments are as follows:
STAr Swimming Teacher – Sponsored by TUI
Lara-Jane Ginty
Lara-Jane Ginty is a deserving winner after receiving so many nominations. FANTASTIC, AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, EXCELLENT, ENTHUSIASTIC, PASSIONATE, KNOWLEDGEABLE, SUPPORTIVE, KIND AND CARING are just a few of the words used to describe Lara-Jane by the many parents who nominated her.
STAr Tutor
Jo Cheek
Jo Cheek was highly praised because of her passion and drive both within the ATC she works, but also in her support for the STA. In her nominations, Jo was credited for being instrumental in improving their ATC standards and driving quality on a consistent basis, all while ensuring a positive experience for all.
STAr Member – Sponsored by LoveAdmin
Mark McNichol
Mark McNichol in recognition of his support on and off-line for STA members across all disciplines; and to the STA team to whom he always provides honest, constructive feedback to improve processes and products, and puts forward ideas to enhance standards that will benefit members.
STAr Water Safety Educator – Sponsored by SJ Training Solutions
Adam Knight
Adam Knight for his unwavering commitment and dedication in fighting against global drowning – from training swimming teachers in Vietnam, Mozambique, Jamaica and Uganda, to running an annual Swim Safe Summer campaign, where he has organised the delivery of school water safety assemblies and reached over 10,000 children. Adam has also run free swimming lessons for over 1500 children in Kamapala and the great lakes in the west – and is a fantastic ambassador for SwimTayka and Zoggs, taking goggles, floats and swimwear to every project he visits.
Anna Croner, Swimming Teacher and Manager at Angel Swim London collected the award on behalf of Adam.
STAr Swim Academy – Sponsored by TUI
Active Tameside
Active Tameside was applauded for how they strive for excellence in all they do and who make a real positive impact in the communities they serve. They were also active supporters of STAnd Up and STArLIGHT, and contributed massively to the success of these charity campaigns in Tameside.
STAr Swim School Provider of the Year (under 500 participants per week) – Sponsored by MOR Solutions
Jelli Babies Swimming
Jelli Babies Swimming was highly praised for their passion for baby swimming and commitment to inclusivity, offering British Sign Language and Autism Inclusive lessons. They also do so much for charity and are consistently raising money in their lessons for Tommy’s and many more local children’s charities in their area.
STAr Swim School Provider of the Year (over 500 participants per week) – Sponsored by MOR Solutions
Mini Swimming
Mini Swimming stood out because of their dedication to community outreach, innovation, and sustainability. They have not only helped more than 15,000 children learn how to swim over the last 12 years, they also have a dedicated training and mentoring programme for new teachers – and in 2020 they built their own pool, which has opened up opportunities for even more children to learn a life skill. What shines through is their relentless commitment to excellence, coupled with the positive impact they have made.
STAr Not-for-Profit Community Campaign
Kingfishers Swim School
Kingfishers Swim School Fund who works hard to fundraise and help families who are experiencing financial hardship, so that children can access swimming lessons and vital equipment, thus giving everyone the opportunity to learn to swim without barriers. Their phrase: “Being able to save your own life shouldn’t come with a price tag,” was endorsed by the Trustees. Over the last 12 months, they’ve helped families with children that need specialist 1:1 lessons or transitional classes due to a disability, as well as families that have experienced an illness in the family so a parent has had to give up work – and much more.
STAr Approved Training Centre of the Year (less than 50 courses delivered over the last 12 months)
ABC Training
ABC Training was celebrated for their high level of compliance and their personal and creative approach to tutoring, which makes the courses more enjoyable for learners – as evidenced by their excellent feedback.
STAr Approved Training Centre of the Year (more than 50 courses delivered over the last 12 months)
CB Training Services
CB Training Services was credited for having an exemplary compliance record across all STA disciplines, and who always receive positive feedback from the hundreds of learners they put through a qualification every year. The pre and post course support they offer learners is also excellent, with many clients requesting their service year after year.
The STAr awards sponsored by Konfidence, saw nominations come from individuals and companies working in the UK and internationally, and in both the public and private sectors, reflecting the scale of STA’s membership.
Ali Beckman, said: “This year’s finalists and winners deserve to be recognised for the outstanding contribution they make to grassroots swimming and aquatic training, and I’d like to say a huge congratulations to everyone involved.”
During the presentation evening on Friday 1th October, STA also presented its traditional member awards – the Sir Henry Pike Award, Cross of Merit, STA Ross Eagle Award, and new for 2024 a Special Recognition Award.
Sir Henry Pike Award
Robbie Phillips
This is named in honour of Sir Henry Pike who played a crucial role in the early days of the STA as Honorary Secretary, and is awarded to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the STA over the last 12 months. The 2024 recipient of this award is Robbie Phillips. Robbie has been in the industry for 50 or more years; he is so incredibly passionate and caring about everything he does, and is a fantastic ambassador for STA. This year he was presented with the Sir Henry Pike award, not only because of all the incredible expert help he continues to provide on pool plant, but because of all the amazing voluntary work he has been doing in his retirement to promote the importance of water safety in schools in the Neath Port Talbot area.
Cross of Merit
Des Cossum
This is awarded by STA’s Trustees to a member who has provided a long and fulfilled service to STA and to the world of swimming in general. The 2024 award was awarded posthumously to Des Cossum in recognition, and in memory of his services to STA and aquatics over 50 years. The award was presented to his family on the night.
STA Ross Eagle Award
Garry Seghers
This award was created by STA last year for its 90th anniversary in celebration of Mr Ross Eagle, who is recognised as the actual founder of the Association. The award represents his pioneering vision and his dogged determination to improve swimming at a time when he faced such opposition, and is awarded to an individual who has gone above and beyond for swimming during their career – someone who has been determined in their efforts and made a real difference to grassroots swimming, be it in their local community or on a larger scale nationally or internationally. The 2024 recipient is Garry Seghers, who has been teaching swimming and lifesaving all around the world for over 50 years. Garry was instrumental in the development of STA’s swimming teaching and lifesaving qualifications for over 20 years, and is now making an impact in Vietnam training teachers and teaching vital lifesaving skills to children and adults in rivers and seas – over the years he has helped countless charities, and has even written a children’s book recently to help promote the importance water safety.
STA Special Recognition Award
Marietasha O’Flaherty
As a first this year, STA presented a Special Recognition Award to Marietasha O’Flaherty who over the last 25 years has shown unwavering commitment to teaching swimming – this special swimming teacher has transformed countless lives, especially those of children with autism and disabilities. She has offered lessons at no charge, ensuring that every child and adult, regardless of financial constraints, can learn a vital life skill. Her generosity also transcends borders – she has taught internationally, spreading her love for swimming across continents. Marietasha’s impact is immeasurable, said her nominators: “She has turned fear into confidence, hesitation into strokes, and water into a second home. Her legacy ripples through generations, leaving behind a trail of empowered swimmers.”
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