Seb Leather - Head Coach

Seb began his journey in swimming at Elmbridge Phoenix Swim Club. After ceasing swimming for a number of years to pursue other sporting interests, Seb returned to swimming through teaching, coaching and competing as a Masters athlete.

Seb's coaching journey started at EPSC for several years before transitioning to Woking SC for over 5 years. He has now returned as the Head Coach of Elmbridge and is putting his stamp on the club.

With over a decade of experience coaching in the sport; he has consistently shown success, developing athletes to County, Regional and National achievements. Seb considers himself to be an avid student of the sport, learning from other coaches, swimmers, coaches' clinics and other various resources.

"I joined the club at a pivotal time, as it grows from strenght to strenght. I have a great team of coaches who support me and together we are seeing our swimmers achieve incredible milestones, from reaching Nationals to those who swim to keep fit."

Cerys Howells - Squad Coach

Cerys has been a competitive swimmer with the club since the age of 8 years old. At her first counties, she won ‘Top Girl’ by gaining the most points in the 10/11 year old age group. Since then she has continued to qualify at county and regional level, winning multiple medals . L argely a middle-distance freestyler she has also competed in the Welsh Nationals.

At the age of 16, after volunteering for 3 years, Cerys gained her Level 2 Swim Teaching qualification in 2021 to become a junior coach at Elmbridge, whilst continuing to swim in the Performance squad . Over the past 3 years, she has gained experience coaching squads across the club from development to performance, as well as supporting swimmers at galas and competitions.

Cerys completed her Level 2 Swim Coaching qualification in 2024. Alongside her coaching, Cerys is studying a Sports Management degree at St Mary’s University where she is learning invaluable skills that aid her work with the club.

"My journey with the club has been amazing from swimmer to coach and I love inspiring the next generation of swimmers."

Eve Perry - Performance and Development Squad Coach

Swimming became a big part of Eve's life when she joined Elmbridge Phoenix. After gaining her first county time for the 50m backstroke in 2013, she continued to train hard, and went on to compete, mainly in the freestyle sprint events, for Elmbridge Phoenix at Regionals and the English Nationals at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. She continued her swimming journey, training and competing with the High-Performance squad, at the University of Birmingham.

Eve started to volunteer as a coach at Elmbridge Phoenix for her bronze and silver DofE and, after almost three years of volunteering, she then went on to complete her Level 1 and 2 teaching qualifications and more recently her Assistant Coach qualification. She has now been coaching at Elmbridge Phoenix for over 6. Eve has primarily worked with the younger squads, ensuring that they develop the correct techniques while enjoying their swimming. However, more recently she has coached the Performance squads, where she applies the skills and knowledge that she has learnt from her Sports Exercise and Health Sciences degree.

"I feel my experience from being a swimmer, turned coach has given me the insight to help develop swimmers and ensure they have the technique that will deliver positive results in the pool."

Grace Polly - Squad Coach

Grace started her competitive swimming journey when she joined Elmbridge in 2010, igniting her passion for swimming, competing at the Surrey County Championships with the Elmbridge relay team on multiple occasions. As well as competing for Elmbridge, she also swam for the RAF Air Cadets where she won medals at both county and regional level as well as finishing 4th in the RAF AC National Championships at RAF Cranwell. Unfortunately, her competitive swimming journey was cut short following a fractured femur.

Whilst swimming with her university team, Grace qualified as an ASA Level 1 and 2 Swimming Teacher. Since joining Elmbridge in 2021, she mainly coaches our development squads and is also the club's qualified open water coach and ensures those swimmers interested in open water can train and compete in the warmer months.

"I am excited to share my enthusiasm for watersports with our swimmers. I aspire to help swimmers achieve their highest potential whilst helping the club perform to its fullest extent."

Seb Stearn-Reid - Squad Coach

Starting his swimming journey at Kingston Royals Swimming Club, and then transferring to Elmbridge Phoenix Swimming Club in 2019, Seb was a successful county and regional swimmer. He developed a passion and speed for breaststroke and butterfly, as well as taking on harder events such as 400 IM, competing in these events successfully at many galas, as well as representing both clubs at Arena Leagues.

Seb completed his Level 1 and 2 Swim Teaching qualification in Summer 2023 and currently coaches Bronze and Competitive 1, and supports Cerys with Performance 3 squad. He also supports swimmers at galas and competitions.

"My love for swimming and passing on this knowledge, and my own experience, to the swimmers I coach is so rewarding especially when I see them at galas achieving PBs and medals."

Manny Obiago - Squad Coach

Having taught swimming to children and adults for six years, Manny wanted to ensure the children he had taught had a pathway to go on to competitive swimming. He is passionate about the Swim Active Programme because it welcomes non-competitive swimmers to continue their swimming journey for fitness and fun. As well as swim coaching and teaching, he is working towards being a qualified personal trainer. He enjoys training in the gym and swimming for fitness. Even though he works hard with the kids, having fun and enjoying their sessions is his priority.

"I love being part of the club and seeing the positive impact I have on the swimmers I coach"

Beau Doran - Squad Coach

Beau began learning to swim at the age of 3, by the age of 9 he competed regularly at Counties and Welsh Nationals level. Unfortunately like many swimmers, Covid hit which impacted his swimming career and his goal to make Regionals. Now a Masters swimmer and focused on studying a Degree in Sports Performance Analysis and Talent ID, swimming at Masters Nationals has been put on hold.

Completing his Level 2 Swim Teaching qualification, Beau has been a coach at Phoenix for over 2 years. Beau utilises his theoretical learning gained from his current University studies to teach the practical side of coaching.

“I have a passion for coaching and like to help a range of swimmers during their stages of development working on improving their technique and times, whilst trying to make the sessions fun and competitive.”

Jess Holder

Jess has been a Swim England-qualified coach for three years, and teaching swimming for 12 years. She has coached on the Middlesex County Camp for 11-12 year olds, the London Regional Camp 13-14 year olds and is currently coaching on the Swim England National Camp for 15-year olds.

She has previously been a lead coach for two squads at Teddington Swimming Club, coaching swimmers from Development through to County and Regional level. She joins Elmbridge Phoenix part-time with the Junior Squad.

Her favourite part of being a coach is instilling confidence in swimmers and helping them to believe in their ability; during lockdown she set up a temporary pool in her garden and taught over 300 lessons to children that were otherwise unable to swim.

Jess is a mum to two teenagers, both of whom swim competitively. She also enjoys running, swimming, yoga and paddle boarding on the Thames when the river behaves!