Dan Capozzi is Chair of HHSC and a keen Masters swimmer and Level 2 swimming coach. With two children who also swim with HHSC, Dan has a strong personal connection to the club and understands the importance of creating a positive and supportive environment for swimmers of all ages.

Working closely with club members and fellow committee members, Dan helps ensure the smooth running of the club and supports its continued development. His experience as both a swimmer and coach, combined with his family’s involvement in HHSC, makes him passionate about helping the club thrive and providing opportunities for all its members to enjoy and develop through swimming.

Rachel Cooper is the Secretary of HHSC, a Level 2 swimming coach and a qualified Level 2 judge. With a son who swims at HHSC, Rachel has a close involvement with the club and is passionate about supporting its swimmers, families and volunteers.

Rachel takes the lead on all of the club’s home galas, coordinating officials and volunteers to help ensure each event runs smoothly and is a positive experience for everyone involved. She is also the go-to person at the club for questions and queries, always happy to help and provide guidance to members and families. Her coaching and judging experience, together with her commitment to HHSC, makes her a valued member of the committee.

We are delighted to be able to introduce you to our new welfare officer, Fiona. Fiona comes from a background in adult safeguarding and mental health and works across several complex health systems. She is deeply committed to helping people access mental health services across Hertfordshire and is enthusiastic about empowering young people to speak up and seek support when they need it.

Fiona can often be found in the foyer, on the balcony or in the gym. Please speak to her if you have any concerns. She can also be contacted via welfare@hhsc.org,uk.

Julie has been volunteering for the club since 2022 as Fixtures Secretary and as lead Team Manager at Galas. She joined the Committee in 2023 and is also a qualified timekeeper. She has two daughters who both swim and compete for the club. Julie works closely with the coaching team to ensure swimmers have opportunities to put their training into practice at galas. Julie has recently taken her Level 1 Assistant Coach qualification to help with coaching poolside.

Sarah Young is a Level 2 coach with over 20 years’ experience in teaching and coaching. Her daughter, Emily, joined HHSC at the age of seven and has competed at County and Regional level for over 10 years.

Sarah has a long-standing connection with swimming, having previously been a member of Hemel Hempstead Swimming & Diving Club. She has also swum with the HHSC Masters squad, competing at numerous competitions across Hertfordshire.

Sarah has supported HHSC through both coaching and officiating, helping swimmers across the club and assisting at competitions and galas. Sarah brings a wealth of swimming and coaching experience to HHSC and enjoys supporting swimmers in their development and contributing to the wider club community.

Matt Rafiq-Craske is a Masters swimmer at HHSC and has two daughters who are also involved with swimming. Matt has completed his Level 2 coaching course and regularly supports all squads across the club, helping swimmers with their development and progression.

Matt also plays an important role in supporting the club’s meets, running the AOE (electronic results system) alongside Harshana. He enjoys being involved with HHSC and supporting swimmers, families and the wider club community.

Richard Daniell has been involved with HHSC for many years. After taking a year or two away from the club, Richard returned as a Masters Coach and joined the committee in 2019.

Richard brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the club and enjoys supporting our Masters swimmers, as well as contributing to the wider running and development of HHSC.

Harshana Nakandala and his son joined HHSC in April 2023, a few months after returning to the UK. Harshana joined the committee later that year, with a desire to help support the running of the club, assist at meets and give something back to the Hemel swimming community.

Harshana assists with all things technical at HHSC and plays an important role in running the electronic results system (AOE) alongside Matt at the club’s meets. His son was made to feel very welcome at HHSC and continues to swim with the club as a member of the Performance Squad.

Harshana enjoys being involved with the club and supporting its swimmers, families and wider swimming community, helping HHSC to continue developing and providing a positive environment for its members.

Jo Mansfield joined the HHSC committee because swimming has become such an important part of her family life. With two children at the club — her daughter in the Competition Squad and her son in the Foundation Squad — Jo has experience of the club from both sides and really values the opportunities, friendships and confidence that swimming provides.

Jo is a Qualified Team Manager at swimming galas and also supports the club with social activities and school liaison. She enjoys being involved, getting to know other parents and swimmers, and helping to create a friendly, welcoming and supportive community around HHSC.