Head Coach
Laurel Bailey
I have worked at Warrender Baths Club since 2004 and as Head Coach since January 2009. In 2016, I was appointed to Team GB for the Rio Olympics, one of the first female coaches appointed to the Olympic swimming team staff in Great Britain. This followed senior team staff appointments at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships for Great Britain and the 2014 Commonwealth Games for Team Scotland. I have coached athletes to the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, 2008 and 2016 Paralympic Games, 2013 and 2015 World Championships and 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games. I have been at the forefront of developing and implementing changes to the Club programme (including splitting our National level squads into gender specific training groups) which have met with great success. I am now overseeing the programme, focusing on areas such as coach mentoring and development, in order to improve our coaching standards and delivery at all levels of the Club.
National Performance
Bruce Halloran
I was a swimmer, poolside helper, assistant coach and ultimately head coach at East Lothian Swim Team, spanning a period of 18 years. During that time, I over saw Scottish, British and International success, most notably with Stephen Clegg, who was a finalist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. I have been involved in the full development pathway with Scottish Swimming, from DRP, Youth Development Squad, Youth Squad and now the Junior National Team. My educational background is in Sports Science, having completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Stirling. I am now undertaking my MSc in Sports Performance Coaching, again at the University of Stirling. I am delighted to have made the move into Edinburgh and I am very much looking forward to working with National Performance.
National Girls
Mitchell Anderson
Mitchell swam with East Lothian Swim Team for a few years before stepping onto poolside and helping out the coaching team. From there, after gaining his UKCC Level 2 coaching, Mitchell took a position as a Lead Coach at Haddington Swimming Club where he coached for 3 years before taking over the National Girls Squad at Warrender in September 2020. Whilst swimming for ELST he gained his HND in Coaching and Developing Sport, and then moved onto his BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science whilst coaching at Haddington. Mitchell has also been involved with the Scottish Swimming DRP programme as an assistant and assistant lead in 2019 and 2020.
National Boys
Calum Chittleburgh
Calum is a former National Performance swimmer at Warrender. He built on his experience of coaching at Benson level with the Club by teaching swimming in Australia for a year. Calum is studying Photography at Edinburgh Napier University.
Youth Girls
Liam Davis
Having been a part of the University of Edinburgh Performance Swim Team and competing at an international level, I was fortunate to compete at seven World Swimming Championships and the Youth Olympic Games. These experiences at the highest level of the sport have shaped my passion for swimming and inspired me to bring that knowledge and dedication into coaching, supporting the next generation of swimmers in achieving their goals. I joined the team in August 2024, primarily coaching the Youth Girls squad while also assisting with the Wilkie and Quin squads. Outside of coaching, I am pursuing my dream of becoming a commercial pilot, channeling the same discipline and focus that competitive swimming has instilled in me.
Youth Boys
Will Beach
Raised in Canada, I have been involved in the swimming world for over 15 years, competing myself at the Provincial, National, and University level, achieving USports and Canadian Trials qualification standards before retiring in 2020. I began as a volunteer coach in Canada with my former team in 2018, becoming an Assistant and then Head Coach at the same team before moving to Edinburgh. I have been involved in age group coaching in Canada for six years, and am excited to transfer my experience, skills, and knowledge to Warrender! Outside of school, I am currently pursuing a MSc in History at the University of Edinburgh and enjoy cooking, brisk walks, and the occasional flat white.
Wilkie Squads
Francesca Kane
Francesca worked through the Warrender programme as swimmer, reaching National Girls squad. She is also an experienced swimming teacher, working with swimmers of all ages and abilities. Francesca is studying Primary Teaching.
Quin Squads
Sarah Harper
I am currently in my 4th year of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and thought it about time to start coaching again after stopping once moving to Edinburgh during the Pandemic. I swam with my home club Wick ASC for 5 years before moving onto coaching, which I continued for 4 years. In this time I gained my coaching qualification and valuable experience that I’m looking forward to putting to use in the coming years with Warrender.
Benson Squads
Louise Edmunds
I am currently a student going into my second year at the University of Edinburghwhere I am studying for a MEng Chemical Engineering degree. Alongside this, I swim for the University in one of their performances squads and have competed at national level obtaining numerous medals over the years. I first started working with the Benson squads early this year in March and really enjoyed the environment and working with the swimmers.