Club Championships

Club Championships, affectionately known as The Club Champs

The aim of the club is to teach children to swim and develop them into competitive swimmers able to compete for the club in League gala’s, attend Open Meets and achieve County times and progress to the Midlands and Nationals.

The Club Championships is the starting point for this.

Club Championships are gala’s set up by the club where only GD swimmers compete, where swimmers swim to win but also to gain a time, a personal best (PB). It is an opportunity for swimmers to experience competitive swimming in a more relaxed environment than say an Open Meet or League gala. They are held at the Leisure Centre pool.

The idea is for the younger swimmer to gain competitive experience in a familiar, friendly environment encouraging them to then enter Open Meets and to be available for Galas, gaining a time here helps Mark select the League Squads.

For older, experienced swimmers it is a chance to gain or improve times and to mark their progress.

Swimmers compete against other swimmers of a similar age and ability and whilst swimming to get a time, you are swimming to win.

There are medals for the first three places with trophies for winners presented on the night to the younger age groups.

Any swimmer can enter as long as they are the correct age for the event – the swimmer must be that age at the end of the year – 31st December. We do expect swimmers across all groups to enter the club champs as it is an important part of your development and helps the club assess your progress and our teaching and training programmes.

Each event costs £1 to enter but Swordfish and Performance Squad have one free entry.

As swimmers in Swordfish and Performance Squad, you are expected as part of your squad criteria to swim in a minimum of 3 of the club champs.

There are events for small pool swimmers and shallow and middle widths swimmers to enter.

We aim to hold 5 club champs each calendar year – make a note to look at the notice boards, Facebook and the website for the dates and then for the entry forms on the club desk 2 or 3 weeks before each gala – they will also be on the website.

Each Championship has a different programme of events, details are on the entry form, which for each Club Champs will be available to download and print from the website or you can pick up a hard copy from the GD desk a month or so before the event. Complete the form and hand it in to the GD desk with the appropriate money by the closing date noted on the form.

If you have any questions please see Mark (head coach) or your squad teacher/coach.

Thanks

Management Team