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City of Wakefield Swimming Club is a competitive swimming
club. We coach children so that they are able to compete in
galas. There are various swimming galas throughout the year.
The world of competitive swimming can be quite confusing to
new members - so here is a brief explanation of galas that
are available to you. We will generally advise swimmers
which events are suitable for them to enter. This programme of different levels of event is part of the overall set of ASA guidelines on competition and training for young swimmers. There is an excellent document to describe this - 'Success is Long Term' - available on the ASA site : click here to view it. |
| Club Championships |
| Each year we hold our own Club Championships, which culminate in a finals gala at Normanton. This takes place in November and is open to every member of the club who has been with us from 1st September of that year. Distance events are held slightly earlier in the autumn. Events are divided into age groups and trophies and medals are presented at our annual presentation evening in December. This may well be a swimmer's first taste of competitive swimming and prepares them for the other galas. Click here for more information on our Club Championships. |
| Inter-Club Galas |
| These are galas where the Club competes against other clubs in local pools. These include regular galas held by Kirklees & District ASA (at Spenborough pool) and Airedale & Wharfedale District ASA at the Aireborough pool in Guiseley. We are also affiliated to the Bradford & District ASA but have not taken part in their events in recent years. These galas are attended by a large proportion of our swimmers, have no qualifying times, and include individual and team events. |
| Swim Leagues |
| We currently swim in two leagues - the Barnsley Minors League and the Pocklington Times League. Each has (normally) four events through the year, one of which is hosted by ourselves at Normanton. Swimmers are chosen for these events in the age groups and subject to the rules of each competition - for instance swimmers who have reached Yorkshire Finals in 50m or 100m events are not allowed to swim in the Barnsley Minors teams in those events. These are a perfect opportunity for swimmers to get to know each other in a team environment and to support each other. |
| Licensed and Graded Meets |
| There are many other galas that we attend during the year (see the Club Calendar on this website) and we try to choose a selection that will meet all of our swimmers' abilities across the squads. Information on forthcoming competitions, suitability, entry qualification times and how to enter will appear on this website. Licensed meets must meet minimum criteria regarding the organisation, management and facilities available and these times are automatically recorded on the ASA 'official' national database. For regional and national championships, entry times must have been achieved in licensed meets. Graded meets relate to the range of entry times permitted, in order to provide competitions for all levels of swimmers. Events may be graded A, B or C depending on the cut-off times - swimmers will often have to have NOT swum faster than a qualifying time to be allowed to enter. Note that swimmers must have affiliated to the higher ASA category to enter any licensed event. |
| Yorkshire Championships (County) |
| One of the club's main aims is to produce swimmers who achieve qualifying times for their age group in the Yorkshire Swimming Associations Age Group (BAGCATS) and Junior/Senior championships. These are held in February and March across a full range of strokes and distances. Swimmers can only be entered when they have achieved the appropriate qualifying times. A second event is held in October (the Winter championships) over a relatively small range of events typically 100m races and 200m medley events. Again, swimmers must have affiliated to the higher ASA category to enter these events. |
| Regional (ASA North East Region or ASANER) Championships |
| The championships are the next level up from the Yorkshire championships and the qualifying times are faster. These cover clubs from all over Yorkshire and the North East. Events are now split across the Region, with recent events in new pools in Durham, Sunderland and Harrogate as well as Sheffield and Leeds. Qualifying times for these events have to be achieved in an official licensed meet in the twelve months prior to the events which are normally held in May and June (Junior/Senior and BAGCATS). Additionally there are winter short course championships held in November for a selection of events. |
| National Age Groups and Youth Championships |
| National Age Groups are exactly what they say - these championships attract the very top swimmers in the country who make the very tough qualifying times. They are normally held in July - often at Sheffield. As a club we have had a small number of representatives achieve these times and represent the club in these championships, including Sophie Smith, Lucy Stevens, Chloe Bracewell and Ian Perrell. Darcy Allison joined that list in 2008. Click here to view information and qualifying times for the 2011 events in July/August. |