Berks/S.Bucks "no frills" long course

[Phil Tanner]

Aldershot, Saturday 8th June. Closing date 23rd May.

Full meet info via:

http://www.readingswimclub.co.uk

[Bazza]

Why has this been moved to Aldershot Phil. I've been placed in the unusual situation that instead of a normal season which would probably have about 90% meet composition as SC, I'm now doing 50% LC this year. All the SC meets have changed, and I probably won't do another SC Open Meet for at least 3 months.

[Phil Tanner]

Dunno, Baz. I'm not in the decision-making process, I just offered to put details up on my club's web site.

I would guess, though, that if the powers-that-be are now favouring national qualifiers who make their times in a long-course pool, organizers of a meet geared to late national qualification will want to move it to a 50m pool if they can, even if it means moving it a few miles outside their own county.

[Michael]

Originally posted by Phil Tanner
...a few miles outside their own county.

If only, those of you familiar with N&D will know that the nearest 50m pool is more than a few miles away.

Unfortunately, if people want to qualify long course they have to travel a least 1hr to Leeds our closest long course pool! :(

If you haven't yet signed the petition at http://www.swindon-dolphin.co.uk then show some condieration and vote for a town in the North East of England.


Cheers

[Chris]

Originally posted by Michael
If only, those of you familiar with N&D will know that the nearest 50m pool is more than a few miles away.

OK. If I want to compete in a 50m pool I have to make a round trip to the mainland at a cost definitely in excess of £200 per person :rolleyes:

[Michael]

The moral of the story? There is always someone worse off than yourself! :p

Sorry, I couldn't resist :devil:

[Bazza]

Until about a year or so ago (not exactly sure when it was built!) when we got a 50m pool in Aldershot (which belongs to the army no less!!) our nearest pools were at least two hours away, and then they were Crystal Palace and High Wycombe (not exactly the best two pools you can find!):mad:
Believe me Michael, especially considering the population density and stuff, the north have alot more 50m pools than the south do.:(

[mammamedley]

Can't think why the army needed a 50m pool!
Just to let you know Aldershot Garrison is open to Members (public) 6am weekdays, 12-2pm weekdays 4-6pm weekdays 9-10pm weekdays and various times at the weekend. There is hardly anyone there!
There is a sports hall, squash courts and plenty of mirrors in a gym!!
HOWEVER! :mad:
The boom is broken and will be fixed in the next couple of weeks and already the building need urgent maintainance work - hence pool and other facilities are out of action for a couple of weeks.

[outside smoker]

Surely having 50% of meets Long Course as opposed to 90% short course is a good thing. In Scotand we are changing over to a more equal balance of short and long.

Example : In the west of Scotland, instead of 4 rolling meets (a meet held over 4 weekends) for our district champs, we now have 3 separate meets.
1. Junior Short Course (14 & under)
2. Senior Open Short Course (including 15/16 age group)
3. Long Course Age and Open

This means people swim 2 meets instead of 4, so train more and compete less. Each meet is held in full, so you can swim your best events all in one weekend. You get to do your best event twice - both short and long course. The Long Course meet has a friday night session which helps swimmers get used to 3-day meets (and longer). The last point may not please some folk but if swimmers hope to compete at 4/5/6 day meets then they need at least some experience beyond the sat/sun they are used to.

If swimmers hope to compete (long course) on the international stage in the future, then they must be prepared for doing so by racing long course in the present. One of the key aspects of Tom Dolan`s development (according to his coach Rick Curl) was that they raced Long Course as much as possible (as opposed to Short Course that is, not doing as much meets as possible) and that long course racing was more important than long course training.

[Bazza]

I'm not contesting that. I guess my opinion is based on the fact that I'm used to a certain stucture and particular meets which have become routine. Instead I now have only on chance to get a national time this season due to the changes in programmes. This one meet is LC, whereas I seem to stand a much better chance of getting the SC QT.:(

[Phil Tanner]

To be a bit pedantic, having the Berks and Bucks meet at Aldershot isn't strictly speaking a change in the programme as I don't think it was ever set for Maidenhead this year.

But if you want a SC meet isn't there usually one at Barnet on or around the same date?

[Bazza]

What I mean is that Maidenhead has traditionally hosted this meet, and there was no reason to expect anything different this year until recently. Same with Guildford. They've taken advantage of a relocation to bump up the entry fee by about £1 per event I believe. I was under the impression Aldershot was very reasonable in terms of pool hire...:eek:

[Allets]

I heard that at Aldershot there is no room for spectators and not a great deal of parking space. Is this so and if so how are we supposed to watch our kids swim?

[Phil Tanner]

There isn't much spectator room - possibly standing only, but certainly the full length of the pool (I've only been there when our club has trained in the pool) - but I think the car park is OK. As with every other meet, I suppose these are things you have to weigh up before deciding whether to enter, but it's easy for me to say that as I'll probably be doing announcements.

There's a HUGE Marks & Spencer a few miles down the road!:)

[Bazza]

:eek: You mean M&S haven't gone bust yet?! ;) :devil:

[bobby]

Guildford City area charging a lot more for swims than Bracknell are - for the same pool. I think some clubs are getting a bit greedy. I have also heard that a token system will operate at the Guildford Open for entry for spectators. Lack of parking might also be a problem. We shall have to see.

[Phil Tanner]

The Berks/S.Bucks meet is 3-50 per swim, but limited to three per swimmer per session. And of course as it's no frills there are no trophy/medal costs, and presumably no presentations also = more swimming and economies of scale kick in.

[bobby]

I actually meant the Bracknell and Wokingham Meet which is to be held 14/15th June. So many clubs are now holding Meets at Aldershot. We will have to wait and see how the facilities cope with so many swimmers, officials and specators. Also, apart from the vending machines will there be any food available?

[Phil Tanner]

I know you meant the Bracknell meet. I mentioned the "no frills" prices by way of comparison with whatever the others might be charging - I don't know how much, nut I assume it will be more because of their extra costs.

[Katie]

Did anyone hear about the Bracknell Open meet that's meant to be being held at Aldershot today (Friday) and tomorrow? It's been cancelled due to someone breaking their toe on a turn and deciding to sue the army... what a bright idea! The pool has been closed for health and safety reasons. I can see what's coming next, Aldershot will be given a lot a hassle and won't allow us swimmers to use the pool anymore! It's a realy pity about this gala, for a lot of older people it was a last chance meet to get NQTs, as well as being some people's last gala of the season. How can a toe being broken on the turn be the army's fault? I suppose if one of their staff reached down and stamped on the swimmer's toe during a turn it could be, but I find that quite unlikely!! :rolleyes:

[Hazzio]

They are so harsh @ Aldershott, with the no skipping and no shoes on poolside thing. Isn't it more dangerous if we AREN'T wearing shoes than if we ARE. If we haven't got shoes on we r more likely 2 hurt our feet or slip or something than if we do have shoes on.

Its really annoying that they had to cancel Aldershott just because of one swimmer, I do admit that the walls there are quite annoying, as I know people who have got their feet caught in the walls but nothing serious has happened as a result of that. I don't think it worth cancelling a major gala where some people had hoped to achieve NQT's, or for people whoes last chance it was to practice or get more experience in a swim b4 nationals. Its very disapointing, but I can see that it is not personally anyones fault.

[swimmer]

yeh i aggree it is so annoying coz its my last meet this season and i REALLLLYY wanted to meet my target for the end of the season but now i cant. urgh! but yeh its not aldershots fault, only the stupid person who is sueing for a broken toe!