John Charles Aquatic Centre

[missjackiechan]

Leeds New Pool (John Charles Aquatic Centre) is now a fully functioning 50M! Horrah.

Its has a really nice big led scorebaord/clock, that even myself without glasses can see. The water is a lot smoother too than the old one, as it goes over the edge (sorry I dont know the technical name for this!). It splits (like Ponds Forge) into 2 pools when required.

Only problem is I keep getting lost in the changing rooms (people seem to think I am deliberately walking into the mens!) they seem like a maze...but maybe this is just my eyesight. Also its a bugger for public transport, south of the city, but very easy driving, straight off motorway.

This is from a website about the diving facilities: 'The centre boasts the best synchronised diving facilities in Europe, the 10m high boards being built specifically to accommodate two divers performing together.

The 15.5m deep diving pool has a floor of dark blue tiles which contrast with the lighting and help the divers' awareness. They can use a suspended harness to allow them to practice diving manoeuvres like spins in mid-air.

[missjackiechan]

Quick pic:

[Stevie_k]

Looks awesome!

I am very envious. Im thinking of moving to leeds now.

Just for the pool...honest.

15.5m deep. Is that right. Thats virtually journey to the center of the earth stuff isnt it?

The diving board is only 10 meters :confused:

[missjackiechan]

There are also communal showers ;)

[Juicy Lucy]

There are also communal showers ;)

You've noticed that Stevie hasn't commented on this.

That's because he's in his car driving to Leeds now.

[Linny]

There are also communal showers ;)

You've noticed that Stevie hasn't commented on this.

That's because he's in his car driving to Leeds now.Because he smells? :angel:

[waterbucket]

Looks great, when is the first Open Meet to be held there.

[Stevie_k]

There are also communal showers ;)

What are the walls like?

could do with a skim of plaster perhaps :)

[missjackiechan]

Yes they really aren't that smooth Stevie think you should come and help!

I am not sure when the first meet is on there.

There might be info here: www.swimleeds.org.uk or here: www.leedsmasters.org.uk

and there is also some more ace pics of the pool and diving facilities (on the swim leeds site)

[Verity]

Guys

The new Sunderland pool is nearly finished, fantastic facility, GB cHamps venue for 2009!

Verity

[in-exile]

We in the south pay for all this!!When do we get one??

[FinswimmerJohn]

Leeds New Pool (John Charles Aquatic Centre) is now a fully functioning 50M! Horrah.

The water is a lot smoother too than the old one, as it goes over the edge (sorry I dont know the technical name for this!)[

A Deck Pool

FJ

[dalex]

Looks great, when is the first Open Meet to be held there.

15/16th December. City of Leeds Christmas Cracker and what a cracker of a Meet with GB Internationals, Tancock, Haywood, McClatchey and Jackson included.

[EricTheRed]

We in the south pay for all this!!When do we get one??

You are probably right in that respect.

You get your own when you pay for that as well. you have plenty of money down south. We are too busy paying our mortgage on our 50 grand terraces. :)

[in-exile]

London needs a new 50 before 2012...we need about 5 or 6 new 50's

[Improving a lot]

But instead you spend money in the south on moving the terminal for a rail link to France (to the south) to the North of London, meaning you have to build a HUGE tunnel straight under the city...

[Pete]

Why is it named after a Welsh Footballer? Surely the only appropriate name above a Leeds Aquatic Centre is Adrian Moorhouse as he won an Olympic Gold for "SWIMMING".

[Juicy Lucy]

Why is it named after a Welsh Footballer? Surely the only appropriate name above a Leeds Aquatic Centre is Adrian Moorhouse as he won an Olympic Gold for "SWIMMING".

John Charles was the greatest footballer ever to wear a Leeds United shirt. Some say he was the best footballer the world has seen.

Sadly, for swimming, Adrian Moorhouse is generally unknown outside swimming circles.

Probably why we have John Lennon Airport in Liverpool. You wouldn't call it the Ethel Green Airport because Ethel always kept the toilets spotlessly clean and eventually received the MBE because she worked for Liverpool City Council for 40 years! Nobody's heard of Ethel but everyone knows who John Lennon was.

[missjackiechan]

New pool...new rules. I got told tonight that I couldn't wear fins in a public session for health and safety reasons!...whereas you could at the old pool...maybe fins are highly dangerous in new pools :confused:

Also I thought this was a bit silly as I was the only person in the lane the entire session!

[Linny]

New pool...new rules. I got told tonight that I couldn't wear fins in a public session for health and safety reasons!...whereas you could at the old pool...maybe fins are highly dangerous in new pools :confused:

Also I thought this was a bit silly as I was the only person in the lane the entire session!Allowing lifeguards to use their common sense to make decisions about health and safety is forbidden. Thing is with one swimmer in a lane it is an easy judgement call but what would they do then if someone else got in and there was a huge hazard? Lifeguards are not employed to use their brains and rules in pools come from God and cannot be broken.

Blimey MissJackie, don't you know nuffink?

Did you ask to speak to the man in charge?

[in-exile]

New pool...new rules. I got told tonight that I couldn't wear fins in a public session for health and safety reasons!...whereas you could at the old pool...maybe fins are highly dangerous in new pools :confused:

Also I thought this was a bit silly as I was the only person in the lane the entire session!Were they big? or little training Fins???
:confused:

[missjackiechan]

Little training 'win' fins. There was'nt even anyone in the next lane either...should I make at sudden lurch sideways!

Didn't ask to see man in charge, should of really. My fins were even moved quite a way away, just in case I made a reach for them!!!

[in-exile]

But instead you spend money in the south on moving the terminal for a rail link to France (to the south) to the North of London, meaning you have to build a HUGE tunnel straight under the city...i know its crap..:mad:

[in-exile]

Little training 'win' fins. There was even anyone in the next lane either...should I make at sudden lurch sideways!How silly. go to any club and you get 6 to 10 swimmers a lane with small fins with no problems:confused:

[swimleeds]

After we had set up the pool for a shakedown meet this weekend, the swimmers in the training scheme helped us to check the equipment by holing races so t5hat we could check the electronic timing in race mode.

100m free, swimmer had PB of mid 55, did a high 54 inside a training session.

I believe that this can be a fast pool.

The meet this weekend hopefully ironed out all the niggly faults which can occur when you hold a meet for the first time in a new environment.

[2.tso]

maybe the poool is short?
maybe all that training has paid off?
maybe the timing system isnt working too well?

or maybe its a fast pool!

[2.tso]

:)

[swimleeds]

maybe the poool is short?
maybe all that training has paid off?
maybe the timing system isnt working too well?

or maybe its a fast pool!

Sorry, poool is 50m long.

Timing has been calibrated by Omega with pads at both ends.

Or maybe something to do with the new reversible water flow which has been installed.

[swimleeds]

Sorry, poool is 50m long.

Timing has been calibrated by Omega with pads at both ends.

Or maybe something to do with the new reversible water flow which has been installed.

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough.

There is a facility for changing the direction of the water flow in the pool. This can be set to neutral or to flow from one end of the pool to another like a following wind in athletices.

eg for a 50m event you could have the flow in favour of the swimmer thus hopefully producing faster times.

[Linny]

There is a facility for changing the direction of the water flow in the pool. This can be set to neutral or to flow from one end of the pool to another like a following wind in athletices.

eg for a 50m event you could have the flow in favour of the swimmer thus hopefully producing faster times.Although this contravenes the rules so kinda defeats the object?

[2.tso]

i was just teasing

[Matthew]

Leeds New Pool (John Charles Aquatic Centre) is now a fully functioning 50M!

Only problem is I keep getting lost in the changing rooms (people seem to think I am deliberately walking into the mens!) they seem like a maze...but maybe this is just my eyesight.

I'm a newly revived swimmer since childhood and just taken out a Leeds 'Gym & Swim' card to swim at JC 2/3 times a week after regularly visiting Dewsbury Sports Centre - the pool is just so much better (and bigger!) compared to the others I've tried and it's a fantastic experience every time, especially around midday-ish when it's quieter. :)

Know what you mean about the changing rooms, I always take the wrong turning when I come back out and end up in the ladies area, oops! :zip:

I haven't tried the cafe yet though! :)

[broomhillsaved]

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/John-Charles-centre-takes-another.3630209.jp

Problems with the electrical system closed the John Charles centre for three days just after Christmas; the pool re-opened on Sunday Dec 30th 2007

This article says that this is the second time that part of the centre has had to close; in October the moveable floor in the diving pool disintegrated.

[BigFish]

Very, very nice pool, but why on earth did they skimp on the size of the pool side? For a little extra cash they could have left enough room down the side of the pool to accomodate a decent sized meet (I'm thinking the Yorkshires from last month), instead of packing everyone in like sardines. It's not like they were particularly short of land.

Great location though, and very nice pool (did I say that already), but I too got lost in the changing rooms :confused:

[Endurance]

http://www.thornetigers.co.uk/open2009.html

B Grade Event

Full details on the website.

Delighted to be able to use this top class facility.