Amersham Masters Preview

: Facilities Pool, Car Parking, Catering, Seating, Other; Programme Sessions, Individual Events, Relays, Specials; Incentives Awards, Level of Competition, Local Heros, Other; Conflicts Other Competitions, Other Events; Restrictions Age, Sex, Qualifying Times, Closed/Invitation, Other

Facilities: Pool, Car Parking, Catering, Seating, Other

Facilities: Pool

The pool is approached from the north side, through a housing estate.

[Photo of pool outside]

The pool is 25M, Six Lane. There are anti-wave lane lines.

[Photo of pool]

The deep end is at the east end and the starting is done from there.

There are large windows on the north side which look out over the 'olympic village' which can be used as accommodation.

[Photo of pool windows]

Swimmers must take care not to block the ventilators along the window sill, with their swim bags, etc.

Facilities: Car Parking

Parking is free.

[Photo of car park]

The normal car park is not adequate for all the competitors, so an overflow car park is used.

[Photo of car park 2]

If this fills, there is further parking on the grass next to the overflow car park. Together these handle all competitors and spectators.

Facilities: Catering

The cafeteria is at pool level and is partitioned off by windows and gives a good view of the pool.

[Photo of pool cafe]

It is cooler than poolside. There is a limited selection of drinks, rolls, sandwiches, cakes and the usual prepackaged foods. There are many vending machines in the area. Get a seat early as they will all be taken at lunchtime.

Facilities: Seating

The main spectator seating extends along the west end at first floor level (see photo below)

[Photo of pool seating]

and is not directly accessible to swimmers unless they go out to the foyer and up the stairs. Swimmers tend to sit around the pool, but there is not much room on the poolside.

Facilities: Other

There are balconies where one can sit and look down onto the various other sports going on in the Guttmann Centre. It is amazing to see how well the handicaped sportsmen and women can perform. In fact, some handicaped swimmers often compete in the masters competition and put more able bodied swimmers to shame.

There is accommodation for overnight staying in the 'Olympic Village'.

[Photo of accommodation]

There is a swim shop just inside the reception area.

[Photo of outside reception]

Programme: Sessions, Individual Events, Relays, Specials

Programme: Sessions

There are two sessions: morning and afternoon.

Programme: Individual Events

Basically this is a sprint meet but it includes a 200M freestyle (as event 1 for ladies and event 13, immediately after lunch, for men) and a 100M Individual Medley.

Programme: Relays

Traditionally (if thats possible after only four years of existence) this is a 'big team' competition with much inter-club rivalry. Ruislip and Northwood being the current worthy champions. There are ten relay events, 4 * 1 length mens and womens freestyle and medley relays for 120, 160 and 200 years.

Programme: Specials

There are no special events.

Incentives: Awards, Level of Competition, Local Heros, Other

Incentives: Awards

Awards will be made to the first three placed swimmers in each AGE GROUP for each event. Look at the Individual and Relay medals

There is a shield awarded to the 'Top Club' on points.

Incentives: Level of Competition

The level of competition is at Club/county level with a few 'top swimmers'.

Incentives: Local Heros

No local heros but Alison Streeter (of cross channel fame) and Don Bland (1948 olympics) and attempting a British 200M freestyle record, were notable.

Incentives: Other

A special feature of this meet was the Age-adjusted awards. These were awarded to the first, second and third person in each event - after taking age adjustment into account. This proved to be most interesting. It appeared to predict the times for swimmers as if they were 25 years old (again). It seemed to resolve the thorny question of who was the best swimmer of all time.

The adjustment is made using an Age-adjustment formula that is based on the current world record times. This was included in a computer program and used by Pam and Mike Pitcher to calculate the results.

Conflicts: Other Competitions, Other Events

Conflicts: Other Competitions

There are no conflicting swimming events.

Conflicts: Other Events

There are no conflicting national events.

Restrictions: Age, Sex, Qualifying Times, Closed/Invitation, Other

Restrictions: Age

Upper limit is Age Group M (80+). Swimmers in older groups will be combined into Group L.

Restrictions: Sex

Same events for men and women.

Restrictions: Qualifying Times

None.

Restrictions: Closed/Invitation

Open competition.

Restrictions: Other

Be warned that this event is heavily subscribed and early entry is advised to avoid the disappointment of being turned away (as happened to a few people last year).

Competitors may compete for only one club.

Competitors must be registered with the ASA and be a member of an affiliated club.

If they wish to dive in at the start of the race, competitors must have reached the standard of the ASA Racing Start, and must perform a shallow racing dive. They must NOT tumble into the water head first. Competitors may start in the water.

Competitors must make themselves familiar with the emergency exits and vacate the building upon hearing the alarm, should this be necessary.

Competitors must report any hazards that they observe to an official as soon as possible.