GB Masters Open, Cardiff 1997 - Review

: 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: Outside view, Pool, Car Parking, Catering, Seating, Other

Facilities: Outside view

The pool is sited in the centre of Cardiff by the river Taff.

[Photo of pool outside]

It is very near the railway station too.

[Photo of pool from train line]

Have fun.

[Photo of pool bill-board]

Facilities: Pool

The pool is 50M, Eight Lane (but it is really six lane, so the lanes are narrow). There are anti-wave lane lines. The deep end is at the north end and the starting is done from there.

[Photo of pool]

Facilities: Car Parking

The car park is not adequate.

There is parking further away from the town centre.

Facilities: Catering

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

[Photo of pool from cafe]

It is cooler than poolside. There is a limited selection of drinks, rolls, sandwiches, cakes and the usual prepackaged foods.

Facilities: Seating

The seating extends along both sides of the pool and is directly accessible to swimmers via some ricketty stairs (shown in the photo) or by going out to the foyer and up the stairs.

[Photo of poolside showing stairs]

Facilities: Other

There is a WASA swim shop to be found in the foyer where it is possible to buy Welsh memorabilia such as swim hats with dragons.

Programme: Sessions, Individual Events, Relays, Specials

Programme: Sessions

There are two sessions: morning and afternoon.

Programme: Individual Events

Basically this is a full programme meet. It includes both distance and sprint events.

Programme: Relays

There are some relays.

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.

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 district/national level with a many other swimmers making up the numbers and joining in.

Incentives: Local Heros

No local heros.

Incentives: Other

There is Top Club shield.

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 L (75+). 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

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. The emergency exists must not be obstructed with swimming bags, etc.

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