Southend-on-Sea (sOs) Masters Meet Preview

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

Facilities: Pool

The pool is 33.3M, Six Lane. There are anti-wave lane lines.

The pool is used for International competitions and has flags to remind you.

There are large windows on the east and south sides.

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

There is a separate diving pit and a small teaching pool alongside the main pool, which are out-of-bounds during the competition.

Facilities: Car Parking

Parking is pay and display, but after 6.00pm it is free. The normal car park surrounds the pool and is adequate for all the competitors.

The car park is shared with other sports users, e.g. Gym, and with local shoppers. The building is impressive from the outside.

Facilities: Catering

The cafeteria is at pool level and is partitioned off by windows and gives a view of the pool. It is cooler than poolside. There is a limited selection of machine drinks and the usual prepackaged foods.

Facilities: Seating

The seating for swimmers and spectators extends along the north side and is directly accessible to swimmers via some stairs at the starting end.

Facilities: Other

There is a swim shop to be found in the foyer.

Facilities: The Town

The town centre is nearby. The railway station, which is on the line from London (about a one-hour journey), is within easy walking distance of the pool (see map). The sea front and the famous mile long pier are about half a mile away. Both are illuminated after dark. There are many famous fish and chip restaurants there.

Programme: Sessions, Individual Events, Relays, Specials

Programme: Sessions

There is one session in the evening. Swimming continues until about 9 pm. If you enter all individual events, (which is necessary if you want to have a good chance of lifting the Top male/female award for your age group,) it is one swim rapidly followed by another, with little time to fully recover.

Programme: Individual Events

Basically this is a sprint meet and it includes all 33.3M and 100M events.

Programme: Relays

There are two relay events, 4 * 1 length mens and womens freestyle relays for 140+ years, at the end of the individual races.

Programme: Specials

There are no special events.

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

Incentives: Awards

Certificates will be awarded to the first three placed swimmers in each Age Group for each event.

Take a look at a sample of the Individual and Relay certificates

There are also awards for 'Top man in age group' and 'Top lady in age group' for all age groups and for the oldest male and female swimmer.

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.

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 (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

Competitors must be amateurs in accordance with ASA Laws.

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.