Welsh Open Short Course Masters Championships Review, Pontypool 97

: 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

This competition roves between several sites from year to year. This preview covers the visit to the Pontypool Leisure Centre, Gwent (South Wales) which is in Pontypool Park.

[Photo of pool outside]

Which is prety well hidden...

[Photo of pool outside]

Until you get close

[Photo of pool outside]

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

[Photo of pool]

There are large windows at the south end,

[Photo of pool]

which is the deep end and the starting is done from there.

Facilities: Car Parking

Parking is free.

[Photo of pool car park]

The normal car park is usually adequate for all the competitors.

[Photo of pool car park]

If there are other sporting events on at the venue, there is further parking on the road next to the car park.

Facilities: Catering

The cafeteria is at first floor level and gives a good view of the park. It is cooler than poolside.

[Photo of pool cafe]

There is a good selection of cooked meals, drinks, rolls, sandwiches, cakes and the usual prepackaged foods. There is plenty of seating.

Facilities: Seating

The seating extends along the north side and is not directly accessible to swimmers unless they go out to the foyer and up the stairs.

Facilities: Other

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

Programme: Sessions, Individual Events, Relays, Specials

Programme: Sessions

There are two sessions: morning and afternoon.

Programme: Individual Events

Basically this is a full sprint and distance meet.

Programme: Relays

There are 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.

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/national level with a many 'top swimmers'.

There are usually British and Welsh records broken.

Incentives: Local Heros

No local heros.

Incentives: Other

There are no other incentives.

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.