Bristol Henleaze Swimming Club

A shortish guide to the Gloucester Blocks.

The Gloucester Blocks are an annual series of competitive galas held between the months of December and March. They are organised and hosted by the Gloucester County ASA which is the County area that Bristol Henleaze falls inside and to which we are affiliated.

These usually take place at Horfield Leisure Centre or at GL1 in Gloucester City. The Blocks aims are to identify the fastest swimmers in the County at all ages and offers a valuable opportunity for swimmers to compete against other Gloucester county club swimmers.

Swimmers can be very positively motivated in this competitive environment and it is not unusual for personal best times to be bettered at this event each year.

Swimmers are entered into seeded heats by entry time within age group which results in each race being fairly evenly matched; though there are alaways the odd exceptions ! The County also use the results of these events to assist in the selection of top swimmers to represent Gloucester in County competitions.

Swimmers times can also be used for qualification into the South West Counties age group and youth time trials held at Millfield School later in the year. This is the next level up of competition.

Beyond this are the Nationals held each year at Ponds Forge in Sheffield where swimmers are competing for places in the GB swim squads.

At Gloucester, swimmers are entered into age group heats and are seeded based on the swimmers declared entry time. While the races are held in a gala format swimmers are actually swimming against the clock;  and the fastest time on the day will win the age group.

In the age groups up to 14 years the top eight swimmers in each age group receive a medal' Gold, Silver Bronze and five Finalists medals. In the 15 and over age groups only the top three swimmers receive medals.

The fastest eight swimmers in any event from all age groups are entered into a final to identify the County Champion.

So how dou you get to the County Blocks? The first step is to achieve a qualifying or consideration time in any of our clubs galas or championships. Qualifying times are set by the County each year and will be published with the entry forms.

The entry pack is normally published on the GCASA website in October each year and gives the entry form, qualifying times (swimmers that will definitely be considered), consideration times (swimmers who may be entered if there is the capacity to include them) and the programme of dates and events.

The club enters Bristol Henleaze swimmers en-masse and will co-ordinate the entries in advance of the cut-off dates. If you want to be considered talk to the coaches who will confirm whether your times are within those required.

After that it is a case of signing the entry forms and returning them to the club with your entry fees.

I have been accepted, Now what ?

For young swimmers it can be quite a daunting prospect, particularly if they have not been involved in many galas. But they should know that many familiar faces from the club may be there, and it is a friendly and enjoyable event which brings many benefits. They should not be surprised to see 200 or so swimmers from different clubs all around the pool.

So turn up at the right pool on the right day and in time for the warm-up nearest to your event and stay positive. Longer races are usually held at Horfield LS, while GL1 in Gloucetster City usually holds the 50's, the 100's and the team events.

Programs of the days heats and swimmers are published in advance and the club will be happy to give any guidance required.

At the venue, get changed, put your belongings into your kit bag and bring it with you poolside. Dont leave anything in the changing rooms. Have your club hat and wear your club shirt! Bristol Henleaze swimmers all sit together and one or two of our coaches/teachers are poolside to marshall swimmers into their heats.

As the day progresses swimmers will be told to swim in the warm up and later sent down to the race desk ahead of their race; they will then be marshalled into their heats by the event marshalls and swim their heat.

After the heat they should return to the teacher/Coaches to talk about the race.

 Where you come in the heat is not normally an indication of where you have finished as their may be 5 heats of swimmers in your age group. Parents are known to record times of other heats so that they can try to place their own child; usually to find out if they need to hold on for the medals ceremony or whether they can go home!

Results are also printed out throughout the day and posted up on the wall somewhere in the pool.

In Conclusion.

The Blocks are an important part of the swimming calendar and an integal part of a competitive swimmers development and progression through the ranks. Swimmers should aim to compete at the blocks and will be positively encouraged to do so by the club and coaches.

A swimmers progress can be a long and slow process with plateaus that can last for months with minimal improvements in time. These can be punctuated by sudden improvements due to physical development and also by the approach and committent to training and other motivational influences.

Improvement in rank at the Blocks can be one of those motivations.

Nobody should underestimate the significance of achieving a place medal at the County blocks. Many swimmers will have worked hard for many years to attain it and it is in itself a great achievement for a swimmer.