Bristol Henleaze Swimming Club

The Gloucester County Championships (Blocks) are almost upon us for another year. This year all the swims are being held at the Gloucester Leisure Centre or GL1 as it is known. The county have a system of entry cards which must be posted in the boxes provided at the entrance to the changing room before the warm up starts. Hilary Marshall is distributing your cards which most of you will have had by now. If you have any questions or concerns then please ask Hilary or myself.

 Gloucester County have a web site dedicated to the blocks which can be found <here>.

Below are some directions to GL1 which is the way I go however some of you may prefer not to use the ring road and carry straight on into Gloucester or use satnav.

Gloucester Leisure Centre

Bruton Way

Gloucester

 GL1 1DT.

Directions

One suggested route to GL1 is to take M5 North to junction 12 then head for Gloucester on the A38. After about 3 miles take a right turn at traffic lights onto the ring road. Follow the ring road for about 2 or 3 miles, crossing several roundabouts and ignoring signs for the city centre until you reach a set of traffic lights in a shopping area with stores such as Currys and Staples. Turn left towards the city centre on the A4302, Metz Way. Follow this road, passing the ASDA superstore on your left, to traffic lights at a T junction where you turn left into Bruton way. GL1 is a short distance along on the right hand side. This is a dual carriageway and you need to go through the first traffic lights before you can do a U turn to get back to GL1. The journey should take about 45 minutes from Bristol and there is a map on the GL1 website. Please be warned that there are speed cams on the ring road (40 mph) and one near ASDA (30 mph).

Parking

There is parking at GL1 but it fills up very quickly, On Saturday the best place to park is the railway station since it is the best value about £5.00 all day pay and display so take some change. This car park does fill up so if you are swimming in the afternoon it may be best to use one of the pay and display car parks behind GL1. To get to the station - after passing ASDA turn right at the T junction towards city centre on Bruton Way and it is on the right hand side it is well signed, easy to find and a few minutes walk from GL1. To get to the pay and display car park behind GL1 go towards the station and instead of turning right into the station turn left and follow the signs. If you are short of time it is possible to drop the swimmer at the door then find somewhere to park. On Sunday parking is free on the streets around GL1 but the car parks still charge.

On arrival swimmers should post their cards (the boxes are on the way into the changing rooms) this is most important since if you do not post your card you will not swim. Next get changed and make your way to the poolside and look for the BHSC Coaches/Chaperones. They will supervise your warm up, make sure you know when your event is and generally look after you. If you have lost or forgotten your card then don’t panic but go straight to the BHSC Coaches and they will arrange to get a replacement. If you are late and the boxes are no longer out then go straight to the poolside and ask the Coaches to take your card to the organisers and hope you are in time.

Parents should make their way to the spectator area upstairs.

Swimmers should bring a drink and some food (there may be a long wait for your event so pack a snack as well as something for after your swim). Don’t forget your kit and any spares (goggles etc.) you feel you may need

.Good luck to you all.