Competitions
Competitions
INTRA-CLUB
Surrey Park Seahorses Masters Swimming Club runs two annual programs each year, generally run each Sunday. Sessions are held at Box Hill Aqualink commencing at 9am and running through to 11am. Competitions are run under FINA Masters Swimming regulations particularly in regard to correct swimming attire and race procedures.
AGGREGATE
The Aggregate Competition is a program of sprint distance events run on scheduled Sundays between September and April - overall 12 mornings. It consists of 18 events with four events swum each Aggregate morning (one per distance) in a stroke determined by you.
- 200m Free, Back, Breast, Fly and Medley
- 100m Free, Back, Breast, Fly and Medley
- 50m Free, Back, Breast and Fly
- 25m Free, Back, Breast and Fly
This is not about being the fastest -points are awarded for swimming closest to your nominated time, with 10 points for the person who is closest to their nominated time, 9 points for second closest etc.
Over the year your top 15 events count to your overall score. You may swim an event as many times during the year as you like but only your highest score for the year will count. If, after tallying up all the points, there are swimmers that are tied, a countback system is used to determine one winner (ie no. of 10 point swims, no. of 9 point swims etc.) If there are swimmers still tied after the countback, then all swims in each of the 18 events would be counted. If there is still a deadlock in points, there will be dual (or more) winners.
Competition will start 15 minutes after the start time at the pool (generally 9.15am). Swimmers will need to be ready to compete having completed their card stating the strokes and distance that they wish to swim and nominate a time. We do not wait for those arriving late.
Swimmers are vying for the Jodi-Ann Menzies Perpetual Trophy and the top three swimmers receive medals.
ENDURANCE 1000 COMPETITION
The Endurance 1000 Competition is a program of longer distance events and is a national program in which each Masters Club in the country can compete. We also use this competition within the Club to determine the Lynnette and Alan Davis Perpetual Trophy.
The entire program comprises 62 swims. These are:
- up to 5 x 400m and 800m of Free, Back, Breast, Fly and Individual Medley
- 1 x 1500m, 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 1 hour of Free, Back and Breast (long swims)
Not all members complete the full program - points can be scored for the Club by completing one event. Participating in this competition can help you gauge your improvement in your technique or endurance.
Points are awarded on a sliding scale for each different event at age group levels of 5 years.
For further information on this program go to the Masters Swimming Australia website at http://www.mastersswimming.org.au/. Go to Programs tab, then click on the Endurance 1000 tab. Importantly at the bottom of this page are the print outs of time/distance required for calculation of points. Click on your age group/sex and print out the timesheet relevant to you.
Individual members’ points combine with other Surrey Park swimmers and contribute to a total point score for the Club. The club with the highest points nationally wins the Vorgee Endurance 1000 Champion Club. There is also an award for the club averaging the highest number of points per registered member. These categories are also recognised at State level. Surrey Park has won several State trophies in recent years, as well as placing in the top 10 at national level (out of over 1000 clubs). To do this we encourage members to contribute by swimming at least one event per year to gain points for the Club.
If you have any questions, please ask another club member to explain. It makes sense to those of us who have competed before but can seem like utter nonsense to new members. We've all been there before. We understand.
OPEN WATER SWIMMING
Many club members compete in one or more of the open water swim (OWS) events held in the state, interstate and occasionally overseas. The Club runs an annual competition which commences on 1st April and concludes on 31st March.
Points are scored based on your time against the median swimmer in your field (usually age group and sex) and includes a loading on the distance completed. Any swim of 1km or more is counted. Most open water swims are 1.2km in length but can range up to 11.2km. Details of the OWS calendar can be found on the Cousins Travel website.
INTERCLUB MEETS
In Victoria there can be up to five inter club meets each year organised by individual Masters swimming clubs. Members are encouraged to enter these events as they are usually great fun, a good way to meet swimmers from other clubs and gain competition experience. For details regarding these events please go to MSV website.
STATE (BRANCH) CHAMPIONSHIPS
Masters Swimming Victoria (MSV) conducts four annual championship competitions. These are:
- Long Course (50m pool) Championship - events from 50m to 200m
- Short Course (25m pool) Championship - events from 50m to 200m
- Long Distance Championship - events 400m to 1500m. Short and long course alternate each year.
- Relay Championship Short and long course alternate each year.
For details regarding these events please go to MSV website.
MASTERS SWIMMING AUSTRALIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
This championship is usually held each year in March or April. Individual states host these on a rotational basis.
FINA WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The FINA World Masters Championships are held every two years in a variety of countries.
Surrey Park Seahorses acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land. We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Elders, past, present, and emerging, of all nations.
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