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The club lists targeted interclub carnivals on the calendar, website and noticeboard. All swimmers who train in the competitive squads at DRAC (Development, Bronze, Silver, Gold & NAS) are expected to attend these meets. For each meet, it is important to discuss your intended events with your coach before you hand your race entries to the race secretary. All carnivals listed on the calendar will have a DRAC coach attending. Bayside swimmers are encouraged to swim only at targeted meets listed on the calendar.

Carnivals Bayside competes at.....

Interclub meets are conducted by other swim clubs and provide an opportunity to compete with other swimmers outside of our own club. These meets are usually open to all swimmers and do not impose qualifying times. These meets provide swimmers with the opportunity to achieve official qualifying times for entry to Metropolitan, State and National championships. Times are “official’’ only if the meet is conducted by technical officials who are accredited referees, starters and timekeepers.

Speedo Sprint Series: This is a Swimming NSW event for 8-13 year olds. Entry is open to all Bayside members who may compete in the long course 50m Backstroke, Breastroke, Butterfly and Freestyle events in their age categories. The heats are conducted locally in February. Any swimmer gaining a first or second place go through to the finals, which are held in March at Homebush.

Metropolitan and State Age Championships are conducted by Swimming NSW. Competing at these carnivals is subject to achieving qualifying times. Races are conducted in age categories and some age restrictions also apply. There is both a Metropolitan and State Age Championship each season – one each in winter (short course) and one each in summer (long course).

Bayside expects that all swimmers who achieve qualifying times for these meets to compete. If you are unable to compete, you must notify the club Race Secretary or the DRAC Senior Coach well in advance.

Relay teams: At the State Age Long Course Championships, usually held in the first two weeks of January, Bayside enters relay teams in the following age categories:

Girls 10 years & under, Boys 10 years & under 4 x 50m medley and 4 x 50m freestyle; 11 & 12 years Boys and 11 & 12 years Girls; Boys & Girls 12 years & under 10x50m freestyle relay; 4x 50m free & medley relays in Boys and Girls 14 &u; 15-16 years & 18 years & under.

These relay teams will be selected in consultation with the DRAC coaches. All Bayside members are eligible for relay team selections regardless of whether they have qualified for individual State Age events or not. It is therefore important that all swimmers keep the first weekend in January free so that you can compete, and again to inform the coaches if you are unavailable well in advance.

State and National Open Championships: These are also conducted by Swimming NSW and reasonably advanced qualifying times apply. There are no age categories at these meets.

National Age Championships: This event is conducted by Swimming Australia in April each year. Events are all long course and are swum in age categories from 13 years & under through to 18 years. Bayside also fields relay teams at this event, where possible. Frequently held interstate, those qualifying for National Age travel and are accommodated as a team for this event. Qualifying times are challenging, but are the basis for goals set by swimmers in the NAS squad.

Open Water: Swimming NSW and Swimming Australia also conduct 5km Open Water swimming championships, typically held around the time of State Age Long Course Championships and National Age Championships.

International Competition: Commonwealth Games, Pan Pacs, World Champs, Paralympics, Olympics. Dare to dream.

No matter what your next goal is, Bayside is here to help you achieve it. Just be prepared to commit to your training program on the way.

Keeping track of your Personal Best Times

Bayside keeps an on-line record of all times swum by Bayside members.

To find a record of your Personal Best times from club meets visit the website www.baysideswimming.com and click on the Club Night link.

To find a record of your “official’’ times swum at interclub meets click on the Team Manager Online link on the Bayside home page. Then click Athletes, and find your name under the alphabetical listings.

How to fill out a race entry card

To enter an interclub meet you need to obtain a copy of the meet program, fill out a race entry card and deliver the entry card with the correct payment to Bayside’s Race Secretary.

Programs for Meets that we are attending as a club can usually be found on our web site in the club calendar section.

Bayside’s Race Secretary can also supply you with copies of meet programs, race entry cards and payment return envelopes.

Here are some samples of how to fill out a race entry card:-

Here are examples of male and female multi-entry cards

Race entry fees are payable approximately three weeks prior to each meet. Cash or cheques payable to Bayside Swim Club should accompany your race entry cards in a return envelope to the Race Secretary.

No entries will be accepted without payment.

Touring teams

From time to time Bayside swimmers are also offered the opportunity to join tours to meets held outside of Sydney. This is always a great way for the swimmers to enjoy a team bonding experience, while competing away from home, usually over the course of a weekend. In the past, Bayside has conducted team tours to Canberra (usually each November), Brisbane and Melbourne.

Parents are welcome to join these tours, but if they are unable to attend, unaccompanied swimmers will always be cared for by Bayside team managers.

Please note, it is not advisable for families to bring younger siblings who are not competing along on these tours – it can be a very boring time for them!

For swimmers 13 years & over, it can be a valuable part of their swimming development to travel with the team without being accompanied by a parent. This can encourage independence in each swimmer, teaches them to take responsibility for themselves and the important lessons of being part of a team.

For more information contact our race secretary Stuart Ridge