Newham Swimming Club - Information on Galas

House Galas

The membership is divided into teams or houses for the purpose of a trophy gala competition within the Club. These are held on the last Friday of each Month at East Ham. At the end of each gala the running points totals of the teams is calculated and the six trophies awarded accordingly, the monthly totals are added at the end of the year and the winning team is presented with the Jack Petchey Trophy.

Time Trials

On about four occasions during the year, the Club runs sprint nights at the East Ham Leisure Centre. Although swimmers compete in a "heat", they are in effect competing against themselves, the main aim being for individuals to strive to improve on their previous times, with good style and keeping to the laws of swimming.

East London Mini League

This is the first level of inter-Club competition and is aimed at the u-13 age group.

To encourage novice competitors, the league operates a time-faulting system.

For each event, a standard time is set, and if swimmers break that time, they score no points. Each club is involved in a series of galas with a grand final (Jubilee Gala) at the end of the season.

Essex Swimming League

This is a higher level of competition, which provides opportunities for U-11, U-13, U-15 and Open groups. Clubs compete in three galas with the team's place in each determining the level of competition in subsequent galas.

Trophy Galas

From time to time we enter trophy galas, which involve six clubs in competition for trophies.

Club Championships

The championships, which are held on two occasions each year, offer the chance for all swimmers to compete as individuals. The vast majority of entries are from the Club so the atmosphere will not be unfamiliar to our younger swimmers.

Aggregate Gala

This is a new addition to our competition structure, this was held for the first time in 2002 to celebrate the Queens Jubilee. This requires all entrants to Swim all four strokes without disqualification, and the times added together to obtain the fastest overall in each age group.

Open Galas

These are for individual entries, with the organisers deciding, on the basis of entry times, which of the applicants will be admitted. Open galas are often big events, with hundreds of entries and competition spread out over two or three sessions in one day, or even over two days.

County Championships

The Essex County ASA championships are restricted to swimmers who have attained the county qualifying times. The Club's Development Plan assumes that our top swimmers will be aiming at this event in future.