Merrylands SwimFest Entries close today at 5pm
This is it – your last chance to join our team for the Merrylands SwimFest. No more procrastinating - entries close at 5pm today and there are no late entries.
We have our biggest team competing for many years, so enter NOW or suffer the FOMO!
Butterfly Championships
Well done to everyone that competed in the Butterfly Championships last week with a stack of PBs.
Congratulations also to Leo Zhu on setting a new record in the 50m Butterfly. Leo set a new record in the 15yrs 50m Butterfly in a time of 31.41, taking 0.93 seconds off the record held by Michael Kelleher since 2004.
Next week is the 50m, 25m and 200m Breaststroke Championships.
Did you enter the correct number of events this week?
Many people didn’t. Check the online entries in Swim Central for details on the number of events you can enter.
Swimmers that enter too many events, or events they are not eligible for will be removed from those events. Sorry, there are no refunds if you get it wrong.
Freestyle Championships
The biggest club morning of the summer is here with 55 swimmers in attendance for the 50m, 25m and 200m Freestyle Championships on today.
We will also be testing the timing system ahead of the SwimFest. This means we need help to get the 16 touchpads in the pool before the races commence.
Please arrive by 6:30am to allow your swimmers to warm-up and to help to set up the touchpads.
Merrylands SwimFest Jobs
We need lots of people to help run the meet. There are many niche jobs we need to fill.
Announcer: Do you like the sound of your own voice? Then the job of announcer at the meet could be for you!
Medal Table: Fancy a bit of bling? Then maybe a spot on the medal table distributing medals is your thing.
Marshal & Check Starter: Swimmers need help getting to the correct lane at the correct time. These positions are critical to the meet running smoothly.
Recorder: Can you handle numbers? The recorders process the results and relay entries for the meet.
Do any of these sound like you? If so, please volunteer when asked or nominate to assist with this role or any other role you are interested in here.
Ian Wilson is the Meet Director for the meet and will be coming to see what you have signed up for.
Bring a Friend
Do you have a friend that needs practice for their School Carnival?
Get them to sign up for a Come & Try membership and they can give our club races a go for up to 4 weeks before purchasing a membership!
True or False?
The 1908 London Olympics used a 100m long pool for the swimming competition.
Club Uniforms
Get your Club Uniforms before the SwimFest via club’s online shop.
Seen a Problem? Get it Fixed
If you see something that needs fixing you can elevate this directly with Council by logging the issue here.
Lions Club Award
Seen someone that deserves recognition for their efforts in helping out? Nominate them for the Lions Club Award, our peak award to recognise our volunteers over the season.
Nominate a volunteer
P-Plate Award
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for someone making a silly mistake during the season. We like to recognise and reward all efforts during the season and the P-Plate award is the perfect way to do this for something funny that happens at club.
Nominate a silly mistake
Make a Donation
Did you know you can make a tax-deductible donation to the club?
If you would like to make a donation, or know someone who would like to then click on the link below.
Thank you to everyone who has made a donation already.
Make a donation
Upcoming Meet Calendar
Check the website for the full list of upcoming meets, closing dates, programs and qualifying times.
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MEET NAME
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MEET DATE
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ENTRY CLOSING
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Area Speedo Sprint Heats
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Saturday 8th February
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CLOSED
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Merrylands SwimFest
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Saturday 15th February
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Saturday 1st February
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NSW Senior Metropolitan C/Ships
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Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd February
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Tuesday 11th February
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Blacktown Masters Meet
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Saturday, 1st March
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Friday, 21st February
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NSW Junior State Age Championships
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Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th March
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Tuesday 4th March
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Set Up & Pack Up on Saturday Mornings
There is a lot to do in set up and pack up on Saturday mornings – thank you to the members who have been arriving early and/or staying back to help. These are some of the things that need to be done, with an emphasis commencing on time:-
Priority Items
- Shelter and side shade for the recorders on the lane 1 start side of the pool – lives in the clubroom near the side door.
- Plastic table and 4 (grey) chairs for the recorders. Table lives in the shed. Grey chairs from the club room.
- Wireless Router to be fitted to the time clock pole at the start end, plugged in and switched on.
- Starter podium and witches’ hats (to remind people not to walk in front of the Starter and Referee) – lives in the shed, front left corner.
- Power cables for computers to be connected to same power point as Router on pole.
- Speaker etc for starting device – lives in plastic box on Starter's podium. Place speaker on lane 8 side securely next to pole of backstroke flags and roll cable along pool deck coping to lane 1 side. Cover exposed cable with cable guards (see below).
- Starting device tripod – lives in the clubroom near the side door (same place as shelter and side shade)
- Starting device – will be on charge in the clubroom on kitchen bench
- Cable guards (6 yellow) for the Recorders & speaker for the Starter – these live in the shed.
Important Items
- Stopwatches and clipboards – black case lives in the locker in the clubroom and needs to be set up on a folding table from the shed. Turn them on.
- 15m (false start) rope (in box with Starter’s podium) and poles (in ‘old club room’). You will need someone to show you how this works and you will be so proud of yourself when you master it!
- 25m rope (for 25m, 33m & 15m races). Lives in the shed in a wire trolley and needs to be rolled out along the end (preferably 50m end) of the pool.
Final items
- Block covers removed and put out of the way under the blue shelter.
- Chairs setup for Timekeepers at both ends of the pool. Chairs live in the shed and there is a trolley to move them.
- Presentation dais (only for Championship days) – lives in the clubroom under the trophy cabinet right side as you enter.
- Umbrellas if it is raining – found in a black plastic drum trolly in the Shed – good luck wheeling this one 😊 Including the beach umbrella for the Starter.
Pack up; return everything to the location it is stored and please be careful in handling cables and ropes so as not to tangle. Sometimes the blocks get a wash if we can find a working hose.
On rainy days, placement of the recording table and all associated equipment including router will be on the veranda of the Clubhouse. No need for shelter and tables.
Remember that timekeeper watches should not be turned on until after the Router is switched on