Aquasprint – League based for younger swimmers – Dec/Jan to Jun

• Based on Year of Birth – Group A (8 & under); Group B (9); Group C (10); Group D (11)
• All races 1 length (25m or 33m) and separate Girls & Boys races
• Backstroke; Breaststroke; Butterfly; Freestyle
• Relays are mixed (2 Girls & 2 Boys)
• Running Order – 40 races – 75mins to complete:
  • 4 x Medley Relays – Groups A-D
  • 32 Individual, A-Girls; A-Boys; B-Girls; B-Boys; C-Girls; C-Boys; D-Girls; D-Boys
  • 4 x Freestyle Relays – Groups A-D
• 2-3 home galas per year; 2-3 away galas per year; 1 swim off gala at end of season (1st Fri in Jun). Top 3 teams in league swim for promotion; bottom 3 teams swim for relegation
• All swimmers get a Forest Feast sponsored Aquasprint T-Shirt and medal at end of season

Arthur McDonald Novice Gala

Hosted by Newry & Mourne swimming club and includes 4 clubs

• Newry & Mourne
• Armagh
• Lurgan
• Portadown

• Championship format gala – Multiple Heats in morning; Finals in afternoon
• Almost same format as Aquasprint galas:
  • Medley Relays – Groups A-D Straight Final
  • Backstroke Girls, Boys – Groups A-D Heats in morning, finals in afternoon
  • Breaststroke Girls, Boys – Groups A-D Heats in morning, finals in afternoon
  • Butterfly Girls, Boys – Groups A-D Heats in morning, finals in afternoon
  • Freestyle Girls, Boys – Groups A-D Straight Final
  • Finals of 4 individual strokes for 8 fastest across the heats
  • Reserve List – very important to check!

PTL – League based for older swimmers – Sep to Mar/Apr

• Based on Year of Birth – Group A (10 & under); Group B (11-12); Group C (13-14); Group D (15+)
• All races 2 lengths (25m or 33m) and separate Girls & Boys races
• Group A for galas at Portadown pool swim 1 length (33m) instead of the normal 2 lengths (50m)
• Backstroke; Breaststroke; Butterfly; Freestyle
• Relays are separate for Girls & Boys
• Running Order – 56 races – 2 hours to complete:
  • 8 x Medley Relays – Groups A-D
  • 32 Individual, A-Girls; A-Boys; B-Girls; B-Boys; C-Girls; C-Boys; D-Girls; D-Boys
  • 8 x Individual Medley Races, A-Girls; A-Boys; B-Girls; B-Boys; C-Girls; C-Boys; D-Girls; D-Boys
  • 8 x Freestyle Relays – Groups A-D
• 2-3 home galas per year; 2-3 away galas per year; 1 PTL Area Heats (South region); 1 PTL Finals (Best of South region vs Best of North region)

Armagh Championships – usually last Sat in Jan / first Sat in Feb

Rotates between the following 4 clubs each year

• Newry & Mourne
• Armagh
• Lurgan
• Portadown

• Similar format to PTL without the IM and with less shared age groups:
  • 10 & Under
  • 11 year olds
  • 12 year olds
  • 13 year olds
  • 14 year olds
  • 15 & over
• All races 2 lengths (25m or 33m) and separate Girls & Boys races
• Group A relays & individual at Portadown pool swim 1 length (33m) instead of the normal 2 lengths (50m)
• Backstroke; Breaststroke; Butterfly; Freestyle
• Relays are separate for Girls & Boys
• Running Order – 64 races – all day to complete:
  • Medley Relays – Groups A-D Straight Final
  • Freestyle Relays – Groups A-D Straight Final
  • Individual heats – Girls; Boys Heats in morning, finals in afternoon
  • Finals of 4 individual strokes for 6 (8 when hosted at Newry 8 lane pool) fastest across the heats
  • Reserve List – very important to check as swimmers sometimes drop out of finals = another chance for reserves!