Open Meets

Open Meets are organized by a number of Swimming Clubs up and down the Country. They are at various levels thereby allowing swimmers to compete against other swimmers of similar abilities. Sometimes they are licensed bythe ASA as follows:-
Level 1 - is aimed at national qualifiers, or swimmers close to national qualification, looking for opportunities to achieve national qualifying times.These meets will have qualifying times for entry, which will be just below national times.  E.g. Hatfield UK Challenge, Burns Open Meet Sheffield.
Level 2 -is aimed at regional qualifiers and will have qualifying times and upper-limit times.  Biggleswade Open Meet,
Level 3 - is for club swimmers aiming to reach county qualifying times. 
Level 4 - such meets are for club swimmers below county qualifying times and those beginning competitions through initiatives such as Active Sports, Hoddesdon Open Meet, Herts Development Meet.

Hoddesdon Swimming Club supports a number of Open Meets during the course of a year. Some of these are not licensed (eg Ours, Hitchin, Cheshunt, Stevenage) but we like to send a team of swimmers to these as they are very good for confidence building, experiencing the competitions and team building. 

You enter as an individual and can swim in as many races as you want to, provided that you meet any criteria for qualifying times. You usually need to give your best time on the entry form.  If you do not enter a time and your entry is accepted, you will be put in the 1st heat, which is the slowest heat.
If you ask one of the coaches or Mark Charles they will be able to help you with your times.

Look out for meet details and entry forms on the notice board at John Warner Pool.  Sue Spicer usually collects forms and co-ordinate entries.

If you want to find out more please talk to someone on the committee, Mark
Charles or one of the coaches.

Hatfield UK Challenge 17/18 May 2008

Six of Hoddesdon’s top swimmers competed in Hatfield Swimming clubs UK challenge over the weekend. It is a very tough meet with teams coming from as far as Plymouth & Norwich.

The Golden Girls were Lucy Charles & Emma Warrington – showing the bigger clubs that Hoddesdon SC may be a small club but is still up for the UK challenge!

Lucy competed in the 200m Butterfly on Saturday afternoon. A very tough race for even the strongest of swimmers, but Lucy made it look easy. She stormed through her 8 lengths with no hint of tiredness winning her heat by a good half a length. She took gold in her age group, broke the Hoddesdon club record held since 1998 & secured her 9^th National Qualifying time!

On Sunday afternoon Lucy returned to the pool to compete in 200m Freestyle. She swam a determined race, smashing her personal best & own club record by a massive 2 seconds & claimed another gold medal to add to her collection.

Early Sunday morning Emma swam in the 200m breaststroke. She swam an excellent race a claimed a bronze medal in the very tough 15/16 age group.

In the afternoon it was Emma’s favored 100m Breaststroke. Emma had set her sights on a National qualifying time in this event. She swam a magnificent race & really looked like she was on target to get it. She won her heat & smashed her PB by a massive 2 seconds. She was just outside of the national qualifying time, but took silver & a place in the A final later that afternoon (giving her another opportunity to try for the time) Emma gave everything in the final with the whole of the Hoddesdon team willing her on. In the end it was just out of reach. Emma could have done no more she had given everything she had. She improved on her heat time but narrowly missed the qualifying time. However her fantastic swim earned her a bronze medal against very strong opposition & also smashed the club record that she already held.

11 year old Kirstin Meikle swam in 100m Backstroke on Saturday afternoon. She swam a great 4 lengths & took a second off her personal best. In the 200m Backstroke later that day she swam a good race equaling her personal best.

On Sunday evening she swam a solid 50m free & finished 12^th in her age group.

Jess Waters swam a good 100m Freestyle on Saturday evening, finishing just outside her personal best. On Sunday evening she swam in the 50m free & finished in 8^th position.

Holly Gannon competed in 100m Freestyle on Saturday evening she was just outside her personal best & finished 36^th.

On Sunday morning she competed in 100m Fly & finished 21^st. Later that day she competed in 50m Free. She swam a strong race & finished in 18^th position.

Chris Stevens the only male competitor from Hoddesdon had a good meet. On Sunday morning he swam a good 100m Backstroke taking a second off his personal best. He went on to swim a strong 100m free & again took a second of his PB. His final event was his favored 50m free. He swam a great race, got another personal best & finished 13^th.

Coach Janet Warrington was thrilled with all her swimmers achievements & is now looking forward to her & Lucy’s very busy schedule at the Nationals in July.

Click here for link to Lucy and Emma Photo