Gala Report

In 2018 swimmers from Bushey ASC have represented the club in a variety of leagues and inter-club Gala’s.

Gala competition is important to swimming because this is where the elements of representing and belonging to a team are most manifest within the sport.  Unlike the other areas of competitive swimming we engage in such as Club Championships, Time Trials, Open Meets and County’s where the events are focused primarily on the result of each separate individual event, Gala swimming focuses the results from each individual event into the overall team total.  It is where the overall strength of the team can be greater than the sum of the individuals. 

The relay races epitomise this.  The last relay is a squadron race where the team is made up with a boy and girl from each age group it should be an honour to be in the squadron because we try to swim the fastest of each of the age groups there.  On many occasions we find that the result of the overall Gala can be affected by this last race and excitement is high.   This is where swimming for the ‘Team’ matters.  If the swimmer false starts, is slow off the blocks, goes too early or finishes their leg of the relay poorly the whole team suffers.  Total focus, commitment and determination are therefore required to be a successful gala team member.

This year in Herts major league we achieved 70 pbs, 25 speed awards, 9 club records over the three rounds.  Finishing 5th in the first and second round and 3rd in the final round.

We take part in two friendly galas in the year, these are primarily for those swimmers who do not get a chance to take part in Herts Majors or Arena League to represent their club. 

Unfortunately, the uptake of those swimmers is not as high as we would like so the teams were made up of mainly of swimmers who regularly represent the club.  In Goldstone we achieved 31 pbs, 9 speed awards and 1 club record.  Finishing 5th overall.

In the Isabel Gala we achieved 27 pbs, 11 speed awards and 2 club records, finishing 4th overall.

The Peanuts league starts in the spring moths and si for younger swimmers (under 13), it is a great opportunity to introduce the swimmers to Galas within a friendly atmosphere and to build new friendships. Across the 3 galas there were 62 pbs and 13 speed awards. 

Our final League of the year is Arena League.  This is a tougher league competing against a wider range of teams who are much bigger than us with a lot more pool time.  In 2018 we achieved across the 3 rounds 69 pbs, 16 speed awards and 11 club records.  This is league is a licensed competition meaning times count towards County and Regional championships.

Thank you to Caroline Presland for all her organising for the various leagues we had to host and to all the officials and parents who give up their time to make them successful.

 At each gala we give out swimmer of the night awards for various reasons.

Well done to the following that were given swimmer of the night this year:

Herts Major League

Round 1 – Alison Binns

Round 2 – Freya Gooden

Round 3 -

Goldstone Gala

Charlie Padgham

Isabel Gala

Barney O’Donnell

Peanuts

Round 1 – Abbie Griffiths

Round 2 – Sam Ryan

Round 3 – 9 year old boys relay team 

Arena League

Round 1 – Thomas Jobson

Round 2 – Emily Presland

Round 3 – William Presland

Well done to all the teams of 2018

 

Attracta Leonard – Herts Major League, Goldstone, Isabel Gala and Arena League Team Manager