Galas.
Here is some useful information regarding galas, like how to sign your swimmer up for races, how to pay, and some useful information about the day of the gala itself so your swimmer knows what to expect and isn’t overwhelmed by a very different setup to training....but don’t worry, the coaches will be there all day, from start to finish to ensure all swimmers are safe and happy!
Sign up & Pay
You will receive an e-Mail from the club with instructions. Read this carefully and follow these instructions to sign up & pay.
Confirmation
Once signed up and you have paid, you will receive confirmation via e-Mail. Then it’s time to train even harder!
The gala
Before the gala the coaches will give your swimmer some guidance on what to expect. All there is left to do is swim fast!!
Here is a checklist for galas but also for training which we would encourage all junior and senior herons to read as a reminder of what is expected and what to expect at training and at galas. If you have any questions, please let us know via the contact us page or come to speak to a coach.
Types of Gala - what to expect.
Club Champs
These are Herne Bay Swim Club events designed to give all of our swimmers the experience of a gala and the opportunity to get times for all events entered. We will send out the "Conditions" of the licensed event which you will need to agree to. Once agreed, your swimmer will be entered into all of the events they are able / recommended to swim. Depending on which lane your swimmer is in and their technical abilities, they may not be recommended to swim all of them. We will let you know before each "event" (as these take place over a number of the training sessions) if your swimmer will race in the events. You can see the Club Champs dates and races per event in the "Upcoming Galas/Events" page.
Individual Galas
These are for individuals to compete in their age group and have official times recorded. These galas are key for qualifying for County / Regional / National events. These also help gauge progress - we encourage all to enter! You will receive an e-mail from the club outlining entry criteria and sign up process. Please read this carefully and pass this information on to your swimmer so they know what to expect. If you have any questions, please do e-mail in or ask a coach.
Team galas
KJL or Kent Junior League and Arena League are team events where we, as a team, compete against other swim clubs. We swim per stroke per age group and will also have a number of relay events to compete in. The Head Coaching group organise teams based on availability and training/gala performance and your swimmers inclusion is by Invitation Only. Please ensure you confirm availability ASAP as it takes lots of organisation to prepare the team. If you cannot make it, please tell us! If your swimmer cannot make it for whatever reason, a no show on the day jeopardises chances for the other swimmers to compete and for the club to compete.