BLDSA One Hour challenge

The aim of the One Hour Swim Challenge is to swim as far as you can in a pool in one hour.

There are two competitions: individual and team. Swimmers all enter the individual competition.  If they wish, they can then enter the team event as well. Teams must consist of 3 swimmers of the same age group and gender. Medals are awarded to the first 3 teams in each age group.

The swim can take place any time during January and February, in a pool that is at least 25 yards long.  The closing date is 1st March. Each entrant will receive a cloth badge as a souvenir of the event and Bronze, Silver and Gold medals will be awarded to individual and team entrants in each age category, for able-bodied and disabled swimmers.

The swim is open to all – any age, any ability! You do NOT have to swim solidly for an hour, just go as far as you can. This is your chance to pit yourself against your own personal best distance swum in an hour or to set yourself a target to go for next year. Age categories (male/ female) range from under 10s – 85+.

For disabled entrants, categories of disability are as follows:

H1. Ambulant: those with a predominantly physical disability

H2. Wheelchair: those who spend most of their time in a wheelchair

H3. Non-physical: those with a non-physical disability, ie. mental or sensory disability

Club coaches should decide the most suitable category for each swimmer.  Please choose the appropriate option on the online entry form. Bulk entry forms are available from bldsaonehourchallenge@gmail.com for a minimum of 30 swimmers. Smaller groups of swimmers can be entered via the online form very quickly.

Good luck with your swim!

Best wishes

Caroline Lewis

One Hour Swim Challenge Secretary

The Swim

The objective of the swim is for individual swimmers to achieve the greatest possible distance within one hour. The swim must be completed in the months of January and February. The incoming results will be listed in order of the distance completed, in the individual age categories as detailed below.

Badges & Medals

Every entrant will receive a souvenir BLDSA One Hour Swim Challenge embroidered badge as a memento of having taken part in the swim.

The first 3 swimmers in each age category will receive Bronze, Silver and Gold medals respectively.

In the team swim, members of the first three teams in each age group will receive BLDSA medallions.

Location

You may use any swimming pool 25 yards in length, or longer. Entries must be in complete numbers of metres – no decimal places accepted.

All results will be in metres.

Eligibility

Entry will be accepted from any swimmer, you do not need to be a member of a club, with age groups from under 10`s to over 85`s, please see below. Entries can only be accepted online and accompanied by the correct entry fee.

Individual Categories (Men & Women)

Under 10s         10-11 yrs           12-13 yrs           14-15 yrs           16-17 yrs           18-19 yrs

20-24 yrs           25-29 yrs           30-34 yrs           35-39 yrs           40-44yrs            45-49 yrs

50-54 yrs           55-59 yrs           60-64 yrs           65-69 yrs           70-74 yrs           75-79 yrs

80-84 yrs           85 yrs +

Team Categories

Under 10s         10-11 yrs           12-13 yrs           14-15 yrs           16-17 yrs           18-19 yrs

25yrs +             35yrs +             45yrs +             55yrs +             65yrs +

A team must consist of 3 swimmers of the same sex and all swimmers in a team must be first claim members of the same club. Individual swimmers may only be entered into one team in this competition.

To enter the team event, all swimmers must have already entered the individual event. For the under 10’s, 10-11 years, 12-13 years, 14-15 years, 16–17 years and 18–19 years age groups, each swimmer must be that age or under.

For all other teams, the youngest member will determine which category the team is in, and all swimmers must be older than that category.

All age categories are calculated on ages on 1st January, in the year of the swim.

For disabled entrants, categories of disability are as follows:

H1. Ambulant: those with a predominantly physical disability

H2. Wheelchair: those who spend most of their time in a wheelchair

H3. Non-physical: those with a non-physical disability, ie. mental or sensory disability

Counters

Each swimmer must provide their own counter who can act as timekeeper and starter. Each counter must be a responsible person.

Entry For More Than One Event

This is quite acceptable, provided 2 entries are completed and two entry fees are paid.

Closing Date

All entries must be made online no later than 1st of March.

Results will be posted as soon as possible after the closing date.  Medals and badges will, likewise, be posted out to entrants at the earliest opportunity.

One Hour Swim Challenge Secretary 2021: Caroline Lewis

bldsaonehourchallenge@gmail.com

Time Delay

No medallions or souvenir badges will be forwarded until the adjudication is complete. Please do not expect to hear from us until May or June. Overseas results and souvenirs will be mailed via airmail.