Belper Marlin Competition Pathway
Here you will find information about the some of the competitive galas that Belper Marlin SC attend throughout the year.
As Belper Marlin is a competitive Swimming Club we encourage all of our swimmers to take part in some or all of the gala opportunities that are available.
Club Run Galas – Open to All
- Belper Marlin Club Championships
At the end of each year we hold our annual licensed club championships over four evenings and it is our showcase event for all Belper Marlin swimmers. Only club members are eligible to compete in this competition. This competition provides a great opportunity for the entire club to come together and watch and participate in racing.
Swimmers can compete in 50, 100 & 200m events, depending on age, with an opportunity to achieve qualifying times for the County Championships held in the following year. Swimmers will also compete for individual event trophies in age groups and the 3 perennial trophies for Junior Boy and Girl, Intermediate Boy and Girl and Senior Boy and Girl.
- Belper Marlin Summer Sprints
The Summer Sprints is another closed event, open only to club swimmers and they are run over two evenings in late June / early July. It is a great introduction to competitive swimming for novice swimmers as well as a fun competition for more established swimmers. As the name suggests there are only sprint events, 25m and 50m (dependent on age), as well as a 100m individual medley. We finish with an exciting “Skins” (knock-out) event for the fastest swimmers.
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Ghoul in The Pool – the annual club open meet
This is a very important annual event for Belper Marlin, at which we can show our swimming friends what a great club we are and also raise important additional funds to help the running of the club. It is a Licenced L3 Meet, normally held at The Arc in Matlock where clubs from around the county, and sometimes further afield, compete for the coveted “Ghoul in the Pool” Trophy, which is held for 1 year. Awards for top Boy (Open/Male) and Girl are also awarded on the day.
Inter Club Galas – Selection by Coaches
Belper Marlin take part in a number of team galas and league competitions throughout the season, for which the team is selected by the coaching staff. Some are highly competitive and some are more fun and focused less on winning, and more on giving all our swimmers a taste of swimming for Team Marlin.
- National Arena League – three rounds from October to December
- Derby & Nottingham Junior (“Diddy”) League – three rounds from April to June
- Anthony McManus Memorial Gala – a one-off usually in June
- Derwent League – multiple rounds throughout the spring
More details here.
Open Meets
We support a number of open meets throughout the season, which vary in level from novice to national entry level. Click here to check the club calendar.
- Level 3 Meets / B Grade Meets – for novice and improving swimmers
Usually eligible from 9 years old, age on the date of the competition. Some level 3 meets are age at 31st December. Aimed primarily at novice and improving swimmers, often with upper limit entry times (not suitable for our fastest swimmers).
- Annual County Championships – subject to qualifying times
Eligible at 10 yrs. on the 31st December in the year of the competition
- Level 1 & 2 Open Meets – subject to qualifying times
Eligible at 10 yrs. on the 31st December in the year of the competition
- Swim England East Midlands Regional Championships Age Group / Youths – subject to qualifying times
Eligible at 10 yrs. on the 31st December in the year of the competition
- British Swimming Championships – subject to qualifying times
Annual Event Used as qualification to swim for England squads
- British Summer Championships and Swim England Summer Nationals – by invitation based on national rankings
Top 24 / Age Group / Event