/Age-Grp-Div1-and-Yth-Snr-Champs-Important-Updat

In 2011 a proposal was put forward by the National Performance Committee that the Irish Age Groups Division 1 and the Youth/Senior Championships be combined and run as the one competition in 2012 from the 12th to 15th July. The National Aquatic Centre was booked for this date.

However, when this proposal was put to the National Officials and Competitions Committee there were some concerns with the feasibility of running such an event in terms of ensuring that the event was well run and well managed. In particular, when the matter was discussed with the NAC personnel they advised that this would not be possible from their perspective as it would require the pool to be in use for the purposes of the competition from 8am to 8pm each day (almost straight through) during the event which would prevent other users from accessing the pool at all during the day.

This would not be possible in this Olympic year as the British Water-polo team had already booked their time in the NAC for the month of July, requiring a certain amount of training time during the day. While Swim Ireland has a right of access to the NAC for certain events during the year, this right is restricted by the realities of the business of running the NAC; the hosting of Olympic teams in Ireland is viewed as very important and while the NAC always seek to accommodate us, this once off opportunity will take precedence.

It is fair to say that perhaps this proposal should have come to the table at an earlier stage and the response been agreed between the various National Committees. However, the proposal was tabled with a view to seeking to improve the competition for our participants and Swim Ireland has been working very hard this season to seek to raise the standard of our National competitions generally and to add value to the experience for the participants.

We had sought not to issue any definite details to clubs in the first instance about this competition, other than a proposed date whilst the matter was being considered.

I can now confirm that the Irish Age Groups Division 1 will be held in the University of Limerick from 6th-8th of July inclusive, with the Irish Youth/Senior Championships being held in the NAC from 12th-15th July inclusive.

We appreciate that many people are seeking to make arrangements for training, competition and holidays in June and July and that the final competition dates impact on this. These dates have only just been confirmed to us, and we understand your frustrations and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Kind Regards

Niamh McDonnell Swim Ireland