Manchester & District Swimming and Water Polo Association
The Manchester and District Swimming and Water Polo Association was formed in 1891 - 3 years after Stretford was started. The M & D Association includes all clubs affiliated to Lancashire County and which lie within a fifteen mile radius of Manchester Royal Exchange are eligible for election as members. Clubs further a-field may be elected as members but these clubs must be sanctioned by the Lancashire County.
PROGRAMME "A", "B" and "TEAM" GALAS
Each of these gala series is split into a number of divisions, with promotion and relegation between them. In each division there will be seven or eight teams. Each team will swim in one home and three away galas with four teams competing in each gala. Thus, a club will not swim against the same opposition each time, but each team will swim the same overall number of galas. Points are scored in each gala and these are totalled at the end of the season to give the league placings. There is also a final for the top six clubs in the division with a trophy for the winning team and medals for both first and second place teams. The competitions run from January to July with the finals in September or October.
This year (2011) Stretford will be competing in the M&D Programme "A" league, Programme "B" Programme and the "Team" league.
Ages are as at 30th September in the year in question. Under 9’s may not take part and 9 year olds may only swim relays. It is not necessary for the swimmer to be individually registered with the ASA for these competitions
Programme "B"
This has three age groups; 13/14 15 & Over with the format of the league being determined by the Hon. Swimming Secretary after entries have been received. The gala programme includes individual events and relays. Swimmers may compete in their own age group or above but only in two individual events and all relays. For each race the points are 4,3,2,1 for 1st up to 4th. All the points are accumulated during the season to determine the finalists.
For the heats M & D will provide the Referee/ Starter but the recorder is provided by the home team and each team is to provide a Judge.
For the Finals M & D provide all officials
Programme "A"
This has three age groups; 9/10, 11, 12/13 and consists of two divisions. The gala programme includes individual events and relays. Swimmers may compete in their own age group or above but only in two individual events and all relays. For each race the points are 4,3,2,1 for 1st up to 4th. All the points are accumulated during the season to determine the finalists.
The top six clubs in Div 1 swim in the Major Final and the top six clubs in Div 2 swim in the Minor Final. The finals are held in September/October
For the heats M & D will provide the Referee/ Starter but the recorder is provided by the home team and each team is to provide a Judge.
For the Finals M & D provide all officials
Team Relay
This has three age groups; 9/10, 11/12, 13/14 and consists of three divisions. As the title implies all the events are relays. Swimmers may take part in four events plus the Cannon relay. Again each division works on a points system with the top teams competing in the Finals in September/October.
AGE GROUP COMPETITION
M & D and Bolton & District are holding a joint open meet competition in January at the Manchester Aquatic Centre in which swimmers enter as individuals and compete in a full programme of events. The Age Group Competitions are Licenced meets to ASA Level 3 which means that if a swimmer swims better than the required time this will gain him/her entry into the County or North West Region galas or a Level 1 or Level 2 meet. Because they are Licenced meets it is a requirement that each swimmer is a member of the ASA at Category 2 level.
By entering the Age Group Competition the first 2 swimmers in an event/age group are invited to represent Bolton and Manchester Swimming Associations at the Inter Association Competitions held during May in which all the Associations in the North West Region compete against each other. This will be held this year (2011) at Macclesfield in a 25 metre pool.
SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
This again is a designated meet normally held on one weekend in the summer swum as Junior, Youth and Senior events with trophies being presented to the winners of each event. The age groups are 12 and under; 13 and 14; 15 and over.
The 2011 Championships will be held at the Manchester Aquatic Centre on 16th Oct 2011