The core of the club
Galas
Competing at galas is an important part of being a member of the club. There is a very important difference between swimming and many other sports.
From the outside, a swimming race looks very simple as there are 6-8 swimmers lined up to compete with each other to see who completes the distance legally first. But at a club level this is not the objective of a gala - of course it is brilliant if it happens, but that isn’t what it is about. Swimmers line up at the start as competitors, but not to compete with each other, but with themselves.
Galas present the opportunity to measure your skills and development against an accurate timing system and the framework of rules observed by trained officials poolside. They enable the swimmer to know where they were and how much they have improved since. Potentially that may result in a medal, or invitation to a bigger gala, but the focus is on continually being better than you were before.
Galas are the only way we can measure that improvement and plan for future steps forward.
Swimming Calendar
Upcoming Galas
Venues, dates and entry forms. Everything you need to know is right here.
Looking for the results of past Galas? Check here.
September 2024
South Tyneside Autumn Gala 2024
Level 3 Gala for Swimmers aged 9 & over (as of 29th September 2024)
Entry closing date: Midnight 16th August 2024
Location: Haven Point, Pier Parade, South Shields, NE33 2JS
Date: 27th – 29th September 2024
Age Range: 9 years and over
Events: 50m, 100m & 200m all strokes, 100m & 200m Individual Medley, 400m (10&over), 800m & 1500m (11&over) Freestyle.
Entry Fee: £7(per entered event). £9 for 800m & 1500m events.
Past Galas
Results will be kept online for the calendar year. After that, they will be available upon request.
Tynemouth Summer Meet
Level 3 Gala for swimmers aged 9 and over as at 23rd June 24.
Entry closing date: 16th May 2024
Location: Tynemouth Pool, Preston Road North, North Shields, NE29 9PX
Date: 21st - 23rd June 2024
Age Range: 9 years and over
Events: 50m, 100m, 200m all strokes, 100m, 200m, 400m Medley and 400m Freestyle.
Entry Fee: £7 per event. Payment to Dolphins using reference TYNESUMNAME
South Tyneside Spring Meet 2024
Level 3 Gala for Swimmers aged 9 & over.
Entry closing date: 29 April 2024
Location: Haven Point, Pier Parade, South Shields, NE33 2JS
Date: 24-26 May 2024
Age Range: 9 years and over
Events: 50m, 100m & 200m all strokes, 100m & 200m IM, 400m ,800m & 1500m Freestyle
Entry Fee: £6 (per entered event). £9 for 800m & 1500m events.
Newcastle Swim Team Shrimp Meet
Level 4 Gala for swimmers aged 8-12 (as 18 May 2024)
Entry closing date: 1st May 2024
Location: Tynemouth Pool, Preston Road North, North Shields, NE29 9PX
Date: 18 May 2024
Age Range: 8-12 years
Events: 50m all strokes, 100m Freestyle & Medley (8-10), 200m Freestyle & Medley (11-12)
Entry Fee: £6.50 per event. Payment to Dolphins using NSTSHRIMPNAME as reference
North East Regional Youth/Open Championships
Note: All swimmers need to have achieved consideration times. See below.
Entry closing date: N/A
Location: Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Stadium Park, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland SR5 1SU
Date: 04-06 May 2024
Age Range: 15, 16, Open
Events: All
Entry Fee: £9 (per entered event)
North East Regional Age Group Championships
Note: All swimmers need to have achieved consideration times. See below.
Entry closing date: N/A
Location: John Charles Aquatics Centre, Middleton Grove, Belle Isle,Leeds. LS11 5DJ
Date: 27 & 28th April, 11 & 12th May
Age Range: 11, 12, 13 & 14 years
Events: All
Entry Fee: £9 (per entered event)
Sunderland National Qualifier 2024
Note: All swimmers need to have achieved consideration times. See below.
Entry closing date: 11 March 2024
Location: Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Stadium Park, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland SR5 1SU
Date: 12-14 April 2024
Age Range: 10 years and over (as of 31 Dec 2024)
Events: 50m - 1500m Freestyle, 100&200m all other strokes, 200&400m Individual Medley
Entry Fee: £8 (per entered event), £12 for the 800m & 1500m
TASC NER Qualifier
Entry closing date: 21 February 2024
Location: Tynemouth Pool, Preston Road North, North Shields, NE29 9PX
Date: 22-24 March 2024
Age Range: 9 years and over (as of 24th March)
Events: All
Entry Fee: £7 (per entered event). £9 for 800m & 1500m events.
Newcastle Swim Team Shrimp Gala
Gala for those swimmers new to the club and aged 8-12.
Entry closing date: 20 February 2024
Location: Tynemouth Pool, Preston Road North, North Shields, NE29 9PX
Date: 09 March 2024
Age Range: Ages 8-12 (as of 9th March)
Events: 50m all strokes, 100m freestyle(8-10), 200m freestyle (11-12), 100 IM (8-10), 200m IM (11-12)
Entry Fee: £6.50 (per entered event)
Northumberland & Durham Teams Day
County Teams Relay event participants selected by the Head Coach.
Entry closing date: N/A
Location: Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Stadium Park, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland SR5 1SU
Date: 03 March 2024
Age Range: 11 years and over
Events: Freestyle & Medley Relays
Entry Fee: N/A
Northumberland & Durham County Championships
Tickets available to purchase on the door. Tickets are sold on a first come first served basis. Ticket sales will open at 12 noon on Saturday 27th January 2024 for all 5 days of the Championships. Tickets are priced at £10 per day, save for the Friday night session (session 1) which will be £5. There are no concessions however children aged under 10 will be permitted free entry and do not need to purchase a ticket.
Entry closing date: 24 January 2024
Location: Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Stadium Park, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland SR5 1SU
Date: 02-04 February 2024, 17-18 February 2024
Age Range: 10 years and over
Events: All
Entry Fee: £9 before noon, Wednesday 24 January 2024. £18 thereafter
Tynemouth Junior Gala
This is the ideal gala for those younger swimmers starting out in competitive swimming.
Entry closing date: 14 December 2023
Location: Tynemouth Pool, Preston Road North, North Shields, NE29 9PX
Date: 28 January 2024
Age Range: 8 to 12 years
Events: 50m and 100m (all strokes), 100m Individual Medley
Entry Fee: £6.50 (per entered event)
Sunderland New Year Meet 2024
Swimmers must have achieved qualifying times as per the meet conditions. To convert short course times to long course please click here.
National Ranking times can be found here.
Entry closing date: 7 December 2023
Location: Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Stadium Park, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland SR5 1SU
Date: 19-21 January 2024
Age Range: 10 years and over (as of 31 December 2024)
Events: All
Entry Fee: £8 (per entered event). 800m & 1500m Freestyle are £12.
Newcastle Swim Team County Qualifier
Swimmers must have achieved qualifying times as per the meet conditions. To convert short course times to long course please click here.
National Ranking times can be found here.
Entry closing date: 6 December 2023
Location: Tynemouth Pool, Preston Road North, North Shields, NE29 9PX
Date: 13-14 January 2024
Age Range: 10 years and over (as of 31 December 2024)
Events: All
Entry Fee: £7 (per entered event)
Alnwick Dolphins Gala
Our very own Gala and a perfect opportunity for our own swimmers to experience a gala.
Location: Willowburn Leisure Centre
Date: 7 January 2024
Age Range: 8 years and over (as of 7th January 2024)
Events: All
Entry Fee: £6 (per entered event)
Willowburn Leisure Centre, Willowburn Avenue, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 2JH
© 2024. All rights reserved.
For Mark Crossman