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Swim sessions

Swim update as at 18 Sep 2023:

As the weather and water cool down, now is a good time to hang onto any tolerance you have built up for cooler water. Some people like to swim open water as far into winter as they can, shortening the time in the water and adding neoprene as necessary. If you are doing this for the first time, some tips on staying safe in cold water might come in useful.
Unfortunately a swim school took over all the time available to external users at the University of Chester pool and nowhere else has pool time available on a Friday evening, so Friday training is temporarily suspended at the moment. Pool swim sessions are still selling out regularly on Mondays, busy on Saturdays and there’s a regular crop of hardy early birds on Wednesdays. Booking opens a week before each session – don’t leave it till the last minute and miss out! If you have booked and find you cannot attend, please cancel your place using either the link in the confirmation email or on Nifty Entries. This will open a place up which someone else may be able to use.

 

Pool sessions – where and when:

Sessions are split between City Baths and Christleton . They are all mixed ability, with lanes arranged by speed. We are continuing to look for more lanes/sessions to match demand.

Christleton:
19.00 – 20.00 Mondays

City Baths:
05.45 – 06.45 Wednesdays
16.00 – 17.00 Saturdays, 3 lanes technique, 2 lanes squad swim

Important to remember:
Book in advance via Nifty Entries (bookings go live 1 week before each session). Cost (as of Nov 2022) £4.70 + 30p transaction fee.

FAQs:

  • If you can’t make it to a session you’ve booked, please cancel either via the link in the confirmation email, or via the training sessions entry page on Nifty Entries.
  • The transfer button on Nifty Entries doesn’t work for training session bookings.
  • Everyone has equal chance of getting a place in any session.
  • Once a session is finished the next week’s session is opened for booking.
  • Try putting a reminder in your calendar to book in the evening or following morning after a Monday or Friday swim. If you can’t commit to the next week’s swim at that point, keep an eye on Nifty Entries for any spaces which pop up when someone cancels.

Open water venues – please check their websites/FB for details (see links on open water swimming page).

If you are going to swim outdoors, we suggest to refresh/prepare yourself with some outdoor swimming tips from sensible sources. You can find various resources about open water swimming here on the club website. We don’t recommend open water swimming alone, particularly in cold weather.

Our next swim sessions

Saturday 02 Dec
16:00 - 17:00

Technique coaching + squad swim session

Monday 04 Dec
19:00 - 20:00

Squad swim session

Wednesday 06 Dec
05:45 - 06:45

Squad swim session

Saturday 09 Dec
16:00 - 17:00

Technique coaching + squad swim session

Monday 11 Dec
19:00 - 20:00

Squad swim session

Wednesday 13 Dec
05:45 - 06:45

Squad swim session

Saturday 16 Dec
16:00 - 17:00

Technique coaching + squad swim session

Swim sessions are £4.70 + 30p transaction fee.

Non‐members can sign up here for a 2 week trial membership for free, which will allow you to book & pay for club sessions during that fortnight.

Technique swim sessions

Technique sessions are held at Chester City Baths on Saturdays 16:00 – 17:00.

Our Technique swim session is a front crawl improver session for all abilities – we believe that anyone can improve their technique and enjoy becoming more efficient and confident in the water. We are sorry that we cannot teach you front crawl from scratch, but our experienced coaches can help you improve your technique, whatever ability / speed you already have.

Who are the sessions perfect for?

  • Newish to swimming, can swim front crawl, but may find it difficult or may not be confident.
  • Limited understanding of technique.
  • May lack fitness.
  • May include post injury rehab.

Training Focus

  • Study and improve your front crawl.
  • Develop stroke, using drills.
  • Begin swim endurance.
  • Develop lane discipline.
  • Technique is the priority, no pressure around speed!

Intermediate swim sessions

Intermediate swimmers can train:

Mondays 19:00-20:00 @ Christleton Sports Centre ,

Wednesdays 05:45-06:45 @ Chester City Baths , and

Saturdays 16:00-17:00 @ Chester City Baths .

Our Intermediate sessions are squad sessions that cater for a wide variety of abilities. As a basis, swimmers should be able to swim front crawl for at least 200m without stopping. The coaches will help you in terms of which lane you will most benefit from and if this session is suitable for you.

  • Reasonably fit.
  • Technique: still in need of development.

Training Focus

  • Mondays and Wednesdays – Speed work and CSS development.
  • Saturdays – Technique or Fitness.

Advanced swim sessions

Advanced swimmers can train:

Mondays 19:00-20:00 @ Christleton Sports Centre ,

Wednesdays 05:45-06:45 @ Chester City Baths , and

Saturdays 16:00-17:00 @ Chester City Baths .

Advanced swim sessions are squad sessions for those who are able to maintain a pace of approximately 1:50 per 100m or quicker over longer distances.

  • Fit and competent swimmer.
  • Good level of technique.
  • Good lane discipline.

Training Focus

  • Mondays and Wednesdays – Speed work and CSS development.
  • Saturdays – Technique or Fitness.