Aquatics GB explained

Aquatics GB
Logosize:200px
Sport:Aquatics
Category:Sports governing body
Jurisdiction:National
Membership:Swim England
Swim Wales
Scottish Swimming
Aff:FINA
LEN
British Olympic Association
British Paralympic Association
Headquarters:SportPark
Location:3 Oakwood Drive, Loughborough,
Leicestershire, LE11 3QF
Chairperson:Karen Webb Moss[1]
Chiefexec:Drew Barrand
Coach:Swimming
Chris Spice
Para-Swimming
Chris Furber
Diving
Alexei Evangulov
Artistic
Karen Thorpe
Replaced:Amateur Swimming Federation of Great Britain (ASFGB)
Url:https://www.aquaticsgb.com
Countryflag:United Kingdom

Aquatics GB[2] (formerly British Swimming) is the national governing body of swimming, water polo, artistic swimming, diving and open water in Great Britain.[3] Aquatics GB is a federation of the national governing bodies of England (Swim England), Scotland (Scottish Swimming), and Wales (Swim Wales).[3] These three are collectively known as the Home Country National Governing Bodies.[4]

For international swimming purposes, competitive swimming in Northern Ireland falls under the Irish swimming federation, Swim Ireland, and as such Aquatics GB represents Great Britain, rather than the United Kingdom. For the Olympic Games, Northern Irish swimmers may opt to compete for Aquatics GB.

Aquatics GB is a member of World Aquatics, LEN, the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association, and has responsibility for elite performance, doping control and international relationships and events for the sports within the Great Britain. The Home Country National Governing Bodies are affiliated to Aquatics GB and are responsible for all other management of the sports in their respective countries from the learn to swim programmes up to performance development.[5]

History

British Swimming (as it was known at the time) became the primary organisation for Great British swimming in 2014, previously the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) had been responsible for elite swimming.[6]

In 2024, the organisation underwent a rebranding and was renamed Aquatics GB to oversee five disciplines of swimming, diving, para-swimming, artistic swimming and water polo.[2]

Championships

Aquatics GB organises championships every year in each of the sporting disciplines.

Swimming

Long course

See main article: Aquatics GB Swimming Championships.

See main article: List of British Swimming champions.

Short courseThe Aquatics GB Short Course Championships were usually held in August or September each year, though the event has not been held since 2004
YearDatesVenue
20019–12 AugustNorwich
200212–15 SeptemberCambridge
200314–17 AugustGrand Central Pools, Stockport
200426–29 AugustAquatics Centre, Manchester

Water polo

Domestic water polo competition in the UK is centred on the National Water Polo League (NWPL) and National Women's Water Polo League (NWWPL), which operate through the autumn and winter. The British Championships organised by British Swimming are held in the Spring. Winners of the championships in recent years are listed below.

British Championships
YearMen's championsWomen's champions
1996[7] BristolN/A
1997BristolN/A
1998BristolN/A
1999[8] LancasterN/A
2000LancasterN/A
2001BristolN/A
2002PenguinN/A
2003LancasterN/A
2004LancasterN/A
2005LancasterSheffield
2006[9] LancasterCity of Sheffield
2007Lancaster?
2008[10] RotherhamManchester
2009[11] LancasterManchester

Masters swimming

An annual championships for Masters swimmers is organised in rotation by the Home Countries, usually in June, for senior (18–24 yrs) and masters (25 yrs+). The championships are held in a long course (50 m) pool. The championships are held in a long course (50 m) pool.

YearDatesVenue
19879–11 OctoberAfan Lido Pool, Aberavon
19884–5 NovemberDundee
19893–5 NovemberCoventry Sports and Leisure Centre, Coventry
1990NovemberWales Empire Pool, Cardiff
1991JulyLeeds International Pool, Leeds
19925–7 JuneCrystal Palace National Sports Centre, London
19934–6 JuneWales Empire Pool, Cardiff
19943–5 JuneLeeds International Pool, Leeds
19952–4 JuneCrystal Palace National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, London
199626–28 AprilPonds Forge, Sheffield
19976–8 JuneWales Empire Pool, Cardiff
199829–31 MayTollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow
19994–6 June Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre, Coventry
20002–4 JuneCrystal Palace National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, London
20011–3 JuneTollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow
200231 May–2 JuneCrystal Palace National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, London
20036–8 JuneWelsh National Pool, Swansea
200423–25 AprilAquatics Centre, Manchester
20053–5 JuneTollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow
200616–18 JuneAquatics Centre, Manchester
200715–17 JuneAquatics Centre, Manchester
200820–22 JuneAquatics Centre, Manchester
200919 JuneCardiff International Pool, Cardiff
201018–20 JuneTollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow[12]
201117–19 JuneJohn Charles Centre for Sport, Leeds[13]
20124–6 MayPonds Forge, Sheffield[14]
201314–16 JunePlymouth Life Centre, Plymouth[15]
201413–15 JuneWelsh National Pool, Swansea[16]
201512–14 JuneAquatics Centre, Manchester[17]

Open water swimming

Alongside the Open Water Grand Prix series, Aquatics GB also arranges national championship events over 5 km and 10 km.

Diving

The British Diving Championships are held annually in the winter. Sometimes the annual championships are held in the December of the preceding calendar year.

See main article: British Diving Championships.

Synchronised swimming

The British Synchronised Swimming Championships are usually held in November or December each year.

YearDatesVenue
20046–7 NovemberGala Baths, Walsall
20055–6 NovemberBraunstone LC, Leicester
20062–3 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester
20071–2 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester
20086–7 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester
20095–6 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester
20103–5 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester
20112–4 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester

Sponsorship

In 2009, Aquatics GB announced a £15 million, 6 year sponsorship deal with British Gas.[18] [19] [20] It also announced sponsorship with Kellogg's[21] and Speedo[22] in 2009. In 2016, Aquatics GB announced a new sponsorship deal with TYR Sport, Inc.

Further reading

Keil, Ian/Wix, Don, In the Swim. The Amateur Swimming Association from 1869 to 1994, London 1996

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Karen Webb Moss Becomes First Woman to Chair British Swimming . . 2023-12-14 . 2022-09-30.
  2. Web site: Aquatics GB - more than just a new name for British Swimming . 2024-03-27 . Aquatics GB.
  3. http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/about-us/about-british-swimming/about-british-swimming/1747/ About British Swimming
  4. Web site: ASA LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATE FOR TEACHING WATER POLO . 24 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312042544/http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,,5026-1-1-67735-0-file,00.pdf . 12 March 2012 . dead .
  5. Web site: The difference between British Swimming and the Amateur Swimming Association . 2008-07-31 . British Swimming . 2005-11-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110519105915/http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,,5157-1-1-122085-0-file,00.pdf . 19 May 2011 . dead .
  6. Web site: Historical Timeline. Swim England.
  7. Web site: NWPL Results Archive . 2008-10-27 .
  8. Web site: Lancaster City Swimming and Water Polo Club . 2008-10-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080510140541/http://www.laswpc.com/lancasterwaterpolo.html . 10 May 2008 .
  9. Web site: GB Water Polo Championships 2006 . 2008-10-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721182042/http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,,5157-1-1-122540-0-file,00.pdf . 21 July 2011 . dead .
  10. Web site: British Water Polo Championships 2008 . 2008-10-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721182125/http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,,5157-1-1-132909-0-file,00.pdf . 21 July 2011 . dead .
  11. Web site: City of Manchester and Lancaster take British water polo titles . 2009-02-22 . 2009-02-22 .
  12. Web site: British Gas Swimming Championships 2010. British Swimming via SportSystems. British Swimming/SportSystems. 1 September 2014.
  13. Web site: British Gas Masters Championships 2011. British Swimming via SportSystems. British Swimming/SportSystems. 1 September 2014.
  14. Web site: British Gas Masters and Senior Age Group Champs Moves To Sheffield. British Swimming. 1 September 2014.
  15. Web site: British Gas Masters and Senior Age Group Championships 2013. The ASA. 1 September 2014.
  16. Web site: British Gas Masters and Senior Age Group Championships 2014. British Swimming. 1 September 2014.
  17. Web site: British Masters and Senior Age Group Championships 2015. The ASA. British Swimming. 13 July 2015.
  18. Web site: British Gas signs 15m swimming sponsorship . . 13 Mar 2009 . 24 April 2014 . Parsons, Russell.
  19. Web site: Campaign:Pools 4 Schools . European Sponsorship Association . ESA website . 24 April 2014 .
  20. http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/content/news/0,10869,5157-183729-200947-40069-294738-news-item,00.html{{dead link|date=April 2014}}
  21. News: British Swimming boosted by £3m Kellogg's deal . . 1 Jul 2009 . 24 April 2014 . Salter, Jessica.
  22. News: Speedo makes a splash with British Swimming . . 11 March 2009 . 24 April 2014 . Long, Michael.