2019 marks the 150th anniversaries of both Otter Swimming Club and Swim England and on Sunday 14 July, Masters swimmers and water polo players from across the UK will join Otters at the London Aquatic Centre to celebrate. Swim England has been helping to promote Otter’s events and celebrate the history of the club.
Six Masters swim teams – Spencer, Barnet, Teddington, Guildford, GB Police and Mid Sussex Marlins – are competing against two Otter teams, along with two invitational teams ‘All Stars Team North’ and ‘All Stars Team South’ (who are made up of masters swimmers from across the country). You can access the full swimming programme here: Programme. And there’s further detail about the events we’re running and logistics available here: Briefing Guide - take a look if you’d like to know the rules for our double arm backstroke and mystery medley races.
Around 80 Otters are racing on the day (with the Team Managers in touch with their swimmers to confirm the events their swimming on the day), but we can still accommodate more, so if you’d like to take part, send a message to otter150gala@gmail.com or turn up for 9:45am on Sunday - we’d particularly appreciate more ladies and younger swimmers across all the teams!
For Otters who’d like to be involved, but aren’t too worried about the swimming: spectators are welcome, and you’ll be even more welcome if you’d like to take part in the informal ‘Bake Off’ which the other teams have suggested. Bring your best-tasting cakes and you may win the ultimate prize of bragging rights for the best cake of the day!
After the swimming, Otter’s male and female water polo teams will be taking part in a number of competitive matches (from 2pm). We hope many of the swimmers will stay on after the gala to watch the water polo - and we’re enticing them with a free drink at the reception being held from 2pm in the spectator area overlooking the diving pit, with more socialising to follow in the nearby pub, the Cow (4 Chestnut Plaza, Montfichet Road, London, E20 1GL).
Come and join your team mates, swimmers and water polo players from across the country to celebrate Otter! See you there.
Where: London Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park, London E20 2ZQ
When: Sunday 14 July 2019.
Entry for swimmers from 9:45. Warm-up at 10am with racing scheduled to finish at 2pm at the latest.
Water polo matches begin from 2pm