IMPORTANT NOTICE - Date Changes.

04 December 2019

I write on behalf of the Western Australian Swimming Association Inc. (SWA) in relation to the SWA 2019/20 competition calendar and OWS Series.

Many of our Regional Members will be aware that the 2020 SunSmart Country Championships were to be held at HBF Stadium from Friday 10 January to Sunday 12 January 2020. As usual, once the calendar is set by the Competition & Planning Committee (CPC), the Association books the venue a year in advance. Regrettably, SWA has been advised by VenuesWest that the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships have been secured and whilst SWA had the booking already in place, national events take precedence over State events. As such, in order to swim on that weekend, 2020 SunSmart Country Championships would need to move to the 10 lanes outside pool at HBF Stadium. Over the past month, SWA has received numerous complaints from Members about swimming in an outside venue.

Given this development, I have sought advice from the Country Swimming Committee (CSC) and CPC. Both Committees both discussed and debated the options with SWA staff and found that HBF Stadium is available the weekend prior. Given the fact that this will enable the meet to be held indoors over the 3 days, the recommendation from CSC and CPC is that SWA moves the 2020 SunSmart Country Championships to the weekend prior (3-5 January 2020). SWA Management has accepted the recommendation from these Committees. This will also result in a change to the date that the 2020 SunSmart Rookie Meet is staged.

Please be advised that SWA now confirms that the 2020 SunSmart Country Championships will commence on Friday 3 January and run through until Sunday 5 January 2020 at the 8 lane indoor pool at HBF Stadium. All warm-ups and start times remain unchanged as per previous advice.

The 2020 SunSmart Rookie Meet will also move forward to this weekend running on the morning of Friday, January 3 2020 (warm-up at 8.00 and racing starting at 9.00 am).

This decision will also necessitate the amending the date of Round 7 of the 2019/20 SWA OWS Series. The Bunbury Round (round 7) will now be held on Saturday 11 January 2020 in Bunbury with start times remaining unchanged.

SWA will be communicating these messages to the Membership, but we seek your support as leaders of your Clubs to ensure that all Members are aware of these changes. As with any decision made that results in changes in dates set so far in advance, there will be some SWA Members that will be pleased that the 2020 SunSmart Country Championships will now be held in an indoor venue, but SWA also appreciates there will be some Members who have made arrangements based on previously communicated information and potentially booked flights and accommodation, will be disappointed. SWA apologizes to Members for any inconvenience but is confident that change the Committees advocate is the right one.

SWA also reminds our Members that it is rare that SWA Meet is moved and this national event booking the venue has required the Association and its Committees to consider the options and act in the best interests of our Swimmers, Officials and Coaches.

Please ask your Coaches and swimmers to register online on MSR to enter for the revised dates for both the 2019/20 SunSmart Country Championships and Round 7 of the SWA 2019/20 OWS Series, noting that SunSmart Country Championship and Rookie Meet entries will now close on Thursday 26 December 2019 to allow for preparations over Christmas break.

Thank you for your support in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Darren Beazley

Chief Executive Officer

 

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