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Review of league year - 2022
22nd December 2022
Dear Arena League South Teams
We had a very successful 2022 with 79 teams competing across five divisions. This year we swum the 42 event programme with mixed relays. Feedback at the 2022 AGM was that clubs would like to revert back to the single sex relays and the 50 event programme from 2023.
Thank you very much to the following clubs for hosting this year. You agreed to host, not always at your home pool, not always convenient, sometimes combining with another club and so thank you to all of you that we managed 13 galas across three rounds. A total of 39 galas. Alton & District, Amersham, Atlantis, Bexley, Brighton, Chesham, Chichester Cormorants, City of Southampton, Crawley, Dover Lifeguards, East Grinstead, Erith & District, Farnham, Godalming, Guildford City, Hart, Hastings Seagull, Larkfield, Littlehampton, Maidenhead Marlins, Maidstone, Mid Sussex Marlins, RTW Monson, Rushmoor Royals, Wey Valley, Windsor, Worthing, Wycombe District.
All galas were licensed. Some were downgraded to level 4 because of the lack of AOE. Or the lack of AOE operators. Times went to Rankings but we still had the problem of clubs who couldn’t be bothered to verify their teams. It’s a simple process, which will point out where your team sheet and the swimmer registration at Swim England do not match. Unmatched swimmers get rejected, this gives the League a bad name and potentially jeopardises future licensing.
I have a huge thank you to the support of all the officials who answered my call. You donned your whites, travelled miles and whipped all 39 galas into shape. On behalf of all the swimmers, the clubs and the League thank you very much.
Arena League South has a wonderful team so my thank you to them for their support. Ian Howes has survived his first year as Chair and my sounding board. Ian has also attended many National Arena meetings on behalf of the South as I can’t always get on line. Jan Annan has had her first year as Vice Chair, and helped me with many secretarial duties. Peter Harris, our Treasurer, makes sure that pools are paid for, your annual fees are in the bank account, he gets the gala reconciliations and ensures that we remain in the black. Not on the Executive are Brian Smith who produces PDF files for me and makes sure that times get to Rankings. He also provides advice to you if you get frustrated when your team sheet doesn’t work. And finally to Jonathan Mills who puts everything I produce on the website, makes the corrections and ensures that you are all kept informed.
This is the make up of the League for 2023. This is version one. I expect many more versions before we get into the pool on 14th October 2023.
On behalf of Arena, and everyone involved in the League, Merry Christmas and a great 2023.
Best Wishes from sunny South Africa
Kathy Hook
Secretary
