BUCS Nationals is returning in February, with five simultaneous sporting events taking place in Sheffield over one weekend. One of these events is the return of the Long Course Swimming Championship, with each university’s best swimmers going head to head. The quality promises to be high, with Freshered providing the low-down on all you need to know ahead of the event.
Location and Date
University students hoping to swim to victory will be doing so at the Ponds Forge International Sporting Centre, in Sheffield, at their Olympic-sized swimming pool. The 50-metre pool is one of only ten built to FINA standards in the UK. The pool is also home to a piece of history. At the 1993 European Championships, held at Ponds Forge, Károly Güttler of Hungary broke the world record in the 100 metre breaststroke. Those competing on Friday 18th, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th February will be hoping to replicate such success.
Unfortunately, as is the case with all BUCS Nationals events, spectators are ‘discouraged‘ due to limited seating capacity, and the risk of Covid-19. However, spectators will still be able to watch the events, as they are broadcast live on the BUCS website.
What different events are taking place?
There are six different disciplines taking place over the weekend. These are as follows:
- Freestyle
- Breaststroke
- Butterfly
- Backstroke
- Medleys
- Relays
Within these six disciplines, there are a wide range of different distances which swimmers are able to compete. A full list of these distances can be found by following this link.
As well as this, universities will be able to enter two para-swimmers in specific events, which include five of the six above disciplines, excluding the relays. A full list of the events can be found here. Unfortunately, in line with the World Para Swimming Rules and Regulations, any world record swims will not be recognised. Moreover, para swimmers can compete in up to three events.
Where will we be able to see the results?
Live results can be accessed from this page over the weekend, and a full list of results will be published after the event.
How will points be awarded?
Only the fastest swimmer from each institution will be awarded. For instance, if the top two in the women’s 50m freestyle were both from the University of Birmingham, only the person in first would earn points. If this is the case, the points unable to be determined by the final will be done so through the rankings in the heats.
Ten points will be awarded to the first place finisher, nine points to second, eight points to third etc, all the way down to one point. The top three in each final will be presented with medals, regardless of the institution they are representing.
Trophies will also be presented. There are seven in total, and are awarded for the following:
- The Top Overall Institution (based on points awarded)
- The Top Women’s Team (based on points awarded)
- The Top Men’s Team (based on points awarded)
- The Top Female Performance
- The Top Male Performance
- The Top Female para-swimming performance
- The Top Male para-swimming performance
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