Last Chance NER Qualifier 2026 — Meet Conditions

Meet Conditions

1. The gala will be held at The Neptune, Middlesbrough, TS3 7RP on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October 2026. The pool length is 25 metres of variable depth with 8 lanes and anti-wave ropes. A separate swim-down pool is available.
2. Colorado Electronic Timing will be in operation with scoreboard display. Times displayed are for information only. A secondary strobe starting unit will be available.
3. Age groups and events:
   9 Years: 50m, 100m, 200m all strokes plus 100m IM and 200m IM.
   10 Years: 50m, 100m, 200m all strokes plus 400m Freestyle, 100m, 200m and 400m Individual Medley.
   11 Years and over: 50m, 100m, 200m all strokes plus 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle and 100m, 200m and 400m Individual Medley.
   All events will be Heat Declared Winner.
4. Middlesbrough ASC complies with Swim England's Transgender and Non-Binary Competition policy. The Female category at this event is for birth sex females only. By entering the female category, a swimmer confirms their birth sex is female.
5. Ages are as at 18 October 2026.
6. Entry fees: £8.00 per individual swim; £10.00 per individual swim for 800m and 1500m Freestyle. Entries must be submitted electronically.
7. Middlesbrough ASC will offer each visiting club 2 free poolside passes. Additional poolside passes can be purchased for £10.00 and include entry and start sheets. Coaches and Team Managers will not be permitted on poolside without the necessary pass. Lunch will not be provided for Coaches and Team Managers. All swimmers must be supervised by a Coach and/or Team Manager in possession of a pass. All Coaches/Team Managers must be DBS checked and meet Swim England requirements.
8. Middlesbrough ASC will not be responsible for any unaccompanied swimmers at the Meet. Swimmers are the responsibility of the Club to which they are affiliated and must be supervised by a responsible adult possessing a poolside pass and the relevant accreditations.
9. Entries will open 8am on Friday 24 July 2026 and will close at 6pm Thursday 26 September 2026. In the event that the gala is oversubscribed, swimmers with the slowest entry times in each age group will be rejected. All entries submitted must have an entry time. This does not need to be a ranked time and can be a coach's time.
10. A list of accepted entries will be available prior to the Meet. Please check your entries to ensure they are correct and notify us of any errors. Middlesbrough ASC reserves the right to limit entry numbers of each event to manage session times.
11. Payment should be made to Middlesbrough ASC at the time of entry. Preferred method of payment is by bank transfer to Middlesbrough ASC, sort code: 05-06-01, account number: 15711014. Where payment is not received 7 days prior to the Meet, entries may not be guaranteed.
12. Entry times should be converted to 25m pool times by use of ASA Conversion Tables.
13. Refunds will only be given if: the withdrawal is before the gala has closed; or the withdrawal is after the Meet has closed on medical grounds, subject to submission of an appropriate medical certificate. In such cases, the swimmer will be withdrawn from all other events.
14. Poolside entries will be at the discretion of the Meet Organiser and will be £8.00 per entry for all events other than distance Freestyle.
15. Heats will be seeded according to submitted entries.
16. Medals will be awarded to the top three in each individual age group.
17. Swimmers are only permitted to swim for one Club during the Meet.
18. Where possible, over the top starts will be used during the Meet. Swimmers are requested to remain in the water until asked to leave the pool. Backstroke ledges will be available for relevant events.
19. Para-swimming competitors:
    • Para-swimmers shall swim under World Para Swimming Rules.
    • Qualifying times for para-swimming competitors are not required. However, entry times shall be submitted for the purpose of seeding the heats.
    • Poolside passes and coaches' passes shall attract the advertised fee. All coaches, chaperones and personal care attendants must conform to Swim England child protection procedures and hold a current DBS certificate.
    • Competition format: para-swimmers will be included within the non-para programme. All swimmers will be seeded in the heats according to their entry times. Para-swimming competitors will be included within the results for their age group and separate awards will not be made.
20. Coaches/Team Managers are responsible for ensuring competitors report to the marshalling area at the required time. Swimmers failing to report to the marshals in time for the start of their race may not be allowed to compete.
21. Anyone found damaging or misusing property or equipment at the host venue may be disqualified from any further involvement in the competition and may be subject to further action from Pool Management.
22. Neither Middlesbrough ASC, the Neptune Centre nor Everyone Active can be held responsible for loss or damage to spectators' or swimmers' property. Swimmers are advised to use the lockers (£1 refundable) in the changing rooms and not to leave belongings unattended in the changing area or on poolside.
23. In line with Everyone Active's policy, the use of photography equipment within the pool and spectator areas will not be permitted unless specific permission is sought.
24. The Lead Referee for the meet is Gillian Smith.
25. The Referee's decision is final.
26. The Data Protection Act 2018 requires us to provide you with certain information and to obtain your consent before processing data about you. We require certain personal data for the purposes of making entries to the competition, managing the Meet and the submission of results to British Swimming Rankings. The information provided will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. Consent to process such personal data is deemed to have been given by the submission of the entry.

Key Contacts

Lead Referee: Gillian Smith

Officials

In order to run this gala a large number of licensed officials are required. If your club has any licensed officials willing to help please contact gillian.smith@middlesbroughasc.org.uk.

Travel expenses will be paid at a rate of 45p per mile. Where volunteers have a swimmer competing, 50% of the total mileage will be paid. Volunteers who are only doing one session per day will also be paid 50% of the total mileage.