Open Water Swimming

Open Water 2025

Gloucester County ASA Open Water Swimming Festival

We are pleased share with the meet pack and Hytek file for the Gloucester County Open Water Festival on Sunday 14th September. The festival will take place at Cromhall Quarry Lake (GL12 8AA) from 3.30 to 6.15pm. 

This is a Gloucester County event, in partnership with Bristol & South Gloucestershire Swimming Club, who are hosting . Please submit entries of more than three swimmers as a Hytek entry file, include a pdf copy of your entries and a summary of your club entries (see page 8). Clubs are to enter their swimmers via one consolidated entry. If entry via the Hytek file is not possible and/or fewer than four swimmers, please submit your entries using the entry form on page six of the meet pack.

There are events are age on 14.9.25 - for swimmers aged 11 and over and specific provision for Masters. The cost of entry for each swimmer is £16. Entries are accepted first come first serve. No more entries will be accepted after Sun 7th Sept. Entries will be confirmed by the end of the day on Mon 8th Sept.

To support the event by volunteering as a timekeeper / official, please see the sign up link below:-

 
Other offers of help to support with the running of the meet are gratefully received. Please just email me to send offers of help. 
 
Please refer to the attached meet pack for more details. 
 
Should clubs wish to promote BSG run open water sessions to help support swimmers prepare for the Gloucester County Open Water Festival, we have sessions on Sat 30th Aug, Sun 7th Sept and Thurs 11th Sept. We welcome swimmers to join the sessions from different clubs.  Please see link below to sign up. 

 

BSG Open Water Sessions

Bristol and South Gloucestershire are running open water sessions again this year. The sessions are open to all Swim England affiliated members who are at least ‘club’ level swimmers. Entry level is for swimmers at around Stage 9 of the National Plan for Teaching Swimming who are at least 10 years old. Sessions are for those who are new to open water as well as those who have previously swam in open water settings.

Once again, we will be using the beautiful clear waters at Cromhall (GL12 8AA) – located in the South Gloucestershire countryside about a 25-minute drive from Bristol.The goal of our open water swimming programme is for swimmers to develop their open water skills and confidence, to enjoy the experience and (for some) to use the sessions to help prepare for open water competitions.

Introductory Indoor Skills Sessions for Open Water Swimming

It is highly recommended that anyone new to open water swimming takes part in one of our indoor introduction to open water swimming sessions. The session includes a 45 minute class based session about open water swimming, how to stay safe when swimming in open water, information about wetsuits and a chance for parents and swimmers to ask any questions. This is followed by an hour long pool session where swimmers can learn some open water skills to help support them with forthcoming open water sessions. 

Open Water Sessions at Cromhall

The sessions will be open to members of Bristol and South Gloucestershire Swimming Club and non-members, providing they have the permission from their Head Coach and that their club registers them as an open water swimmer.  Please sign up at the following link:

BSG Open Water Sessions 2025 - Sign Up Here

Enjoy the benefits of open water swimming and hopefully have some fun too.

Open Water Sessions at Cromhall

  • Senior Performance Sessions for Swimmers Age 12+ - Thursdays: 6.30 to 8pm. To support preparation for regional, national and county events. Led by BSG Performance Director Jon Wills. 12th June, 19th June, 10th July, 17th July & 11th Sept
  • Juniors, Seniors, Senior Performance and Masters (Sat Only) - led by BSG Open Water Coach Jess Clements. Sat 21st June, Sat 28th June, Sun 6th July, Sun 13th July, Sat 30th Aug & Sun 7th Sept
  • Saturday Sessions - Adults/Masters (16 yrs +) from 10-11am; Juniors (10-12 yrs) from 11.20-12.15pm; Seniors (13yrs +) 1-2pm; & Senior Performance (12 yrs +) 2.20-3.40pm
  • Sunday Sessions - Senior Performance 9-10.20am, Seniors 10.40-11.40pm, Juniors 12-12.55pm

Use of wetsuits / temperature of water

We expect the water temperatures in May to be around 13 to 15 degrees with temperatures reaching around 20 oC during high summer. Swim England rules / guidance around wetsuits is based around water temperatures are as follows: -

  • ●  20oC and above – no wetsuit.

  • ●  18-19.9 oC – choose to wear a wetsuit or not. 16 to 17.9 oC – wetsuits are compulsory.

  • ●  Temperatures below 15.9 oC – we will risk assess if swimming can take place.

​Swimmers will need a wetsuit for the outdoor sessions. BSG have a small collection of wetsuits available for those who wish to borrow one (free of charge). Alternatively, wetsuits can be purchased or hired from a range of suppliers. For example: https://mywetsuithire.co.uk/ or https://www.triwetsuithire.co.uk/

Other items to bring

For the outdoor sessions, swimmers should wear a swimming hat and swimmers should not wear watches or jewellery. Swimmers need to bring their swimming stuff, a warm change of clothes, two towels, drink and snack. Trainers or flip flops are needed to put on to wear before and after swimming. Swimmers may want to wear ear plugs and have an anti-chafe product – e.g. Vaseline.