In what countries, besides USA, is Masters Swimming "big"? Now, it's very difficult to define excatly what I mean by masters swimming being "big" but let's define it like this:
1. An arbitrarily chosen city with a population of more than 100,000 in the particular country would be likely to have a masters team with at least 10 members.
2. Annually there should be at least 5 masters swim meet being held in the country.
So basically, if I reside in the particular country in a not too small city, I'd be likely to be able to join a masters team and compete without having to travel abroad.
Rob,
Nice to meet you! We do live in the same country, yes. There are exceptions, Birmingham Masters and Kenilworth being ones (BTW, where & when do the Kenilworth Masters train?). York, Bath, Sheffield, Plymouth also have good Masters clubs (and, of course, there's London, but that's always an outlier). However, it's not on the same level as what they have in the US, where a city the size of Birmingham may have half a dozen clubs that are dedicated Masters-only and train 5-7 days a week. Masters in the UK (again, with the exception of a 5-6 clubs) is very competitive. I spoke to a Coventry coach at LC Nationals about possibly training with them a couple times a month. Her first question was what my times were for the events I raced, and basically said "well, as long as you can swim x distance in x time , you'll be fine". After I explained that I was considerably slower than that, she lost interest.
The original question asked in which countries Masters swimming was "big". Whereas there are some good clubs and it is very enjoyable in the UK, I still would not maintain that it is "big" on the same level as it is in the US or Australia. The biggest issue is probably pool access. As it is, I can swim at 'adult' swim sessions once a week in Stourport (I work 9-5, so can't make the 8-9 am 'early morning' session). Beyond that, I have to drive 30 (in the summer when Highley Lido is open) - 60 minutes for a pool that I can train in. Most of the Masters sessions are during the week, not finishing until at least 9:30 pm. Birmingham Masters is a local exception, though to make those sessions I need two trains, two busses and still don't get home until almost 10:00, even though the session ends at 7:00. Which means I don't get any dinner, either. It's just not made particularly convenient.
I did get spoiled in Southampton, which has a great Masters club and a lovely pool with good opening hours and lap-swimming time. However, I still maintain that Masters swimming isn't "big" in the UK.
Rob,
Nice to meet you! We do live in the same country, yes. There are exceptions, Birmingham Masters and Kenilworth being ones (BTW, where & when do the Kenilworth Masters train?). York, Bath, Sheffield, Plymouth also have good Masters clubs (and, of course, there's London, but that's always an outlier). However, it's not on the same level as what they have in the US, where a city the size of Birmingham may have half a dozen clubs that are dedicated Masters-only and train 5-7 days a week. Masters in the UK (again, with the exception of a 5-6 clubs) is very competitive. I spoke to a Coventry coach at LC Nationals about possibly training with them a couple times a month. Her first question was what my times were for the events I raced, and basically said "well, as long as you can swim x distance in x time , you'll be fine". After I explained that I was considerably slower than that, she lost interest.
The original question asked in which countries Masters swimming was "big". Whereas there are some good clubs and it is very enjoyable in the UK, I still would not maintain that it is "big" on the same level as it is in the US or Australia. The biggest issue is probably pool access. As it is, I can swim at 'adult' swim sessions once a week in Stourport (I work 9-5, so can't make the 8-9 am 'early morning' session). Beyond that, I have to drive 30 (in the summer when Highley Lido is open) - 60 minutes for a pool that I can train in. Most of the Masters sessions are during the week, not finishing until at least 9:30 pm. Birmingham Masters is a local exception, though to make those sessions I need two trains, two busses and still don't get home until almost 10:00, even though the session ends at 7:00. Which means I don't get any dinner, either. It's just not made particularly convenient.
I did get spoiled in Southampton, which has a great Masters club and a lovely pool with good opening hours and lap-swimming time. However, I still maintain that Masters swimming isn't "big" in the UK.
