Competitions
HHSC is a competitive swimming club. Members are encouraged to take part in a number of competitive swimming events both as individuals and as part of the club team at local, county, regional and national level. The club’s extensive competition schedule is designed to give all members of whatever age and experience an opportunity to maximise their capabilities.
HHSC attends a range of open meets hosted by other clubs throughout the year. Full details of the event schedule are available on the club calendar. Entry information and deadlines will be emailed to the relevant squads, HHSC will collate all entries and liaise directly with the host club.
A key part of the calendar is the annual Hertfordshire County Championships, where we have an increasing number of swimmers meeting the consideration & qualifying times, and in 2023 saw good success in achieving finals. We also have a number of swimmers achieving regional and, in a few cases national entry times.
The club competes in The Hertfordshire Swim League, Herts Major Division 1 and the Hertfordshire Peanuts League.
HHSC has a very active Masters section. Members compete in some of the league competitions alongside their junior counterparts as well as entering Masters competitions at county, regional, national and international events.
Finally, we run a number of internal competitions, giving swimmers of all ages a chance to put their skills into practice.
Team Galas
Selection for team galas is made by the Head Coach or coach. Your attendance at these galas is expected if selected. Selection for one round does not ensure selection in future rounds; current training attitude and behaviour, competitive performance and illness/injuries can affect selection criteria.
PEANUTS
Peanuts is part of the Herts Swimming League along with Herts Major. It is an inter club competition for Hertfordshire clubs, for swimmers aged 9 to 12. It is run over three galas in May, June and July, each having the same mix of individual and relay events.
HERTS MAJOR LEAGUE
Herts Major League is part of the Herts Swimming League along with Peanuts. It is an inter club competition for Hertfordshire clubs, for swimmers aged 9 up in four age bands; 11 and under, 12-13, 14-15, Open. It is run over three galas in January, February and March, each having the same mix of individual and relay events.
NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE
The Arena League is the national inter-club competition, currently split into 6 area Leagues. Hemel currently compete in the London League in division 2. Swimmers compete in four age groups from age 9 upwards; 9-11, 12-13, 14-15, Open. The winning teams from each League are go on to compete in the National final.
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Club Championships
The Club Championships provide an opportunity for the whole club to compete against each other throughout the year. They are also an important introduction to competition for our younger swimmers, giving them the opportunity to experience their first competitive meets in a familiar and supportive club environment.
The shorter-distance events (50m, 100m and 200m) are HHSC internal club events, with the meets taking place during normal training sessions.
These meets are licensed at Level 4 and can be managed effectively by the club. They are usually held in June.
The middle- and long-distance events (400m, 800m and 1500m) are also HHSC internal club events and are generally held in November. These events are run as Level 4 meets, providing an opportunity for swimmers to compete over the longer distances as part of the Club championships.”
Also under compete and competitions please change the main wording to the following (currently mentions 2023 so very out of date !)
“HHSC is a competitive swimming club, with members encouraged to take part in a wide range of competitive swimming events, both as individuals and as part of club teams. Swimmers have the opportunity to compete at local, county, regional and national level. Our extensive competition programme is designed to give all members, regardless of age or experience, the opportunity to develop and maximise their capabilities.
HHSC attends a range of open meets hosted by other clubs throughout the year. Full details of the competition schedule are available on the club calendar. Entry information and deadlines are communicated to the relevant squads by email. HHSC collates all entries and liaises directly with the host club.
A key part of the competition calendar is the annual Hertfordshire County championships. An increasing number of HHSC swimmers achieve the consideration and qualifying times required to compete at the Championships, with swimmers regularly progressing through to finals. In 2025, HHSC swimmers enjoyed a particularly successful County Championships, more than doubling the number of medals won compared with the previous year. We also have a number of swimmers achieving regional and, in some cases, national qualifying times.
The club competes in the Hertfordshire Swim League, Herts Major Division 1 and the Hertfordshire Peanuts League, providing opportunities for swimmers to compete as part of a team and represent HHSC.
HHSC also has a very active Masters section. Masters members compete in some of the league competitions alongside their junior counterparts, as well as entering Masters competitions at county, regional, national and
international level.