What do I need to do? Keep l@@king at this page as we might amend it as we get closer to the gala! Before the gala If you want to take part in the gala, you need to have filled in an entry form and given it to your teacher by the closing date as we don't accept late entries.  Remember that you collect points for your Bay by just taking part in an event and finishing within the rules for your individual races and relay races! If you don't want to take part, you don't need to do anything, except maybe book the evening in your diary to come and support your Bay-mates! Special Race - this is for swimmers who have just gone up to lessons in the Main Pool, or are just about to, and who can just about do 25m.  The Teacher will tell you if you are invited to swim in is event. Bay Captains will select their swimmers for the Bay relays and invite the swimmers to take part.  Remember that they might want you to swim for your Bay even if you have not entered any races on your own!  Parents of swimmers who are only taking part in the Bay relay need not buy admission tickets.  The Bay Relay is now the first event after the warm-up in the Main Pool, before the races in the Small Pool.  Hopefully this will make it easier for our younger swimmers to take part.   Two weeks before the gala Admission tickets will be for sale in reception (for about £1) - these are for your family and friends.  If you are a child swimming in the gala, you don't need to buy a ticket.  If you are an adult or sibling taking part in one of the relays, you will need to buy an admission ticket. We will also be selling programmes in the couple of weeks before the gala, these show who is in what race and also the rules for the strokes.  These programmes  are not free, please don't take them if you have not paid.  These are a good souvenir if you wish to keep them.  We will put out a warm-up plan for Main Pool swimmers.  This will show you who the lane supervisor is (they will collect you at warm-up time), what lane to go to, which way round to swim and how much to swim (usually not very much!).  Remember also that the Club rules require swimmers with hair that is long enough to reach their face, to wear a hat.  This goes for swimmers with long hair even if it is tied back.  Wearing a hat also makes it easier to swim, as you don't have to drag all that waterlogged hair along!  We sell good quality silicon hats for just one pound in reception, so stop us and buy one! The day and night before the gala Make sure that you eat a good meal so that you have enough energy!  Remember also to drink a bit more than normal to keep your muscles happy!  Check the fit of your goggles in the bath or shower! On gala evening  You will need to be at Hartsdown Pool, Margate at about 6pm.  You will come through to the changing room and your family & friends will go up to the balcony.  Warm up is in the Main Pool from 6.15 and the first race starts at 6.30 pm.  **Please note that it is Thanet Leisure Force policy that no photographs, videos, etc are permitted to be made of swimmers on poolside.  Anyone found taking pictures, videos, etc with whatever equipment (camera, video, mobile phone, etc), will be asked to leave** Small Pool swimmers just need to come out onto poolside and sit on the bench between the Main Pool and Small Pool, ready to cheer everyone on in the Bay Relay!  Small Pool swimmers can go and get changed as soon as they have finished their race if they wish, or they can stay on poolside, providing that they are behaving themselves and are safe! Main Pool swimmers should come out onto poolside, its up to you to make sure you are ticked off on the register and then sit close to your warm-up lane number which will be stuck on one of the windows on the far side of the pool.  Your lane supervisor will collect you from there for the warm-up, which starts at 6.15pm.  After the warm up, we suggest you go to the loo before the races start, and you can then sit where you choose on the bench by the window. The warm up lane that you are allocated to is ONLY for the warm up.  Your race lane might change for each event. Bay Relay swimmers, once back on poolside, should go promptly to their alloted lane for the race.  This is the first race of the evening, and will start at 6.30, so please don't be late! Lanes for the Bay Relay - Lane 2 Joss, Lane 3 Viking, Lane 4 Stone, Lane 5 Botany.  This goes for the Boys and Girls races.  Swimmers may start in the water if they wish, check the relay rules first. Remember to pack an extra towel to dry yourself off between races, a light tshirt and a drink (not fizzy, and in a plastic bottle).  There is a break about half way through.  If you still have races to do, please don't eat during the break. Make sure you have read and understood the Gala Rules.  You and your team, if it's a relay, might be disqualified from an event if you don't stick to the rules.  If you get disqualified, you don't get any Bay points :-(( Once you have swum your last race, please stay on poolside to help cheer on your Bay-mates - if you really do have to leave, make sure you tell your Bay Captain.  We need to know who is around in case there is an emergency.