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ON-LINE ENTRIES ARE ONLY TAKEN FOR SWIMMERS WITH THEIR OWN CANOE SUPPORT

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Age Categories
Senior (At least 16 years of age on the day of the Championship).

Registration
From 8.30am report to the Swim Secretary at the Bluebird Cafe - Swimmers and boat crews MUST register.

Briefing
9.30am at the Bluebird Cafe near the boating centre (Lakeside Road) prior to the swim.

Start
12:00 noon from Water Park on the south east side of Coniston. We have permission to use this private stretch of land to gain access to the water.

Course
The swim is a straight course swim, the finish being 5.25miles away at the public beach at the northernmost point of the lake.

Conditions of Entry
1. For this swim all swimmers must provide their own safety cover. No swimmers will be allowed to participate in this event if they have not provided their own support. It’s the entrant’s responsibility to provide the safety cover. You can only enter ‘on-line’ if you detail your canoe support crew.
2. This swim is restricted to fully paid-up senior members of the BLDSA.
3. All support craft are to fly a Flag Alpha while escorting their swimmer, failure to do so will result in disqualification.
4. It is the responsibility of the swimmer to ensure that their safety cover is at the briefing in good time. If a swimmer’s safety cover is not at the briefing the swimmer will not be allowed to start the race.
5. BLDSA Rules apply to this swim, i.e. only traditional swimming costumes/ trucks (must not extend beyond the end of the shoulder onto the upper arm and lower than the crotch onto the upper leg) will be permitted (No wetsuits or body suites). Caps - Breaststroke swimmers must wear a PINK swimming cap. All other swimmers can wear any colour cap other than WHITE or PINK. Note – only one cap may be worn which have no insulating properties.

Energy Drinks
It is advisable that you take an Energy Drink during your swim. This can be handed to your canoeist who will carry it down the lake and hand it to you during the swim. A reasonable feed strategy to be applied during your swim is to stop every hour. If your swim is several hours long and the water temperature is low you will need to take on energy during the swim. We want you to finish the swim not the swim to finish you!

Time limit
There will be a time limit of 5.0hours on this swim.

Non UK Residents
Non UK Residents must provide evidence of membership of their governing body or individual insurance for Open Water Swimming.

Location
Coniston is situated in a beautiful area of the Lake District, approximately 7 miles from Ambleside.

Emergency Safety Cover
Emergency Safety cover will be provided; at a minimum this will include the BLDSA rescue boat

Changing Facilities
There is a toilet block situated in the car park next to the Bluebird Cafe (where the briefing and presentations are held).

Presentations
The presentation will take place at the Bluebird Cafe as soon as possible after the swim.

General Information
All persons are advised to report any incidents, including near misses, to a nominated person who shall be named at the championship briefing meeting.
The BLDSA has in place Anti-Bullying and Child & Vulnerable Adult Policies. Copies of which may be obtained from the BLDSA Hon. Child & Vulnerable Adult Officer.
Any person associated with the swim is expected to pay any car park charges that may be due from the parking of their vehicle.

Caravan & Camp Site
For those who intend to stay at Coniston there are numerous hotel and guest houses in the area. There is also a Campsite at Coniston Hall a short distance from the Bluebird Cafe.

Websites
www.bldsa.org.uk - Information on all BLDSA events and much more.