Timing

Competitions are organised on the basis of time handicapped racing. This system was devised some 50 years ago, has been developed over the years and found to be fair
and practical in operation.

This ensures that each swimmer has an equal chance of winning according to their performance. The slowest swimmer stars at "GO" and other competitors at the intervals obtained by deducting their entered time for the distance from that of the slowest swimmer. Ideally, the handicap is framed to produce a "dead heat" of all competitors in a race with the result being decided on the ‘Order of Touch’.

To explain by way of an example, in a 1 length race there are 4 swimmers with the following times:

Swimmer A takes 58 secs: starts at "GO" - finishes 4^th in an aggregate time of 58 secs
.

Swimmer B takes 38 secs: starts at 20 secs - finishes 2^nd in an aggregate time of 56 secs.

Swimmer C takes 28 secs: starts at 30 secs - finishes 1^st in an aggregate time of 55 secs.

Swimmer D takes 24 secs: starts at 34 secs - finishes 3^rd in an aggregate time of 57 secs.

At the end of the race the swimmer closest to the aggregate time is declared the winner.

Thus in this case, as Swimmer A actually finishes at the calculated or ‘GO at ‘ time of 58 secs, they are repositioned in 1^st place. Similarly, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th places are awarded with the better positions going to those nearest the time band. Again, all these places are calculated regardless of which side of the time band, except where two swimmers have equal times, but either side of the time band, when the swimmer with the fastest time takes precedence.

Thus, D is repositioned in 2^ndplace, B in 3^rd place and C 4^thplace.

There is no reason why clubs using this system should not actively engage in competition with able-bodied swimming clubs. The results are far from one-sided and all swimmers realise that they have to perform to the best of their ability.


	[Home] [What's New] [History] [Phyl] [Profiles] [Newsletter] [1 Hour Swim] [Badges] [Timing] [Directions]