CBHSC aim to support members attending a range of Open Meets in each competitive year. Details of these can be found in our Events calendar.
Open Meets explained:
Swim competitions in the UK are organised into four tiers, each licensed according to its purpose:
Level 1
Designed for swimmers aiming at National qualification or those at Regional level close to National standard. These meets require qualifying times just below the national benchmarks and provide opportunities to achieve National qualifying times.
Level 2
Targeted at Regional and National qualifiers, with both qualifying and upper‑limit times in place. Organisers use ASA ranking data to verify entries. Swimmers seeking Regional or National qualification should focus on Level 1 and Level 2 meets.
Level 3 & Level 4
Aimed at club swimmers working towards County qualification.
- Level 3 meets include qualifying and upper‑limit times set at an appropriate standard.
- Level 4 meets are entry‑level competitions, supporting swimmers up to County level. National qualifying times cannot be achieved at Level 3, and neither National nor Regional times can be achieved at Level 4.
Qualifying and Upper‑Limit Times
- Qualifying times: Minimum standards swimmers must have achieved to enter a given event.
- Upper‑limit times: Maximum thresholds; swimmers faster than these are not eligible.
These times are set for National, Regional, and County competitions, and serve as benchmarks for coaches to assess swimmer progress.
Keep an up‑to‑date list of your personal bests (PB) times — you’ll need them when completing entry forms. Your coach will guide you on which meets to target, and you should always ask if unsure.
Typical competitive pathway for swimmers:
- First Step – Diddy / In-house galas / Level 4 Open Meets
- Next: County qualifying times / Level 3 Open Meets
- Next: Regional qualification and competing at Regional Championships / Level 2 Open Meets
- Highest club level: National qualification, requiring exceptional dedication and training. / Level 1 Open Meets
For a select few, this journey may even lead to International team selection.