2023 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships
Kia ora coaches, managers and swimmers,
Welcome to the 2023 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships next week. Swimming New Zealand is excited to be hosting this event in Hawke's Bay at the new Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatic Centre, we can’t wait to welcome you all!
12 - 16 April
Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatic Centre, Hawke's Bay
Our team looks forward to seeing you on pool deck. It's bound to be a great week of racing and connecting, best of luck to everyone!
Nga mihi nui,
Dale Johnson
Head of Participation & Events - Swimming NZ
Team Managers Meeting
There will be a compulsory team manager meeting held on Tuesday 11 April at 5pm in the Heretaunga Room. There will be signs showing the way to the specific room.
Team managers will be given a brief run-down of meet activities, expectations of swimmers and clubs, and general delivery of the event. Each club is asked to have at least one representative at the meeting. If you can’t attend, please have a good understanding of this update.
Programme & Results
Swimming NZ will complete the programme and seeding over the coming days online.
Click here to view the programme and results online
We encourage you to download the new Swimify Livetiming app to view the programme and results on your phone.
We have decided to provide one printed session programme per club. This will be available at the Resolutions Desk.
Updated World Aquatics Stroke Rules
As communicated on 23 March, we will be enforcing the updated World Aquatics Rules for strokes from the 1 April 2023 onwards. Please note this doesn't affect multi-class events.
Medal Ceremonies
Medals shall be awarded for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd New Zealanders in all events (except exhibition relays). Visitor medals will be awarded to any international competitor who places.
The victory ceremony timetable will be included in the finals programmes and as listed in the event schedule, and we will endeavour to run to this timetable. If for any reason there is a delay in the results being available, the medal presentation for that event will take place as soon as possible.
Dress standard and protocols for victory ceremonies:
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Club or regional t-shirt, jacket or sweatshirt
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No caps or goggles
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Shorts, trousers or skirt must be worn
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Shoes must be worn
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Swimmers can’t run on to the podium late, they need to be present at the start of the announcement for their presentation
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Swimmers must keep their medal on until well away from the podium and cameras
Accred & Access To Pool
Access to the pool is via the competitor’s entrance via the main pool foyer with your accreditation. An accreditation volunteer will be on hand to ensure that passes are being presented. If you do not have a valid pass – you will be required to pay the appropriate admission fee. Accreditation must be worn, around the neck, to gain access. No accreditation no entry. Lost accreditation can be replaced at a cost of $15.00 each – through cash or invoice to the club.
Please note, no late passes will be issued at the door as per the updated Accreditation Policy 009.
Discover Hastings
Make the most of your visit to the Hastings District in the heart of Hawke’s Bay and take time to visit superb attractions such as parks, playgrounds, beaches, cafes and award-winning wineries and restaurants and the vibrant urban areas of Hastings city centre, and Havelock North.
“East Block” on Heretaunga Street offers up great eating and drinking, with boutique retail stretching down Heretaunga Street. More great shops and eateries can be found in the newly developed Tribune Precinct on Queen Street. Havelock North boasts fabulous fashion and a huge array of eateries to suit any taste and budget.
Make sure you tick Te Mata Peak off your list – a must-do when visiting Hastings. Drive, walk, run or mountain bike to the top of Te Mata Peak for stunning 360degree views of Hawke’s Bay. Off-road walking and biking options venture through 99 hectares of beautiful parkland on well-established tracks.
Opening Hours
Pre-Meet (Tues 11 April)
9am - 12pm and 2pm - 7pm
Competition Days (Wed 12 - Sun 16 April)
Heats = 7.30am
Finals = 4pm
Marshalling
Heats:
Self-marshalling will be employed during all heat sessions. Swimmers are asked to be in the marshalling area 4 heats prior to their event. For all 50m events swimmers need to be in the marshalling area 6 heats prior to their event.
Finals:
Swimmers (including reserves) will need to marshal 6 races prior for 50m events and 4 races prior to their event for all other events and remain in the marshalling area. All swimmers are required to marshal for relays. Swimsuits will be checked at marshalling for legality.
If a swimmer is not present at the time of their event being marshalled, the clerk of course will replace that swimmer with the reserved swimmer.
Seating
Seating will be available on pool deck and grandstand for swimmers, coaches and team managers. Please note that there will be no allocated seating for clubs, with the spectator bay being allocated near the start/finish. We encourage clubs to work together as there are enough seats for everyone with a great vantage point of the pool.
Given there is plenty of pool deck space at this event, we encourage swimmers to store bags against the walls near the warm-up pool as well.
Clubs will not be able to reserve seating on pre-event warm up day or throughout the event. Any signs will be removed.
Opening Ceremony
There will be an opening ceremony on Wednesday evening at 5:30pm.
Ticketing
Please encourage your club mates, family and friends to attend the event to cheer you on. Tickets are available online at Humanitix
Parking
Parking is limited at the Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatic Centre. Please try and limit the number of vehicles you travel in to the meet.
Health & Safety
Please remember to encourage good hygiene practices at this event and use common sense to keep yourself and others safe on pool deck.
Warm-Up Procedure
There will be allocated lanes for fins and paddles during warm up. We ask that you please stick to these lanes as documented on pool deck.
Merch & Swimwear
Teamline will be present at the event, selling both event merchandise and swimming apparel. Be sure to check out their pop-up store and say g’day to the team in the main pool foyer (close to the accreditation entrance).
Withdrawals
Withdrawals from events for session one will need to be submitted via email by 5.30pm or at the Team Managers meeting being held at 5pm on Tuesday 11 April. Any withdrawals for session one submitted after this will incur a withdrawal fee.
Any further withdrawals for sessions 2 - 10 will not be accepted via email after 5.30pm Tuesday 11 April. Withdrawals need to be made via a withdrawals form which can be found at the resolutions desk. Withdrawals via email will be considered late and will occur a late withdrawal fine.
For timed final events the SNZ Policy 008 will apply.
For timed-finals, withdrawals must be advised by the end of the session preceding the session with the timed final event.
Withdrawals from evening final races will be required to be submitted 30 minutes from posting of event results online.
Any withdrawals after this 30-minute period will occur a $50 fine
DQs & Protests
Disqualifications will be announced and a copy of the DQ form will be available at the resolutions desk located halfway along the pool on the non-grandstand side.
Protests must be submitted to the referee, in writing, on the protest form by the team manager only within 30 minutes following the DQ result posting online. This needs to be accompanied in cash by the $100.00 protest fee.
If conditions causing a potential protest are noted prior to the event a protest must be lodged before the signal to start is given.
All protests shall be considered by the referee. If the referee rejects the protest, they must state the reasons for their decision. The Team Manager may appeal the rejection to the Jury of Appeal whose decision shall be final.
If the protest is rejected, the deposit will be forfeited to SNZ. If the protest is upheld the deposit will be returned.
Strapping
Swimmers with strapping must provide documentation from a relevant registered health practitioner or physiotherapist and be reviewed by the Technical Director (Carlrine Gillespie) prior to swimming. Any swimmers without such documentation may not be permitted to swim.
Photography & Videography
Photos and videos will be taken throughout the competition. All athletes and spectators have agreed to allow photographs, videos, and audio recordings to be taken by accredited SNZ contractors to be used for any legitimate purpose by SNZ. If you have any concerns please contact events@swimming.org.nz.
Spectators agree upon entry that photographic, video or audio recording equipment is prohibited for any purpose which may include, without limitation, video and/or audio recorders, camera tripods, monopods or lenses with a total focal strength of greater than 300mm and commercial digital video equipment. The SNZ Event staff will, at their sole discretion, determine whether or not an item is intended for personal or commercial use.
Team Annoucing
We will be announcing and presenting the New Zealand teams selected for upcoming 2023 international events after the medal ceremony on the final night of racing (Sunday 16 April). Please stay around to congratulate our NZ teams.
Team to be announced:
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World Aquatics Junior Championships
Livestream & Session Timelines
This event will be livestreamed live and free on the Maori TV YouTube channel. We will provide links on our event webpage.
There will be ad breaks between each event in each session, the reason being to help cover the costs of running the event. These will be shown on the scoreboard and have been scheduled into the session timelines.
Development Opportunities Outside the Pool
Whilst there is plenty of exciting racing to look forward to, there are opportunities for development and inspiring the next generation throughout the event.
Coach Area
For the first time, Swimming NZ and NZSCTA are proud that there will be a dedicated coach area with a coffee machine. This has been introduced so coaches can mingle and get away from the race pool for a break, and will be located in the Ahiruru Room.
There is also a designated coaches poolside area on the non-grandstand side. This is a great location to have a final word with an athlete before marshalling, see the start and finish in a prime location and perfect view of the scoreboard.
Development Sessions for Parents, Officials & Coaches
Please read our blog for more details – click here
Community Get Involved
Dive Start Clinic
Some of our Aquablacks are hosting a stroke skills clinic on the day after racing finishes – click here
Aquablack Signing & Photo Session
Some of our Aquablacks will be signing autographs and available for photos on Sunday 16 April between 4pm – 5pm in main pool foyer. This is free and available for the public to come along
Club Packs
Packs and passes must be collected from the main pool foyer from 4.30pm on Tuesday, right near the Heretaunga Room. If the packs aren’t collected on Tuesday then they will be available to collect from the athlete, coach and team manager accreditation entrance for the rest of the week.
Good Behaviour
Swimming New Zealand is also proud to join the Good Sports movement, and is committed to providing positive swimming experiences for all involved. Across the five days of competition, we trust that all interactions throughout the event will be positive and respectful – please treat others like you would like to be treated.
For more information about Good Sports, please click here.
