Bristol Swimming Group (BSG) has released its schedule for 2025 Open Water Swimming Sessions, offering opportunities for a wide range of swimmers at The Lake.

The programme is designed to help participants develop open water skills and confidence in a supportive environment. For some swimmers, these sessions will also serve as preparation for open water competitions. Registration for the sessions is now open. Interested parties can sign up here: BSG Open Water 25

Who Can Take Part?

The sessions are designed to be inclusive. All Swim England members from any club are eligible to take part, provided they have permission from their head coach. Furthermore, individuals who are not members of a swimming club can be included, as long as they meet the required standard. For example, parents are welcome to join the adults’ group. The entry-level is approximately Swim England Stage 9, and the minimum age for participation is 10 years old.

Venue

All open water sessions will be held at The Lake, Cromhall Quarry, Wotton Road, South Gloucestershire, GL12 8AA.

Available Groups

The programme is structured with several groups to cater to different ages and experience levels:

• Senior Performance (12+ years): For capable and experienced open water swimmers.
• Seniors (13-18 years): Aimed at open water newbies and less competitive swimmers.
• Juniors (10 to 12 years): For those new or relatively new to open water swimming.
• Adults / Masters (16+ years): For older teen and adult swimmers, accommodating both newcomers and the more experienced.

Coached Session Information and Costs

• Open Water Sessions (Saturdays and Sundays): £13 per session
• Indoor Skills Session: £5 per session

An Indoor Skills Session, aimed at newcomers, is highly recommended. This includes a classroom session and a pool swim.

• Date & Time: Sunday, 8th June, from 2:45 PM to 4:30 PM
• Location: Henbury Leisure Centre, Bristol, BS10 7NG

The Open Water Sessions at Cromhall are scheduled as follows:

Senior Performance Sessions (Thursdays, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM) Led by BSG Performance Director Jon Wills, these sessions support preparation for regional, national, and county events.

• Dates: 12th June, 19th June, 10th July, 17th July & 11th Sept

Juniors, Seniors, Senior Performance, and Masters Sessions These sessions are led by BSG Open Water Coach Jess Clements.

• Saturday Dates: 21st June, 28th June, 30th Aug
• Sunday Dates: 6th July, 13th July, 7th Sept

Weekend Session Times:

• Saturdays:
  • Adults/Masters (16+): 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
  • Juniors (10-12): 11:20 AM – 12:15 PM
  • Seniors (13+): 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
  • Senior Performance (12+): 2:20 PM – 3:40 PM
• Sundays:
  • Senior Performance: 9:00 AM – 10:20 AM
  • Seniors: 10:40 AM – 11:40 AM
  • Juniors: 12:00 PM – 12:55 PM

Required Equipment

Participants should bring their usual swimming attire, a wetsuit, an anti-chafe product (e.g., body glide), a warm change of clothes, a snack, and a drink. A small collection of wetsuits is available to borrow free of charge. Alternatively, wetsuits can be purchased or hired from various suppliers, such as https://mywetsuithire.co.uk/.

Club Permission and Insurance

Swimmers who are not members of BSG SC, or not affiliated with any swim club, are welcome. There is no requirement to join BSG. Participants simply need permission from their head coach or performance director, who must sign them up as an open water swimmer via the Swim England membership portal.

Swim Coach Supported Competitions

BSG coaches will be on hand to support swimmers at the following competitions:

• Sun 22nd June 2025: Swim England SW Region Open Water Championships, Lake 86 near Cirencester
• Sat 26th July 2025: Swim England National Open Water Championships, Thrybergh, Rotherham
• Sun 14th Sept 2025: Gloucester County Open Water Swimming Festival, The Lake, Cromhall Quarry

Further Information

All queries should be directed to Polly Mullen via email: polly.mullen@bsgsc.org