PMSC (Pickering Masters Swim Club) COVID-19 October 2020 Update

  Pickering Master Splashers Swim Club is trying to finally start the 2020/21 swim season with a new name, Pickering Masters Swim Club (PickeringMSC.ca). The executive is working hard to salvage some of the season and try to get members back to the pool in some limited fashion in these difficult times. Although the circumstances are very fluid and are changing day to day, we currently believe we can safely start one or two swim nights a week in Pickering at Dunbarton HS if enough interest is shown. Unfortunately, currently TPASC is unavailable to us due to scheduling conflicts, but we will try to include the Pan Am as time goes forward.

It should be stressed that returning to the pool entails many restrictions imposed to try to ensure the safety of participants. These include:

  • Limited 1 hour sessions to 15 participants for the Dunbarton pool.
  • Usage protocols to try and limited any transmission including social distancing, Masks when not actual swimming, and pool usage patterns to try and limited contact.
  • Limited access to change rooms and washrooms. Although there will be access to the change rooms, showers, and washroom facilities, the use of the lockers will be restricted.
  • Participants will be required to sign a few additional waiver as per normal practice with the pandemic.

Equipment – due to the restrictions, there will no equipment such as flutter boards, pull buoys, and fins available at the pool. Arrangements can be made to easily purchase these items. Also goggles and caps as needed. As these are part of most pool sessions, members are encourage to procure them if they don’t already own.

PMSC is a member of https://www.mastersswimmingontario.ca/. As such, all members must register through the club to provide insurance and guidance. In this regard, although not a big expense, MSO is encouraging Swimmer to register early. $6.00 from Sept 1 – Oct 31, 2020  $10.00 from November 1 – December 31, 2020 $12.00 from January onwards. So, even if you want to defer your start to swimming, the club will be happy to get you registered. Just let us know.

The club will try and host some Zoom meetings to keep everyone up-to-date and of course provide some social contact for members. This as physical get togethers such as pubs and our Saturday morning breakfasts will not be possible or recommended to keep us all safe.

If you would like to get more information on the club and/or be added to our email list just drop us a note at membership@pickeringmsc.ca (https://pickeringmsc.ca/contact-us/). Perhaps check our Facebook group at PickeringMSC FB Group

A members meeting will be held Tuesday October 20, 2020 at 8:00 pm. Open to all. If you would like to attend and are not on our mail list, just let us know and a link can be provided.

   

Pickering Masters Swim Club (PickeringMSC.ca)


COVID-19 Closes DIP, Pickering Rec Complex, and TPASC until April 5, 2020

Unfortunately due closures of all swimming facilities, Pickering Master Splashers will have to suspend all 

swim sessions until facilities become available currently published to be Monday April 6, 2020.

Please see:

 Pickering – Pickering covid-19-update

TPASC  – Any updates specific to Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre will be posted                        to www.tpasc.ca/coronavirus 

During this time, please find time to stay active i.e. get outside (walk/run/ride).

Please check email and web site periodically for any updates

stay safe and well

 

 


Dunbarton Indoor Pool (DIP) Available

Good news. Repairs at DIP are complete and the pool is again available. Next practice is Saturday January 11, 2020 7:30 – 8:30 am.

Also remember , you are invited to join us for breakfast after practice i.e. 9:00 am at 

Kathryn’s Grill & Bar Address: 376 Kingston Rd, Pickering, ON L1V 6K4 Phone: (905) 509-4421.


Practices at Dunbarton Indoor Pool (DIP) Temporarily Suspended due to Mechanical Issues

Practices at Dip for Saturday January 4, 2020 has been cancelled and Practice for Tuesday January 7, 2020 has been moved to the Pickering Rec Complex  (Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex ) from 9:00 – 10:00 pm. PMS members should indicate that they are with club and will be admitted at no charge.

Thursday January 9, 2020 will be a long course workout (50 meters)  8:30 – 9:30 pm at TPASC .

Should problems at DIP not  be resolved for Saturday January 11, 2020 7:30 – 8:30 am a further post and email notification will be issued.

 


2019 Pickering Master Splashers Christmas Party!

It’s that time of year again to

Gather & Graze at the 2019 Pickering Master Splashers

Christmas Party!

  

 

So grab your buffet pants, some adult beverages & bring something to share for the potluck table! 

*Friday, December 13th @ 7:00 pm* 

Laureen & Rob are hosting

30 Albery Crescent

Ajax, ON L1S 2Y3 

Please RSVP laureen.karry@gmail.com

or 289-314-8254 

See you there!

 

 


Pickering Master Splashers Swim Club 2019/20 Season Startup

    Good Day and welcome to another exciting and rewarding master swim season with the Pickering Master Splashers Swim Club. So whether you have had a great Tri season, open water swims, have otherwise got some swims in over the summer, or just looking forward to getting back in the pool, we are looking forwarding to offering you a great swim program as part of your healthy life style. We start our season on Monday September 16, 2019 at the Pan Am pool with an open swim. All that is required is for you to bring a signed waiver. To save time, download the waiver, go to https://pickeringmastersplashers.com/membership/ or we will have some copies at the pool. If you had a TPASC pass from last year, it should still work. Otherwise just let them know you are from Pickering Master Splashers and they will let you in. Passes for TPASC will be re-issued for 2019/20 in September/October. For directions to TPASC, please check our website. All are welcome, whether you are a returning member or just want to try it out. Following this will be our first swim at the Dunbarton HS Indoor Pool (DIP) on Tuesday September 17, 2019 at 9:00 pm and then on Thursday September 19, 2019, our first long course i.e. 50 meters, at the Pan Am. Please note that all sessions at TPASC start at 8:30 pm. Our official season opening informational session will be held on Tuesday September 24, 2019 at 8:15 pm. Signs will posted at the main entrance at DIP with directions to the meeting room. This to be followed by our regular swim from 9:00 – 10:00 pm. Please feel free to bring a friend(s) to hear more about the upcoming season. Also please note that we are a master swim club for all, so please do not feel that you have to be an expert swimmer to have a rewarding and beneficial experience.

  On the coaching front, we are happy to welcome back Samantha Catania, Iain Johnston and Rene St.Aubin. All did a great job last season and we will be looking for the same this season.

  You are receiving this invitation because you have been a member of the club, expressed an interest in the past or have been identified as someone who might be interested. To proceed to the club registration page, please click on the following personal Link to get you to the Pickering Master Splashers member registration page [signup_invitation_link] It should be noted that once you signed up, you will receive a confirmation email. Please click on the personalized link to confirm your membership. You may pay for your membership either with up to two (2) postdated cheque’s, cash, or preferably e-Transfer to etransfer@pickeringmastersplashers.com.  If you have any difficulties or have any questions or concern, please do not hesitate to let us know at membership@pickeringmastersplashers.com Again, please remember you will still have to download and sign the waiver and bring it to your first swim regardless as to whether you have signed up or not. Or if it is more convenient, there should be copies with the coach or executive member.

Best regards, Pickering Master Splashers Executive





Guelph Marlins ‘Fast and Furious’ swim meet on Nov. 11th

As the name implies, the Guelph ‘Fast and Furious’ meet is geared to shorter events and is held over one afternoon, with a focus on 25, 50, 100 and 200 m for all four strokes, plus individual medley and relay events. If you plan on doing the maximum number of events of six as I did, one must plan the races accordingly. With only 105 registered swimmers the entire meet, including a 45-minute warm up, lasted only four hours. As such, this meet is a test of stamina that requires a strategy of how best to conserve energy, and perhaps swim fast in one or two races. This strategy worked reasonably well for me except for the last two events – 200 free and 200 I.M – which were only 12 minutes apart.

 

This was the first time that the Guelph Marlins (Masters section) hosted this meet. Swimmers were seeded slowest to fastest so there were different age groups, with male and female participants, mixed together. Dawn Larson, the meet manager, provided the results within an hour of the meet’s completion. She advised me that if there are more registrations next year, there will be separate events for men and women, but that there would not be age group heats. (Note: the MSO site has categorized the results by five-year age groups and M/F).

 

Here is short video of my 25 m fly at 15.08 seconds which was good enough for a fourth place finish out of 33 competitors.

If Guelph hosts the event next year, I would recommend that more PMS members attend. As a bonus, Dawn says that bell prizes will be offered in 2019. Other than a late start due to an age group swim meet in the morning that ran overtime, it was well run.

 

Andy Manahan