03/09/2026
BACK TO GALA DUTY… I’VE MISSED THIS! ⚓️💚🏊♂️
Well… after what feels like a very long break, I’m finally back on gala duty! 🙌😂
And I have to admit, I’ve honestly missed it , the excitement, the cheering, the nerves before a race, chasing PBs, celebrating medals, spending my weekend glued to swimming results… and yes, I think I’ve even missed that unmistakable chlorine smell! 😂🏊♀️
This weekend our Scunthorpe Anchor swimmers are heading to York for the Back-to-School Blast 2026, taking place on Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th September.
Here’s everything swimmers and parents need to know 👇
🔐🪙 IMPORTANT – LOCKERS!
Please remember to bring a £1 coin with you for the lockers. I believe the lockers at York Sport require one, although this isn’t confirmed in the gala information pack ,so bring one just in case!
Better to have that £1 coin sitting in your pocket than be standing in the changing room wishing you had one! 🤪
⏰ SWIMMER ENTRY TIMES
SATURDAY
🏊 Changing area from 12:45pm
🏊 Poolside from 12:50pm
SUNDAY
🏊 Changing area from 7:45am
🏊 Poolside from 7:50am
👀 York Sport opens to spectators at 8:00am.
👀 SPECTATORS
The viewing balcony has space for 150 spectators.
🎟️ Spectator admission is £6.50 per session , cash/card reader.
👧 There is no charge for accompanied under-12s.
A band will be required for balcony access and the balcony will be cleared at the end of each session.
If the balcony is full, don’t panic , the races will also be shown LIVE on screens in the café area.
⚠️ IMPORTANT POOLSIDE & SAFETY REMINDERS
Please remember:
🚫 NO GLASS BOTTLES — this includes bottles with protective sleeves
🥜 NO NUTS — swimmers with severe allergies are competing
🎨 NO BODY PAINT OR FACE PAINT
👟 NO OUTDOOR SHOES POOLSIDE
Swimmers are not permitted poolside until lifeguards are present and should only be poolside when competing in the current session and when their club coach or team manager is present.
🏊 COOL-DOWN POOL
The smaller 18m training pool will be available for cool-down swimming during sessions.
⚠️ NO DIVING OR TUMBLE TURNS because the pool is shallow.
🚪 CHANGING ROOMS
Parents are NOT permitted in the swimmers’ changing rooms under any circumstances and parents cannot access poolside.
📱📸 PHONES & PHOTOGRAPHY
Please remember:
🚫 STRICTLY NO PHONES in the changing area
🚫 NO PHOTOGRAPHY in the changing area
🚫 NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY
Any photography or videography must follow Swim England Wavepower
🛍️ SUNDAY POP-UP SHOP
Sporty Swim, a specialist swimming retailer, will have a pop-up shop at the gala on SUNDAY ONLY. 🩱🥽🏊♂️
🏅 MEDAL ENGRAVING
Although Butlers Medals will be at the gala offering medal engraving, just a little reminder to our Anchor family that the club also has its own medal engraving machine! 🏅💚 We can engrave your swimmers’ medals for a very small fee, while also supporting our club. So there’s no need to worry if you don’t get them engraved at the gala — we can do it for you back at Anchor! ⚓💚
🚨 AND FINALLY…
Please help the staff by remembering:
🎒 NO BAGS POOLSIDE
👟 NO OUTDOOR SHOES
🛟 DO NOT LEAN ON THE LIFEGUARD CHAIR
🧹 CLEAN UP YOUR MESS & LEAVE ON TIME
🚪 KEEP ALL EMERGENCY EXITS CLEAR AT ALL TIMES
MOST IMPORTANTLY — GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR SCUNTHORPE ANCHOR SWIMMERS! 💚🏊♂️⚓️
Swim hard, enjoy yourselves, support your teammates and hopefully we’ll see plenty of PBs, medals and happy Anchor faces this weekend! 🏊♀️🏅🔥
As for me…
📱 Phone charged ✔️
📸 Camera ready ✔️
📝 Social media mode activated ✔️
🪙 £1 coin packed ✔️
🏊♀️ Ready to spend an entire weekend smelling of chlorine again ✔️😂
Gala season… I honestly missed you! 💙💛
LET’S GO ANCHOR! 🏊♂️💪💙💛
