Swimming Leagues

Speedo Swimming League of the North West

The Speedo Swimming League is a national competition leading to a final held in April each year.  The country is split into a number of areas, each contributing an area champion to the national final.  It is the most important League in which Satellites of Macclesfield compete.  There are four divisions in the North West:  Premier, First, Second and Minor. 

Currently, we are able to enter two teams, Satellite ‘A’ are in the Premier Division, and Satellite ‘B’ in the Minor Division.  Each Division swims three rounds, the first two being random draws and the total number of points gained groups the teams for the last round which acts as a final.  In 1998 Satellite ‘A’ swam in the Premier Division final, achieving seventh position. In 1999 we just missed out on representation in the Premier Final.   The rounds are held in October, November and December of each year with a system of promotion and relegation between the Premier, First and Second Divisions.

Deva League

The Deva League consists of teams mainly centred in Cheshire and surrounding area.  There are five divisions in the League – in 1999 Satellite ‘A’ in Division 1 and Satellite ‘B’ in Division 2.  Again, there is a promotion and relegation system within the League.  In 1998 Satellite ‘A’ were the overall League champions.  The Deva League consists of a series of galas, members of each division hosting their own gala against other members of that division, being swum towards the end of the year.  During 1999 as in the Speedo League the commitment to the second team was not as the Club would have wished.  For this reason in Satellites now only enters one team into the Deva League.

Peak & Plain League

Satellites use this League primarily to give inexperienced swimmers an introduction to competition.  The League is divided into two divisions, again each team hosting a gala against other members of the division, with a celebration gala of all teams being hosted at Macclesfield.  These galas are held in the Spring/Summer.  It is a competition which has time restrictions, i.e. swimmers cannot take part if they have already swum faster than the allotted time for that event/age group.  As our swimmers go through the time barrier it gives the opportunity to use other inexperienced swimmers for that event.

At present there are eight clubs involved in this League – four in each of the two divisions with a system of promotion and relegation between the two.  At the end of the series of galas there is a celebration gala for all eight teams held at Macclesfield Leisure Centre and usually followed by a Presentation Evening and Disco.