St Barnabas Trust Swimming Gala Series

Dive into the excitement! Our Trust Swimming Galas are held across two regional hubs to bring our school communities together for a day of speed, stamina, and spirit.

The Hubs

• East Cornwall Schools: Hosted at Lux Park Leisure Centre (Liskeard).
• Mid Cornwall Schools: Hosted at Bodmin Leisure Centre.

Our Trust Vision: “Bring It!”

We want our swimmers to take to the blocks ready to give their all:

• Bring your Energy: Explosive starts off the blocks and powerful leg kicks to the finish.
• Bring your Courage: Stepping up for that first dive or taking on a challenging stroke in front of the crowds.
• Bring your Best: Focusing on streamlined form, legal turns, and efficient breathing.

The Event Tiers

The gala is tiered to ensure every child feels confident and supported in the water.

Race Formats

Students will compete in a variety of heats designed to test different skills:

• Individual Strokes: Traditional races in Front Crawl, Backstroke, and Breaststroke.
• Freestyle: The ultimate test of speed where any stroke goes (usually the fastest).
• Team Relays: The grand finale! Teams of four work together to bring home the win, emphasising communication and timing.

Sportsmanship and Integrity

In the pool, every millisecond counts, but so does every act of kindness.

• The Official’s Word: Timekeepers and judges will be poolside. Students are taught to respect the “Starter’s Whistle” and the final results.
• Cheering from the Gallery: We encourage “maximum noise” to support teammates, but always with respect for other schools.
• The Finish: Every race ends with a metaphorical (or literal) handshake across the lanes, celebrating everyone who completed their distance.