Swim England ‘reluctantly’ cancels National Summer Meet due to coronavirus outbreak

Swim England has ‘reluctantly’ cancelled the National Summer Meet as swimmers are unable to properly prepare for the event due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The five-day competition was scheduled to take place from 29 July to 2 August at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Pool.

With the country on lockdown in a bid to combat the spread of coronavirus, leisure centres and swimming pools have been closed meaning athletes have nowhere to train.

A Swim England spokesperson said: “Our hope was that we would be able to stage the National Summer Meet at the end of July but we’ve reluctantly had to admit this is not going be to realistic.

“There’s obviously uncertainty about what the situation will be like when the event is due to take place and the necessary measures introduced by the Government means our swimmers can’t properly prepare.

“We apologise to everyone who had been looking forward to the National Summer Meet but the health and wellbeing of everyone who would be there is our main concern.

Future events to be assessed

“Thanks to you all for your understanding and patience.”

The National Summer Meet is one of four further events to have been cancelled by Swim England.

Earlier this month, the Water Polo National Age Group Championships for U17s and U19s, the Artistic Swimming National Championships and the British Masters Championships were all cancelled.

Now, the Open Water National Age Group Championships at Thrybergh Country Park, Rotherham, on Monday 27 July has also been called off.

The Diving National Age Group Championships and the Artistic Swimming Combo Cup are the two other events that will no longer take place in 2020.

Events due to be held from September onwards – including the Open Water National Masters Championships and the County Team Championships – will be assessed at a later date to see if it is viable for them to go ahead.

Top