Swimmers Guide: Norwich UEA Sports Park

Used for Norfolk Open Sprint Meet

This centre is set within the campus of the University of East Anglia. It boasts a 50m 8 lane deck level pool with variable depth facilities, a climbing wall and an athletics track. For short course meets a boom is put in place which is very similar if not the same as Sheffield.

The spectators are housed in a large seating area above the swimmers along the length of the pool.

Catering facilities - There is a very good restaurant which sells hot and cold food. Main meals are around the £5 mark. But you can buy a steak for less than £8.

Changing rooms are single sex & lockers 20p refundable, but the large lockers are 20p non-refundable.

Parking - There is plenty of parking around the centre. If you can't park outside next to the centre, there is a large car park to the side of the centre where you should find a space. All the car parks are free to leisure centre users but you may need to take the ticket to reception to get it verified.

The Norfolk Open Short Course Sprint Meet is a 3 hour evening event usually held on a Saturday.

The programme cost in 2009 was £1.50

This event, run using entry cards, comprises of Relays, 50m in all strokes and 100m IM. It is held in the deep part of the 50m pool which is set at around 1.8m. The pool is a little on the warm side but as you're only doing sprints it shouldn't make too much difference. It is however a very quick pool. I would suggest donning your skinsuit and having a go at your PB.

The gutter turn is similar to Sheffield, so good turns can be achieved on breaststroke.

As the events are only sprints there is an urge to swim all of them. I would caution against this because the entry list isn't huge and as it's an 8 lane pool the events come around thick and fast.

Swim down facility - None, I believe the centre won't allow the meet organisers to have the whole pool as they like to keep the facility open to the public as much as possible. If you really want to warm down maybe you could buy a public swim ticket and just put your band on when you go in? (check with event organisers first)

Positives

• This is a lovely short meet.
• Very fast pool, quick times can be achieved.
• Good Cafe/Restaurant.

Negatives

• Norwich is a long way to travel.
• No warm down pool.

Overall - As this Meet is short it's one you can take your partner to and maybe make a weekend of it. Norwich is a lovely city to explore.