Friday Night Club Races (FNR) have been a part of Ryde Carlile for over 50 years and are an enjoyable night for swimmers and parents. 

Club Races are broken into three periods:

• Summer Season – held every Friday, typically starting on the first Friday in October and finishing end of February
• Club Champs – three Friday nights in March 
• Winter Season – once per month, starting in April and finishing to September

The nights start promptly at 5:45pm and typically finish between 7:30-8:00pm during summer and 7:00- 7:30pm during winter. 

There are 4 race programs we rotate through, each providing an opportunity for swimmers to practice each stroke over all distances (25m – 1500m) under race conditions.  Swimmers (or parents on their behalf) enter their races online during the week leading up to the race night. 

A race night is typically attended by over 120 children during the summer season, ranging in age from 5 to late teens.  Ryde Carlile prides itself on providing an environment where children of all swimming capabilities can gain experience of racing.  The first race for many young swimmers is often a nervous experience, and the Club’s senior swimmers enjoy playing a ‘big buddy’ role, gently swimming alongside and encouraging the first timers in their first 25 metre races.

As their confidence grows, advancement to 50 metre (and greater lengths) is achieved, along with some celebration and recognition.  

The success of Friday night club races doesn’t come without the help of the parents. Time keeping is a great way to meet other parents, be amongst the activitie,s and see the joy on the swimmer’s faces when they achieve a ‘PB’ – Personal Best time.  And just in case you need a little persuading, there is the Adults ONLY incentive program which routinely arrives throughout the night in the form of cakes and nibbly food.

To attend Friday Night Races, the following costs will apply:

• Pool entry – special entry price of $4.00 per swimmer and $3.20per spectator

A race entry fee for the season is incorporated in your registration fees which covers all race nights in summer, club champs and the next winter’s race nights.

Note: Friday night club racing is only available to members of the Ryde Carlile Swimming Club.  Prospective new members are permitted to swim in one Friday night club racing night prior to joining the Club

For more details, feel free to look at our Try-B-4-U Buy, Summer Season, Winter Season, and our FAQ.