Prepare for 2010 in 2009, make a date for your diaries and get those entries in for a textile-only meet up against the best of The Netherlands and guests from around Europe.

• The Event: Eindhoven Swim Cup at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swim Stadium (venue for the 2008 Euro champs)
• The Meet Manager: Pieter van den Hoogenband (remember him - the fastest 100m man in a textile suit)
• The time: November 27, 28 and 29

That's 2009

For Dutch swimmers, the meet will offer them a first chance to qualify for the European Championships in Budapest in summer 2010.  After that, Dutch director Jacco Verhaeren, personal coach to several of the national team for Hoogie's former mentor, has provided a last-chance saloon for his charges to qualify: the Amsterdam Swim Cup in late march. Given that selection is for the textile-only future, the Eindhoven meet will be textile-only.


All FINA events barring relays feature on the programme, while the 50m sprint heats, quarter-finals (8 swimmers), semi-finals (4) and a  head-to-head final of just two swimmers will be held on the same day. Speed, stamina and psycho strength required...


Prize money is up for grabs for all winners and for the best performance
of the meet, while organisers are working on the details for world-record bonuses.

For all info on the programme, prize money, travel, accommodation and
organisation go to the Eindhoven Swim Cup website.