October 22 and 29 and November 19 -- at the BASA pool.

The long-distance events will be held this Saturday and on October 29 with the sprint events scheduled for November 19.

Male and female competitors who have amassed the highest amount of points will be awarded trophies. Swimmers may enter in three events per day and a maximum of nine events.

Events on Saturday -- the programme begins at 1 p.m. -- include the 100 metres backstroke and 200 metres individual medley (eight and under), 200 metres backstroke and 200 metres individual medley (nine and ten), 400 metres freestyle, 200 metres backstroke and 200 metres individual medley (11 and 12, 13 and 14 and open).

Each event will be run as timed finals with medals awarded to first place finishers with ribbons given to swimmers finishing second to sixth.

Summer age group winner Meghan Jones is expected to steal the thunder in the eight and under age group but could face strong challenges from Brianna Holmes and Clemmie and Sophie Stubbs.

Melanie Munro of Sharks, although a newcomer to the competitive scene, has also shown good promise.

In the boys under eight division Roy-Allan Burch appears strong and is considered a good bet to take the overall points trophy for the age group.

Triangles team-mates Stephen Kenny and Adam Petty should offer good competition along with Matthew Herring of Sharks and Richard Collis of Harbour Swim Club.

In the nine and ten girls category Kirstie Klesniks of Triangles and Emma Rego and Erica Frith of Sharks are entered on Saturday, giving them a boost in the race for most points. Klesniks has the fastest time in the 200 metres backstroke and Keira Aitken in the 200 metres individual medley.

Paul Murphy and Richard Jones of Triangles are early favourites in the boys nine and ten division, but Christian Pollard and Alexander Collis of Harbour, along with Darryl Steynor of Sharks, are also considered contenders. Murphy and Steynor hold the fastest entry time in the medley and backstroke events respectively.

The 11 and 12 age groups boast the largest numbers of entries with competition expected to be keen in the boys division where Paul Fox and Nuri Latham will slug it out for top honours.

There is a possibility of records falling in all three events with other contenders being Jonathan Herring, Jimmy Pereira, Chris King, Graham Smith and Jeffrey Steynor.

Jessica Sousa has the fastest times in all three of the girls events and looks to be a sure bet to take high points by the end of the competition.

Challenging her will be Shark team-mates Rebecca Hanson, Candace Jansen-Marson, Lyndsay Taylor, Kim Frith, Jennifer Roberts and Anne and Jessica Marwick and Michelle Outerbridge of Triangle.

Elisha Miller, who celebrated her 13th birthday last week, has the fastest time in all three events of the 13 and 14 division. Miller is especially strong over longer distances and will be challenged by Zoe Roberts, Laura Farge and Abigail Madeiros.

Trevor Nelson has the fastest entry time among boys in the 13 and 14 category, but Ronald Cowen of Sharks has been swimming well in recent weeks. He was second out of the water in the team triathlon and in the 10-K of the Round the Sound Swimathon. Stephen Troake is also a formidable distance swimmer and considered a serious challenge. The entry for the 400 metres medley is small, with Nelson expected to post the fastest time.

Alicia Mullen, who underwent major surgery this summer, returns to competition in the women's Open division. Also in the category is Tamika Williams, the summer age group winner, and Zoe Hanson.

The men's event will feature Commonwealth Games swimmers Stephen Fahy and Trevor Ferguson. Also in the group will be Craig Ferguson and Nicholas Van de Weg.

TREVOR FERGUSON -- Swimmer in men's open division.