Swim tracking guide
How close am I to County swimming times?
It is the question almost every age-group family asks at some point. How close are we, really? The honest answer needs the right target, the right course and a calm look at the gap.
Direct answer
To work out how close a swimmer is to County times, match each PB to the correct County target for the same event, course, age group and season, then read the difference. The closest event is usually the best place to focus, but always confirm the current target against official information.
Match like with like
Start with the right target. County times vary between counties and change by age group, course and season, so the first job is finding the correct line for the swimmer this year.
Then compare the PB for the same event and course. A long course PB against a long course County target is a fair comparison, while mixing courses is not.
Read the gap sensibly
Look across events, not just one. A swimmer is often closer in some strokes and distances than others, and the closest gap usually points to the most realistic next target.
Express the gap in a way that helps. Seconds away is concrete, while a percentage helps compare a 50m gap with a 200m gap. Either way, treat it as direction, not a verdict.
Plan the next step
If a gap is small, plan to race that event again in the right course and window. If it is large, treat it as a longer-term project and keep building the underlying PBs.
Remember that closing a County gap makes an entry eligible to be considered, subject to the meet conditions. It is a strong milestone, not a confirmed place.
How PB Pathway helps you see it
Standards Pathway can show how close a swimmer's PBs are to County style targets using selected qualifying-time context where source data exists. Free users may see one closest-target preview where data is available, and full County, Regional and National target views are part of Pro.
Coverage varies by county, region, season and course, and PB Pathway does not imply endorsement by any governing body. Always check official meet information before entering.
FAQ
How do I know how close I am to County times?
Match each PB to the correct County target for the same event, course, age group and season, then read the difference. Focus on the event where the gap is smallest.
Why do County times differ between counties?
Each county publishes its own targets for each season, event and age group, and the accepted course can differ too.
Does being close mean I will get in?
Closing the gap usually makes an entry eligible to be considered, but meet conditions, windows and caps still apply.
Can free users see County gaps in PB Pathway?
Free users may see one closest-target preview where data is available. Full County, Regional and National target views are part of Pro.
Are the County times in PB Pathway official?
PB Pathway shows selected qualifying-time context with clear source details where data exists. It is not official and coverage varies, so always check the official source.
Related resources
What is a county qualifying time in swimming?
A clear guide to county qualifying times, how they are used and how to track progress toward them privately.
How to use swimming target gaps
How to read the gap between a swimmer's PB and a qualifying target, turn seconds into a plan, and keep targets as helpful context rather than pressure.
Swimming qualifying times: County, Regional and National explained
A UK guide to swimming qualifying times across County, Regional and National pathways, including course, age group, season window and consideration times.
How to plan around swimming qualifying times
How to build a calm season plan around swimming qualifying times: pick focus events, line up the right meets, mind the window and avoid chasing every target.
See how this looks in a private swimmer dashboard.
PB Pathway helps swimmers, swim families and support teams track PBs, race results, standards context and private reports without public swimmer profiles or public leaderboards.