Date Published:
The 2026 Northumberland & Durham County Championships will go down as a landmark moment in our club’s history.
Before the first whistle even blew, we already had something special to celebrate. Ten of our swimmers achieved qualification across an incredible 46 events. For a club of our size, that is extraordinary. N&D qualifying times are notoriously tough, and to see so many swimmers meet - and exceed - that standard is a real testament to their talent, work ethic and determination.
It also speaks volumes about the environment around them: the dedication of our coaching team, the commitment of our parents, and the culture of support and belief that defines our club.
And then the racing began…
Weekend 1 – A Flying Start
Eight swimmers represented our small but mighty club across six events, producing:
At county level, those numbers are outstanding.
The highlight of the weekend came in the 100m Butterfly, where Oliver F stormed to a brilliant silver medal - an incredible achievement and a moment that set the tone for the championships.
Weekend 2 – Making History
If Weekend 1 was impressive, Weekend 2 was unforgettable.
Six swimmers took on six events, racing through 15 heats and delivering:
That conversion rate at county level is remarkable.
Oliver F added to his medal tally with a silver medal in the 50m Butterfly before producing something truly special in the 200m Butterfly - claiming the win and securing our club’s first N&D County Championship gold medal this century.
A historic moment. One that will be remembered for a long time.
But this wasn’t about one swimmer. It was about a team stepping up, racing bravely, and proving that they belong at this level.
Final Weekend – Finishing Strong
The final weekend captured everything that makes this club special.
Across the last individual events:
Then came Teams Day - always one of the most exciting parts of counties. Sixteen swimmers competed across seven events, with incredible energy poolside and unwavering support from teammates.
A huge highlight was our Boys 11-12 relay team, who made the final in both the freestyle and medley relays, finishing 5th and 4th respectively at county level. An outstanding achievement against significantly larger clubs.
Our Best Ever N&D Championships !
When the final points were totalled, the scale of what this team had achieved became clear:
- Our highest ever medal haul
- Our highest ever points ranking for 10-14 year olds
- 13th out of 29 clubs - many considerably bigger than ours
For a small club, that is HUGE.
This championships campaign wasn’t just about medals. It was about courage. Progress. Team spirit. Swimmers stepping onto the blocks and racing with belief. Teammates cheering until their voices disappeared. Parents volunteering, team managing, supporting and driving countless miles to make it all possible.
It was about proving that you don’t have to be the biggest club to make the biggest impact.
To every swimmer who qualified, every finalist, every medal winner, every relay team member - and to every coach, parent and volunteer behind the scenes - thank you.
We could not be prouder.
Small but mighty. Always.