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Swim England has announced that nominations are now open for the Swim England National Awards 2025. 

The annual ceremony is a highlight of the Swim England calendar, recognising and celebrating the outstanding achievements, dedication, and passion of the aquatics community across the country. 

This year’s awards will honour contributions of the past year across a variety of categories, spanning clubs, coaches, teachers and volunteers, inclusion, health and more. Every organisation and individual nominated by you will also be included in the Regional Awards that will be presented later in the year.

Nominations are open until Sunday 6 July 2025

Categories include:

• Sport Club of the Year (one per aquatic discipline) 

• Volunteer of the Year (26 and over)

• Young Volunteer of the Year (14-25 years old)

• Technical Official of the Year 

• Participation and Community Coach of the Year 

• Children/Age Group Coach of the Year 

• Talent Development Coach of the Year 

Winners of the national awards will be revealed at the ceremony on Saturday 29 November at the University of Birmingham.

Find out more and nominate someone special

Roger Prior, a long time member of the Regional Management Board and senior referee was installed as Swim England President at the Swim England Annual Council Meeting on 20th May 2025.

Roger, who was President of the South East Region in 2014-2015, is regularly seen on the pool deck at National, Regional and county competitions and was most recently technical director at the recent Regional Long Course Championships.

On accepting his appointment Roger said, “I am looking forward to traveling the country and getting to know a little more about all the disciplines and do all I can to support the work of Swim England.”

The Panorama documentary, The Dark Side of Swimming Clubs, was broadcast earlier this evening on BBC1. Swim England was not been able to view the programme in advance but have been given the opportunity to respond to some elements of its content.  Swim England have also issued the following response:  

The experiences that will be shared as part of the Panorama programme are deeply concerning and we are grateful to those who have come forward – recognising fully the courage it takes for those individuals to speak out publicly. Read the full statement

Swim England President Janice Whittle joined us in High Wycombe for the final day of our Long Course Youth Championships. She was welcomed by Regional President Peter Roycroft and also caught up with Swim England Vice President Roger Prior who takes over as Swim England President on 20th May.

Whilst with us she recorded an interview about her volunteering experiences from the first time she picked up a stopwatch at her daughter’s swimming club gala to progressing through officials training to becoming a referee. The interview will be included in our Live Streaming from the Age Group Championships at Winchester and in our campaign to recruit more volunteers to come forward and support their clubs.

Janice also presented a medal to Erin Orford (WYCS) for setting a new S4 200m F/s British Record with a time of 4:15:73.

Rushmoor clinched the Richard Whitehead Trophy at this year’s GoCardless Swim England Artistic Swimming National Youth Championships after they finished on top in the 12 & Under Free Team event.

It was a much closer affair this time around, with the Hampshire-based club edging out the City of Leeds by just over two points to finish on 148.9418.

Full story

The qualification window for the 2025 Aquatics GB Next Gen Championships and GoCardless Swim England National Summer Meet has opened.

It runs from Friday 7 March and through to Sunday 11 May.

Selection for the summer competitions are by invitation only based on long course times achieved during the window.

The 2025 season will see a change in the number of swimmers offered the opportunity to compete in the Aquatics GB Next Gen Championships based on data and evaluation from previous summer competitions.

In the 13-14 year age group, the 20 top-ranked swimmers in each group will be invited to compete. 

The 24 top-ranked swimmers in each event in the 15, 16, 17 and 18-year-old age groups will also be invited. 

In the 19 years and over age group, the 20 top-ranked swimmers will be invited to attend. 

The only exceptions to these numbers are the 800m and 1500m Freestyle events, where the top 18 swimmers will be invited in all but the 19+ age group, where 16 swimmers will be invited.

The Aquatics GB Next Gen Championships take place at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Sports Centre from Saturday 19 to Friday 25 July, with the same venue hosting the GoCardless Swim England National Summer Meet between Tuesday 29 July and Sunday 3 August.

Learn more

Coaches, participants, parents and clubs are being given an invaluable opportunity to play an active role in shaping the future of coaching in aquatics.

Swim England is to launch a new coaching strategy in 2025 and the views of the aquatics community will be at its heart.

The Co-creation of the Future of Coaching process aims to reconnect and redefine the purpose of coaching, build on existing good practice and create a thriving and flourishing coaching culture.

A survey is being distributed to more than 129,000 Swim England members, while a series of nationwide workshops will also be held for coaches to explore, reflect, discuss and develop ideas.

Complete the surveys

Coaches: bit.ly/SEcoachsurvey 

Participants and parents: bit.ly/SEparticipantsurvey

Face-to-face workshops

These are for coaches to attend and will be held across the country during March, with the sessions taking place at two times – 1.30pm to 4pm and 5.30pm to 8pm – at each venue.

South East Workshop

Thursday 27 March: Holiday Inn, Egerton Rd, Guildford GU2 7XZ

Book your place 

Workshops in other Regions

North East – Wednesday 5 March: Days Inn by Wyndham Wetherby
North West – Thursday 6 March: Macdonald Hotel and Resorts, Preston
East Midlands – Wednesday 12 March: SportPark, Loughborough University
West Midlands – Thursday 13 March: Mercure Birmingham West Hotel, West Bromwich
London – Wednesday 19 March: Hyatt Regency, Westfield, Stratford City, London
East – Thursday 20 March: Holiday Inn Lakeview, Cambridge
South West – Wednesday 26 March: Holiday Inn, Taunton

Places can be booked on the workshops by clicking here.

If you have not received a copy of the survey and wish to submit your views, please email coaching@swimming.org

Sara Todd, Chair of Swim England South East has been appointed to the Aquatics GB Board.

She joins Joan Wheeler  in replacing long-standing Swim England representatives Keith Ashton and Jane Nickerson.

Sara is an experienced procurement expert and executive coach whose career has seen her work in the automotive, food and FMCG industries, helping to support organisational change and collaboration with external partners.

She is a qualified swimming referee, Chair of the Board of the Swim England South East region and is passionate about diversity, inclusion and equity within aquatics. She is also the current president of the Region.

Sara said: “I am very honoured to be appointed to the Aquatics GB Board. It is always a privilege to be part of a team supporting athletes. 

“I look forward to bringing my international business acumen and aquatic leadership experience at club and regional level to help drive further success.”

Karen Webb Moss, Aquatics GB Chair, said: “I am delighted to welcome Sara and Joan to our Board. 

“Both have enjoyed impressive careers, outside of our sport and within the aquatics environment. 

“We know they will play important roles and bring strong contributions as we continue to work towards positive development, in the performance arena and beyond.

“I would also like to thank Keith and Jane for the support, insight and service they have both shown throughout their terms on the Board, and wish them the best for the future.”

Rebecca Hardy-Bishop from Crawley SC set a new S12 British Record of 20:55:93 for the 1500m during the Sussex Championships at K2 Sunday 16th February.

This weekend saw 24 regional swimmers compete in the Luxembourg international meet 2025. The objectives of this regionally supported programme are to provide international experience and a motivational opportunity for older athletes. In previous years we have had several swimmers then go on to participate in England teams, this camp provides that first step on the ladder. All of the results can be viewed here https://www.euromeet.lu/

We are very grateful to have a committed group of coaches sitting on our regional forum to help us plan this wonderful opportunity. We would like to say well done to all of the athletes and a big thank you to the support team and their clubs for releasing them.

Head Coach – Stuart McCrea (Leatherhead)

Assistant Head Coach – Jordan Honour (Thanet)

Development Coach – Joe Evans (Wycombe District)

Lead Team Manager – Lynne Harrison (Basingstoke)

Assistant Team Manager – Matt Swindells (Portsmouth Northsea)

Strength and Conditioning – Tom Company (Portsmouth Northsea)

We are very sad to report that Eileen Adams, a loyal supporter of swimming, her club and county (Amersham SC & Berkshire and South Bucks) and the region, passed away earlier today. She had been unwell for some time.

Eileen was known and loved by a multitude of people in the swimming world and was active right up to the end, organising the medals for the 2024 Short Course Championships just 2 months ago. She was our Regional President in 2017.

There will be a private family funeral, to be followed in due course by a celebration of her life. We will pass on arrangements when we have them.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Ken and family at this time.

Following the regional short course championships we are delighted to announce the team heading to Luxembourg in January to represent the region at the Euro Meet 2025!

The team will be supported by;

Head Coach – Stuart McCrea

Assistant Head Coach – Jordan Honour

Coach – Joe Evans

Strength and conditioning – Tom Company

Team Managers – Lynne Harrison and Matt Swindells