North East swimmers delivered outstanding performances at the 2026 Swim England North West and North East Open Water Championships, held this weekend at Sale Water Park.
With near-perfect conditions and water temperatures reaching a balmy 26–27°C, it was an ideal setting for open water racing. North East athletes took full advantage, showcasing impressive strength, depth and talent across junior, senior, masters and para events.
Junior North East Championships (2km & 3km)
The region’s younger swimmers made a strong impact across the 2km and 3km events.
In the 2km (12–13 years) events:
- James Ohl (Tynemouth SC) and Quinn Morgan (Tynemouth SC) secured the top two places in the male 12 category.
- Adam Shipley (Middlesbrough SC) won the male 13 race, with George Ricketts (City of Leeds SC) and Jacob Skilbeck (Middlesbrough SC) also on the podium.
- In the girls’ events, Pippa Brotherton (South Tyneside SC) and Emma Bell (Tynedale SC) led the 12-year-old race, while Addison Alexander (City of Sunderland ASC) took victory in the 13 category ahead of Addison Cropper (City of Leeds SC) and Scarlett Frank (City of Sunderland ASC).
In the 3km (14–15 years) events:
- Oscar Hussey (City of Leeds SC) won the male 14 category, followed by Mason Sainthouse (Tynemouth SC) and Alexander Matthews (City of Wakefield SC).
- The male 15 race saw Seth Charlesworth (City of Sheffield Swim Squad) take first place, with Jeffrey Lange (City of Leeds SC) and Archie Ainslie (City of Sheffield Swim Squad) completing the top three.
- In the female 14 category, Annie Falkous (Morpeth SC) led the field, with Poppy Ayre (Middlesbrough SC) and Chloe Jobson (Chester-le-Street SC) also finishing on the podium.
- Lydia Shipley (Middlesbrough SC) won the female 15 event, followed by Sophie Smith (City of Sheffield Swim Squad) and Esme Beevers (Rotherham Metro SC).
Senior North East 5km Championships
In the flagship 5km (16+) races:
- William Wilson (City of Leeds SC) won the male 16 event, with Robert Shipley (Middlesbrough SC) and Oliver Walker (Tadcaster York Sport) completing the top three.
- In the male 17–18 category, Joseph Hall (City of Leeds SC) narrowly took victory ahead of Oscar Gavelle (City of Sheffield Swim Squad) and Finn Proud (Newcastle Swim Team) in a closely fought race.
- Thomas Smith (Richmond Dales ASC) led the male 19+ event, followed by Mathew Bradley (Cleethorpes & District SC) and Thomas Eardley (Richmond Dales ASC).
In the women’s events:
- Jennifer Smith (Middlesbrough SC) won the 16 category, with Jessica Hubery (Rotherham Metro SC) and Oriana Odlin (Cleethorpes & District SC) finishing behind.
- Katy Otterson (Newcastle Swim Team) won the 17–18 event ahead of Matilda Smith (City of Sunderland ASC) and Ellie Rowson (York City Baths Club).
- Molly Baker (City of Sheffield Swim Squad) delivered one of the standout swims to win the 19+ category, followed by Breanna Chamberlain (City of Sheffield Swim Squad) and Mae Hodgson (Richmond Dales ASC).
Masters & Para Success (1.5km, 3km & 5km)
North East swimmers also impressed in the Masters and Para events, with strong performances across multiple age groups.
1.5km North East Masters & Para Championships
- Lucas Lee (Dearne Valley SC) (18–24), Stewart Worthy (Borough of Kirklees SC) (45–49) and Darren Binks (Thirsk White Horse ST) (50–54) all claimed victories.
- Sky Fleming (Richmond Dales ASC) won the Para S3–S6 category.
- In the women’s events, Grace Blair (City of Wakefield SC) (18–24) and Eleanor Nixon (Middlesbrough SC) (40–44) topped their categories, with Shinobu Bartram (Eston SC) also finishing on the podium.
3km Masters Championships
- Angus Leckonby (Scarborough SC) (18–24), Andrew Price (Thirsk White Horse ST) (45–49), Thomas Hanson (Northallerton SC) (50–54) and Nicholas Parkes (Harrogate District SC) (60–64) all secured wins.
- Rachel Whitwell (East Leeds SC) won the female 45–49 category, while Sarah Taylor (Middlesbrough SC) and Susan Harrison (Thirsk White Horse ST) achieved podium finishes in the 50–54 category.
5km Masters Championships
- James Mangeolles (Ilkley SC) claimed victory in the male 40–44 category, while Joseph Gavelle (City of Sheffield Swim Squad) won the 55–59 category.
A Strong Showing for the Region
Across all events, North East swimmers consistently showed strong swims, showcasing the region’s strength from junior to masters level. From emerging young talent to experienced masters athletes, these performances highlight the continued growth and success of open water swimming in the North East.
With such depth across all age groups and distances, the future of open water swimming in the region continues to look incredibly bright.
Many thanks go to the North West Region for hosting a fantastic event. The full results from the championships can be found here: SENE / SENE OW Results 2026
