Swimmers from across the North East delivered an outstanding series of performances at the Aquatics GB Winter Para Meet 2026, held from 20–23 February at the Wales National Pool in Swansea.
Representing the region with pride, a combined team led by Richmond Dales, alongside swimmers from Derwentside & Gateshead, Borough of Kirklees and other programmes, showcased resilience, professionalism and progression across three days of elite national competition.
Strong North East Representation
The trip was organised by Richmond Dales, with coaching support from Keith, Kylah and Zoe, and Debbie acting as Team Manager. The travelling squad featured swimmers from multiple clubs, ensuring the North East was well represented on the national stage.
In addition to the main travelling group, Swim England North East regional swimmers competing across the weekend included Ellen (Richmond Dales), Jacob and Maisie (Borough of Kirklees), Lottie (Rotherham Metro) and Sonny (City of Sheffield).
Day One – A Statement Start
Following Thursday travel and a familiarisation session at the Wales National Pool, the team arrived focused and ready to compete.
Day one saw an immediate impact, highlighted by outstanding 100m Breaststroke final performances from Tia and Tyler. Competing in finals at a national para meet represents a major achievement, and both swimmers demonstrated composure, confidence and excellent race execution.
From the opening races, North East swimmers displayed strong resilience, professionalism and team spirit, gaining invaluable experience racing alongside elite athletes.
Day Two – Energy, Inspiration and Excellence
Saturday brought a vibrant atmosphere poolside, with every swimmer in action across heats and finals. Performances consistently matched training expectations, with swimmers demonstrating impressive composure under pressure.
A particular highlight of the day was the opportunity for swimmers to meet and speak with leading para swimmers, including William Ellard, Astrid Carroll, Ursula Carroll, Faye Rogers, Lilly Rice, Ronan Brennan, Grace Harvey, Bruce Dee, Sam Downie and Brock Whiston. Their generosity with time, advice and encouragement provided lasting inspiration for the team.
Final Day – Finishing in Style
The final day concluded the weekend on a high note. After a refreshing beach visit, swimmers returned energised and delivered further strong performances across both heats and finals.
Throughout the meet, athletes conducted themselves with maturity and professionalism, reflecting positively on their clubs, counties and the wider North East swimming community.
Special thanks were extended to event officials, including Sue P and Christine G, as well as the organising teams at Aquatics GB and Swim Wales, whose efforts ensured a well-run and memorable competition.
A Weekend to Remember
While times and placings are important, national para meets are equally about learning, resilience and exposure to elite performance environments.
There were numerous standout swims across the weekend, including:
- Josie, who recorded a 10-second improvement in the 400m Freestyle
- Lucy, with a 10-second personal best in the 100m Backstroke
- Amelia, who produced a superb 50m Freestyle swim worth 639 points, improving her heat time by over one second, smashing her personal best and qualifying for the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in London this April
Across the competition, swimmers demonstrated consistent heat-to-final improvements, a challenging but vital performance skill at this level.
The team also wished to recognise the incredible contribution of North East referees Sue P and Christine G, and to thank Swim Wales for their warm welcome throughout the event.
A final and heartfelt mention goes to #AllForJoe, the charity established by Vicky and Stephen Field in memory of their son Joe, whose financial support helped several swimmers attend the meet.
Every swimmer represented the North East with pride, determination and integrity. This weekend marked an important step in their performance journeys and the future continues to look extremely promising for para swimming across the region.
