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Swimmers from 13 different clubs in Sussex competed in the GoCardless Swim England National County Team Championships 2024. Their goal: to maintain their spot in Division 1 for next year.

The weekend off with a training session in Loughborough. Here swimmers were able to experience a pool which has seen many Olympians grace its waters. Swimmers in the session were able to work on racing skills for the weekend, including starts, turns and takeovers. It also allowed them to shake off their legs from a long journey. This session is always pivotal for swimmers to start to form bonds and friendships –  this showed when the noise levels began to creep up on the last leg of the journey.

Once checked into our hotel in the centre of Sheffield and freshened up, swimmers and support team went out for a meal at Zizzi. Personally, I think this was the highlight of the trip (apart from the swimming of course). With every swimmer socialising with one another, lots of laughs and just an all-round fantastic atmosphere. I hope to see their friendships made from this trip continue into their future swimming journeys.

After a restful night, swimmers were geared up and ready for the competition. With an earlier warm up they had time to decorate themselves with face paints, bucket hats, nail polish and get some final fuel on board. Captains – Katie Oliver and Harley Williams – made their to the parade where they gleefully held aloft the Sussex crest. After which the racing started.

Over the competition we had 14 new individual personal best times, this is over 50% of the individual swims which is incredible. Sussex battled hard throughout the competition, teetering on 12th place for the majority of the first half. Eventually finishing 14th (equal to last year’s joint 14th place with Hampshire) with a total of 281.5 points (3.5 points off of 13th).The squad also achieved their goal – we remain in the Division 1.

With this resounding success for Sussex this year, the team were treated to a meal on the way back – which received one of the louder cheers of the evening… All members of the staff commented on how pleasant each and every swimmer was to be around for the whole trip, and I think for the first time ever there was no lost property afterwards!

I would like to say a massive thank you to our Assistant Coach: Becky (Atlantis), Team managers: Sam and Matt (Hastings Seagull), Officials: Sarah and Dan (Crawley.

It was a pleasure and a privilege to be the Head Coach of the GoCardless Swim England National County Team Championships this year, I wish all of the swimmers that participated the best of luck this season.

Lee Hammond (Head Coach)

Photo album (published soon)

In just 2 weeks, our team of 28 swimmers drawn from 13 clubs with head coach Lee Hammond and 4 support team, 2 travelling officials and our County President will head to Sheffield to defend our place in the top tier of county swimming.

The National County Team Championships take place at Ponds Forge on 6th October. This is one of the most exciting swimming competitions you will ever see.

About 900 swimmers from 30 team will compete simultaneously in 2 25m pools. Every event will be live streamed so to follow the Sussex squad make sure you watch coverage or the first division.

More information is available on the Swim England website

It is with sadness that we have to tell you about the recent passing of Sheila Paice who was our County President in 2009/2010.

Sheila was a parent member of Crawley Swimming Club for over 10yrs, she ran the membership and started helping poolside with the officials.

She went on to do her J1, J2 and assistant coaches training along side completing her Level 2 and Level 2 swim teachers and went on to lead swimming lessons at Crawley leisure centre and later at K2.

Sheila later left Crawley and joined her husband Brian at Littlehampton Swim Club where Brian was head coach. They both then joined Burgess HillSC (now part of Mid Sussex Marlins) in 1998.

During this time Sheila started delivering workshops for the county officials and became the Child Welfare officer for Sussex County ASA and running the ‘Time to Listen” courses. She also was an active official and regularly seen on the deck.

Sheila widened her passion for the sport and was part of the ASA Judicial Complaints Committee.

She was a teacher, a coach, an official and yet could not confidently swim!! and was known to run for the balcony every time there would be a fun session in fear of being thrown in.

Our sympathies go to her family and friends.

Sheila’s funeral will take place  on the 9^th July at 11am at the Worthing Crematorium – Horsham Rd, Findon, Worthing BN14 0RG. 

Our Annual Council Meeting will take place online at 7.00pm on 19th June 2024.

This your chance to tell us what you want and how we should develop what we do.

Clubs will be able to appoint delegates who will be able to vote on changes to regulations and new committee members.

Swim England has published in full the findings of the independent listening research commissioned as part of its pledge to create a better future for everyone involved in aquatic sports.

Read more.

Wavepower is Swim England’s safeguarding policy and procedures document.

Its aim is to ensure everyone is able to enjoy our sports and aquatic activity in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment in line with current legislation, regulations and guidance.

All Swim England affiliated clubs and organisations must adopt Wavepower and the current version can be downloaded below.

At the beginning of 2024, an updated version of Wavepower was published.

This is part of Swim England’s commitment to create a culture in our sports and activities which makes everyone feel protected, included and welcomed – and that the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all participants is ingrained throughout our affiliated clubs and organisations.

The key changes introduced in 2024 are available here:

It is with sadness that we have to inform you of the passing of Richard Wadmore who died peacefully at the age of 95 earlier this month.

Richard, a long time member of Beacon Swimming Club and was County President in 1991. He was also president of the Southern Counties ASA (the forerunner of the South East Region).

Alongside his late wife Patricia, who was herself County President in 1995, Richard was central to the organisation and management of county swimming competitions throughout the 1990’s.

Richard was also at the forefront of moving Sussex’s competition management from being entirely paper based with a card entry system to automating elements of our competitions through computer. This led the way for the systems we have today.

Our thoughts are with Richard’s family at this time.

Chris Hobbs, Sussex’s Officials Co-ordinator, has been recognised for her work in developing swimming officials in Sussex by Swim England South East Region.

She was presented with her award and certificate as the Region’s Technical Official of the Year at the Winter Competition.

The Region have also put Chris’ name forward for a Swim England National Award later in the year.

While representing Sussex at the National County Team Championships Hannah Capron (Brighton & Repton) broke the oldest county record.