City of Hereford Swimming Club celebrated a highly successful 2026 Worcestershire County Championships, with 67 swimmers achieving qualifying standards. The championships were held over three weekends in January and early February, with the 800m and 1500m freestyle events staged at Perdiswell Leisure Centre, Worcester, and the remainder of the programme at Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
A total of 59 swimmers competed, representing the club in 334 individual events. Of those swims, 75% resulted in Long Course Personal Best times.
Finals and Medal Success
- 34 swimmers achieved 104 finals appearances (50m and 100m events).
- 197 top-10 finishes were secured across the 334 entries.
- The club won 85 Age Group medals:
- 26 Gold
- 31 Silver
- 28 Bronze
Age Group County Champions
The following swimmers were crowned Age Group County Champions:
- Elin Winstanley – 50 Butterfly, 50 & 100 Breaststroke, 50 Freestyle, 200 & 400 IM
- Ella Kindred – 50, 100 & 200 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke
- Bryn Pugh – 50 Backstroke, 50 & 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle
- Bea Jones – 100 & 200 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke
- Tom Rowntree – 50 & 100 Butterfly
- Evie Hall – 800 & 1500 Freestyle
- Oscar Dodds – 200 Backstroke
- Morgan Feirn – Para 50 Backstroke, 50 & 100 Butterfly, 100 Breaststroke
In total, 18 swimmers contributed to the club’s 85 Age Group medals.
Overall Junior and Senior Medals
In addition to Age Group awards, swimmers were recognised in overall Junior (15 & under) and Senior (open) categories. City of Hereford secured a further 39 overall medals:
- 12 Gold
- 12 Silver
- 15 Bronze
Nine swimmers achieved podium finishes in these overall classifications.
Senior Highlights
City of Hereford claimed all three podium positions in the Senior 50m Freestyle:
- 1st – Elin Winstanley
- 2nd – Bea Jones
- 3rd – Ella Kindred
Elin Winstanley also won Senior titles in the 200 Freestyle, 50 Butterfly, 50 Breaststroke and 200 Individual Medley, in addition to multiple other podium finishes.
Bea Jones secured Senior gold in the 100 Freestyle and 200 Backstroke, while also medalling in the 200 Individual Medley.
Abigail Field placed 3rd overall Senior Female in the 1500m Freestyle and 2nd overall in the 800m Freestyle.
For the Senior Open/Male category:
- Oscar Dodds won the 200 Backstroke and took silver in the 400 Individual Medley.
- Morgan Pugh secured bronze medals in the 50 Breaststroke, 50 Butterfly and 200 Butterfly.
- Tom Hawkyard placed 3rd in the 800 Freestyle.
Junior Highlights
Ella Kindred’s Senior 50m Freestyle result also secured her Junior gold in that event. She was additionally crowned Junior champion in the 100 Backstroke and added silver medals in the 200 Freestyle and 50 Backstroke, plus bronze in the 800 Freestyle and 200 Individual Medley.
In the Junior Male category:
- Tom Rowntree was crowned champion in the 50 and 100 Butterfly. He also secured multiple additional podium finishes across backstroke, freestyle and breaststroke events.
- Joe Hamer placed 3rd in the 200 Backstroke.
Outstanding Performance
In the 12 & Under category, Evie Hall was awarded Bronze in the Overall Top Girl standings. Competing in 15 events, she recorded the third-highest points total across all age groups. Evie won 2 Gold, 5 Silver and 4 Bronze medals and did not finish outside the top six in any event.
Head Coach’s Review
Head Coach Graham Begley commented:
“This year’s Championships clearly demonstrate the progress made across the club over the past 12 months. We saw a 28% increase in swimmers qualifying compared to 2025, alongside a 55% rise in total event qualification. That reflects a significant shift in commitment and training standards.
We had representation and finalists across every age group, which was not the case last year. The aim now is to continue building that momentum throughout the remainder of the season.
Our focus turns next to the West Midlands Regional Championships, where 21 swimmers have already achieved qualification standards.”
