Every Autumn, as the race calendar builds and we head towards Christmas, one question comes up again and again from parents: “How does County Qualification actually work?”

Show Your Super Powers ⚡ After the buzz of last Sunday’s 800 freestyle — with an incredible 86 swimmers taking on one of the toughest events in the pool — we’re ready to launch into the first full block of this year’s Club Championships. This Sunday we kick off with a one-day meet, before the main full weekend on 12/13 October.

The 1500m freestyle may be the ultimate test of endurance in swimming, but the 800m sits just behind it — and Bluefins are once again raising the bar. With 83 swimmers entered across all age groups, the 800 at this Sunday’s Club Champs opener promises a showcase of grit, determination, and team spirit.

Across both weekends, Bluefins Masters proved once again why they are the dominant force in Hampshire. From endurance to sprints, relays to individual showdowns, every swimmer played their part in delivering points, medals, and memories. With a commanding lead from the very first session and consistency throughout, Bluefins secured the club trophy yet again — adding another chapter to their proud tradition of Masters success.

What a week it was for six of our Bluefins Masters swimmers who travelled to Seattle for the U.S. Masters Swimming National Championships. Across four days of racing, the team brought home an incredible medal haul across sprint, middle-distance, and relay events — showcasing both individual brilliance and team spirit on the international stage.

Basingstoke Bluefins enjoyed an incredible week at the English Championships, with six days of standout performances — including club records, medal-winning swims, multiple finals, and countless personal bests. A true showcase of determination, skill, and team spirit, making it one of our most successful national meets yet.

Congratulations to Coach Spencer, who once again made headlines at the U.S. Masters Swimming National Championships in Seattle. Competing in the 55–59yrs age group, Spencer delivered a powerful performance in the 100m Freestyle, lowering his own British Record.

Bluefins made their mark at the 🇬🇧 British Championships with standout swims from Rhys in the 1500m Freestyle (new club record), Ollie in the 200m Butterfly, and the boys’ 14–16yrs Medley Relay team. A week of determination, experience, and true Bluefins spirit on the national stage.

Congratulations to Clara, who delivered an exceptional set of performances at the Irish National Age Group Championships. Taking on some of the best young distance swimmers in Ireland, Clara rose to the challenge in style. She was crowned National Champion in both the 1500m and 800m Freestyle, showing brilliant endurance, pacing, and determination across two demanding events.

Massive congratulations to our 16 Bluefins swimmers who have qualified for the 2025 Summer National Championships in Sheffield. This is a phenomenal achievement for the club, and a reflection of the talent, commitment, and hard work of our athletes, coaches, and wider Bluefins family.

The 2025 South East Championships delivered fast swims, big finals, and a level of competition that shows just how strong the region has become.

The South East Regional Championships 2025 brought together the very best swimmers from across the region — and Bluefins once again rose to the challenge. Across both the Youth (Wycombe) and Age Group (Winchester) weekends, our swimmers delivered Regional Champion titles, podium finishes, countless PBs, and dozens of Top-8 placings.

The 2025 Hampshire Age Group & Youth Championships will go down as one of the most successful in Bluefins’ history. Across three action-packed weekends, our swimmers produced an avalanche of medals, finals, PBs, and club records, with stand-out swims from our youngest 10-year-olds right through to our Performance athletes chasing British Champs times.

This January marks a milestone moment for Basingstoke Bluefins, as we proudly announce our biggest ever entry to the Hampshire Age Group and Youth Championships. An incredible 95 swimmers will be representing Bluefins over the next few weekends — a record number that highlights just how far our club has come in recent years.