County Development is the first step on the County Pathway, where swimmers aged 9–14 learn to handle tougher sessions, race more often, and measure themselves against County standards.

Swim England and Aquatics GB encourage a balanced approach to competition.Young swimmers should experience a range of strokes and distances, including 400 m, 800 m and 1500 m freestyle, to build a strong foundation for future success in the sport. Early distance exposure isn’t about specialising — it develops complete swimmers with the fitness, pacing control and resilience needed to progress confidently through the sport.

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.