Long-serving Bluefins volunteer Tony Bamberger has been recognised for more than two decades of dedication to disability and inclusive swimming after receiving a Mayor’s Award from the outgoing Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane. The award was presented during the Mayor Making ceremony held in the Council Chamber at the Civic Offices on Thursday 14 May, where Councillor Jacky Tustain was formally installed as the new Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, succeeding Councillor Colin Phi

Bluefins Finish 7th Overall in the South East Region The South East Region is widely regarded as one of the strongest swimming regions in the country, making the Regional Championships an important benchmark for club performance. At the 2026 South East Regional Championships, Basingstoke Bluefins finished 7th overall in the regional club rankings, placing the club amongst the leading programmes in the South East. Representing the club across the Championships were 34 swimm

Swimming for Fitness, Confidence and Wellbeing At Bluefins, not every swimmer is working towards competition and that’s an important part of who we are as a club. Many swimmers simply want to stay active, improve their fitness and enjoy being in the water. Our Club Fitness squads provide a structured, coached environment for swimmers who want exactly that, without the expectations that come with racing. This pathway continues to grow, with over 60 swimmers now training reg

As swimmers gain more racing experience, parents often see them competing across a range of strokes and events. A swimmer who performs well in freestyle may also race backstroke or butterfly. Others may appear in the 200IM or longer events that stretch their skills. This can naturally prompt the question: If a swimmer has a strongest event, why not focus on that race? Age-group swimming is designed to build complete swimmers, not early specialists.

Congratulations to all of our swimmers, coaches and volunteers who contributed to this outstanding achievement. Basingstoke Bluefins finished 2nd overall at the 2026 Hampshire County Championships, the strongest result in the club’s history. It reflects the collective effort of swimmers in the water and dedicated coaches guiding the programme, supported by the wider Bluefins community. In recent seasons the club has built steady momentum across the pathway.