Understanding the higher entry standards As swimmers progress through competitive swimming, questions naturally shift from “What are Counties?” to “What comes next?” For many swimmers, that next step is the Swim England South East Region Long Course Championships — often referred to simply as Regionals. For 2026, the entry standards are faster than in previous seasons.

"Swimmers’ Journals capture the moments, memories, and turning points that shape a Bluefins swimmer — from races and PBs to confidence, setbacks, comebacks, friendships, and insights away from the pool." I joined Bluefins over the summer break, not really knowing what to expect from a new club where I didn’t know anyone. I was small, skinny, and hardly looked like a swimmer. My parents only put me in lessons because they couldn’t swim themselves.

World Aquatics Points (shown as WA Pts on Swim England Rankings) offer a universal way to compare swimming performances — even when events, distances, and ages differ. They help swimmers and parents understand the quality of a swim, not just the finish time.

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?”

Just like every club swimmer, Bluefins love a new hat. Whether it’s for training or racing, there’s just something about pulling on a new hat that makes you feel part of something bigger. Since our 2020 relaunch, hats have become more than just kit — they’ve become part of our identity and culture. Outside the club, our hats spark plenty of curiosity too — and one of the questions we’re asked most often is: “What are the different hats about?”