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.

Understanding progress in a sport that feels different Every swimmer begins with a dream — from learning new skills to qualifying for Counties, breaking a time barrier, or one day reaching Nationals. But a dream on its own isn’t enough. To make it real, you need structure, direction, and a plan. That’s why we set goals.

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?”

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.

Whether you’re a child progressing from swimming lessons, a teenager ready to step into competitive training, or an adult keen to swim with a supportive Masters community, there’s a place for you at Bluefins.