East Region Open Water Championships 2026

  • July 14, 2026

This year the East Region Open Water Championship was again held at Whitlingham Country Park in Norfolk. The Pink Army had another good showing for the event with a good number of swimmers attending. It was a glorious day with the sun shining on the water and good conditions for lake swimming.

The Championships operate as a single competition but also incorporates the Swim England East Region qualifying event for Swim England Open Water Nationals as well as County Championships for counties within the East Region. Championship events will are run over 2km, 3km and 5km distances. Age Group swimmers seeking to qualify for the National Age Group Championships need to enter the appropriate qualifying distance for their age. There is also a 1km event. To have a chance at National qualification, 2km swimmers must be in the 13 year category, 3km swimmers in the 14 and 15 year category and 16, 17/18 and 19&over swimmers in the 5km race. If qualifying for Nationals, those race increase in distance to 3km for 13 year old, 5km for 14 & 15 year olds and 7.5km for the older age groups. The 7.5km race at Nationals also incorporates a feeding station.

Hatfield had a large contingent taking on the 1km race and had some fantastic results.

Oliver Barrows 7th (11-12yrs)

Dangis Razma 8th (11-12yrs)

Tate Bailey 9th (11-12yrs)

Barnie Sokirkin 12th (11-12yrs)

Olivia Hopley 4th (11-12yrs)

Jorgie Bhasvi 1st🥇(13-14yrs)

Violet Stokes 8th (15-16yrs)

In the 2km race there were fewer competitors form Hatfield but equally impressive results as follows:

Julian Vannier 3rd🥉(12yrs)

Tommy Camilotti-Titon 8th (12yrs)

Catherine Hatherly 1st🥇(12yrs)

Leo Sims 3rd🥉(13yrs) + 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨✨

George Sims 4th (13yrs) + 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨✨

The Pink Army had only one entrant in the 3km and Emma Sofronov (14yrs) finished in 7th. We also had only one competitor in the 5km race, Harry George 3rd (16yrs)+ 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨.

Many of these swimmers also gained County honours with Oliver Barrows, Olivia Hopley, Jorgi Bhasvi, Julien Vannier, Catherine Hatherly and Leo Sims becoming this years County Champions in their age and event.

Congratulations to all those who took part. Hopefully we will have another large group taking on the event again next year. Good luck to those who have qualified for Nationals later in the month in Sheffield!