Kent Open Water Swimming Championships 2026

Kent swimmers excel in regional and national open water championships

This year was the first in several where a Kent Open Water championships was held in the South East Regional (Kent Rural Championships) and in the London Championships (Kent London Championships). Many county medals were won by the participants as detailed in the results.

Fourteen Kent swimmers qualified for the National Championships. Of these there were six medal winners: A bronze in the 3km race (Kai Ingarfield, Tonbridge), a gold in the 5km Race (Romeo Ball, Maidstone) as well as 1 silver and 2 Bronzes (Ellie Lewis, Eddie Evans and Thomas Love all Beckenham) In the 7.5km race.

Kent Rural Championships

The Kent Rural swimming championships was held within the South East open water championships on Sunday 28 June. Of the 440 entries, 57 were from Kent.  Kent swimmers' performances were outstanding winning 4 of the 6 trophies, and 9 qualified for the national championships. In all there were 24 golds, 11 silvers and 8 Bronzes awarded.

Notable Performances (South East trophy winners):

• Kai Ingarfield (Tonbridge) was the overall winner of boys 2km race in a time of 22m 28s.
• Elise Butler(Maidstone) was the overall winner of the girls 3km race in a time of 34m 5s
• Romeo Ball(Maidstone) was the overall winner of the boys 3km race in a time of 32m 46s
• Charley King (Thanet) was the overall winner of the boys 5km race in a time of 53m 13s

Other National Qualifiers:

• Aanya Agrawal (Medway Maritime) 2km girls (13 AG)
• Tyla-Jade Thomas (RTW) 3km Girls (14 AG)
• Maddison Notley (Medway Maritime) 5km Girls (17/18 AG)
• Reese Huckle(RTW) 5km Girls (17/18 AG)
• Zachary Freear (Maidstone SC) 5km Boys (16 AG)

Kent London Championships

The Kent London Championships were held within the London Regional open water championships on Sunday 5 July in the Docklands Water sport centre. Of the 267 swimmers 31 were from Kent.

Kent Swimmers performances were well winning 2 of the 6 races outright, and 5 qualified for the national championships. In all there were 14 golds, 6 silvers and 2 Bronzes awarded.

Notable Performances (Overall Race Winners):

• Eddie Evans(Beckenham) was the overall winner of the boys 5km race in a time of 59m 48s
• Ellie Lewis (Beckenham) was the overall winner of the girls 5km race in a time of 1 hr 6 mins and 39s

Other National Qualifiers:

• Isla-Mae Senel (Beckenham) qualified in the 3km race (14 AG)
• Thomas Love (Beckenham) qualified in the 5km race (16 AG)
• Flora Sanmiguel Wickens (Saxon Crown) qualified in the 2km race (13 AG)

National Championships

The national age group championships were held on 25 July in Rother Valley park near Sheffield,14 swimmers qualified. Ten swimmers competed, 5 won medals as follows:

7.5Km race

• Ellie Lewis(Beckenham) won silver in the female 17/18 year race and was 7^th overall.
• Edward Evans(Beckenham) won bronze in the open 17/18 year race and was 3^rd overall
• Thomas Love(Beckenham) won bronze in the open 16 year race and was22^nd overall
• Charley King (Thanet) was10th in the 17/18 race and14th overall
• Zacary Frear (Maidstone) was 25^th in the 16 year category

5km race

• Romeo Ball (Maidstone) Won gold 14 year race and was 6^th overall
• Elise Butler (Maidstone) was 7^th in the14 year category and was 22^nd overall
• Isla Mae Senel was 27^th in the 14 year category

3km Races

• Kai Ingarfield Won Bronze in the 13 year boys category
• Flora Sanmiguel Wickens was 28^th in the 13 year girls category

Regional Champions and National Medal Winners

Kai Ingarfield, Tonbridge SC, Overall winner of the boys 2km event at South East and Bronze medal winner in the National Championships	Romeo Ball, Maidstone SC, Overall winner of the boys 3km event in the South East and winner of the gold medal at the National Championships
Elise Butler, Maidstone SC, Overall winner of the girls 3km in South East and 7th in the 14 Years 5km race at National Championships.	Charlie King, Thanet SC., Overall winner of the boys 5km event in the South East and 10th at the 17/18 7.5km race at the National Championships
Eddie Evans, Beckenham, overall winner of the boys 5km event at London and Bronze medal winner in the 7.5km (17/18) race at National Championships	Ellie Lewis, Beckenham, overall winner of the girls 5km event at London and Silver medalist in the 7.5km (17/18) race at National Championships
Thomas Love, Beckenham, winner of the Bronze in the 7.5km 16 year age group at the National Championship and 2nd place in the London Regional in 5km in his age category

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