Swim England Hertfordshire Open Water Championships 2025
(held as part of the Swim England East Region Open Water Championships 2025)
Perfect Conditions for a Fantastic Venue
Whitlingham Country Park, 14th July 2025 – Over 360 swimmers from 68 clubs across the East of England descended on the stunning waters of Whitlingham Country Park for the 2025 Swim England East Region Open Water Championships, which also incorporated the Hertfordshire County Championships.
Set against a backdrop of mature woodlands and calm, clean waters, the day offered perfect conditions for open water swimming. Water temperatures soared above 23°C, making wetsuits prohibited. A light breeze and occasional cloud cover added to the comfort of both swimmers and spectators, making the event as enjoyable to watch as it was to race.
A Festival of Swimming
The scene at Whitlingham was almost festival-like. From early morning, families, supporters, and seasoned open water fans filled the viewing areas, bringing along tents, deck chairs, picnic blankets, and a buzz of excitement.
Open water swimming weather is known for its unpredictability, but this year the “weather gods” played nice – no storms, no rain, and no sudden drops in temperature. It was a dream scenario for athletes and organisers.
Regional Showcase and County Pride
This year’s event brought together swimmers from all six East Region counties: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Representing the largest share of entrants, Hertfordshire proudly fielded the biggest team of the day, underlining the county’s growing passion and strength in open water swimming.
There are many benefits to a combined regional and county-level championship: stronger competition, larger heats, and a shared sense of prestige. With over 360 competitors, the event had a truly “big meet” feel – and offered swimmers the unique chance to race not just against their county peers, but the best from across the region.
Gratitude to the Unsung Heroes
Behind every smooth-running event is a team of tireless organisers and volunteers. A heartfelt thank you goes to Paul Kendal and his exceptional team, whose months of planning, dedication, and love for the sport made this event possible. Their efforts created not just a race, but a celebration of community, endurance, and achievement that will be remembered by all who took part.
Hertfordshire Results Highlight
As part of the regional meet, individual county results were also recorded. Hertfordshire’s swimmers delivered outstanding performances. A special congratulations to our 16 swimmers who qualified for Nationals. Look for ‘NAG-Q’ in the full results table to identify them.
A big thank you to Jane O’Brien, Past President of Swim England Hertfordshire, who kindly presented the medals and championship pennants to our winners.
Plus a huge thank you to all Hertfordshire’s coaches for giving so many of your swimmers the opportunity to enjoy racing open water.
See you at a lake somewhere soon.
Jeremy Irvine, Hertfordshire Open Water Manager openwater@swimherts.org
