We’re very proud of our D&G swimmers who have been recognised through a fantastic range of County, Regional and National development programmes this season.
These programmes give our swimmers the opportunity to train in different environments, work with coaches from outside the club, meet and train alongside other talented swimmers and, most importantly, keep developing alongside the work they do every day with their D&G coaches.
Here’s a look at the different programmes and the D&G swimmers who have been selected.
County Durham Swimming Hub
Selected from D&G:
Joe, Imogen & Laila
The County Durham Swimming Hub provides an additional opportunity for talented swimmers who haven't been selected for the Northumberland & Durham Beacon Programme.
Swimmers get extra long-course training, experience different coaching styles and have the chance to train alongside swimmers from other clubs across the county.
It's a great environment for swimmers to try something different, pick up new skills and continue developing while still being part of their home club programme.
A great opportunity for Joe, Imogen and Laila.
Northumberland & Durham Beacon Programme
Selected from D&G:
Talia Staines, Conan, Lewis & Emily
The Beacon Programme brings together some of the highest-performing swimmers from across Northumberland & Durham.
Swimmers have access to regular long-course training at Sunderland Aquatic Centre with county performance coaches, alongside the training they continue to do with their home club.
Places are highly competitive, with selection based on performances and World Aquatics Points.
Being selected is a fantastic achievement and recognition of the hard work these swimmers are putting in both at D&G and at competitions.
A huge well done to Talia, Conan, Lewis and Emily.
Northumberland & Durham Youth Development Programme (NYDP)
Selected from D&G:
Hayden & Lucas
The NYDP is aimed at swimmers who are progressing towards the next stage of the performance pathway.
The programme is about building the foundations that swimmers will need as they get older — developing technique, improving race skills and awareness, and learning more about what it takes to become a successful athlete.
Selection is based on performances in events of 100m and above, with swimmers chosen from the strongest performers in the national long-course rankings who meet the required World Aquatics Points standards.
A fantastic achievement for Hayden and Lucas, and a great reward for the work they’re putting in at D&G.
National Age Group Development Programme (NAGDP)
Selected from D&G:
Hetty
The NAGDP is a national development programme for some of the country's most promising young swimmers.
It's not just about racing faster. The programme is designed to help swimmers build the foundations they'll need for the future — improving technique, understanding racing and tactics, developing good athlete habits and learning what it takes to progress through the performance pathway.
Selection is highly competitive and based on performances and national long-course rankings.
A brilliant achievement for Hetty to earn her place on the programme.
Northumberland & Durham County Development Camp
Selected from D&G:
Imogen
The County Development Camp is aimed at swimmers aged 12 and is designed to give young athletes experience of a wider performance environment.
The camp combines swimming, dryland training and educational sessions, giving swimmers the chance to learn about different parts of their development while training alongside other talented swimmers from across the county.
With only 36 swimmers from across the county invited, selection is a fantastic achievement.
Well done Imogen! 👏
Aquatics GB Marathon Swimming Programme
Selected from D&G:
Talia Staines & Alice
The Aquatics GB Marathon Swimming Programme is part of the pathway for swimmers showing potential in open water and marathon swimming.
The programme supports athletes looking to progress in the sport, including the 10km Olympic distance as well as 5km and 25km racing.
It's a fantastic opportunity for swimmers to gain experience in the open water environment and work towards competing at a higher level.
Talia and Alice have both been selected for the programme, with Talia also gaining selection for the South East Open Water Programme.
Other Selections & Representation
Our swimmers have also picked up a number of other fantastic opportunities this season.
Alice has been selected for:
- Aquatics GB Marathon Swimming Programme
- County Teams
- South East DiSE
- Beacon Programme
Laila has been selected for:
- Northumberland & Durham National Teams
- County Durham Swimming Hub
Talia Staines has been selected for:
- Beacon Programme
- South East Open Water
- Aquatics GB Marathon Swimming Programme
Lucas has been selected for:
- Northumberland & Durham Youth Development Programme
A huge well done to all our swimmers!
It's fantastic to see D&G swimmers represented across so many different levels of the pathway, from county development opportunities right through to national programmes.
These selections are about much more than simply seeing a name on a list. They reflect the commitment of the swimmers, the support from their families and the consistent work being put in at training and competitions.
A huge congratulations to:
Hayden • Joe • Talia • Imogen • Hetty • Conan • Alice • Laila • Lucas • Lewis • Emily
We're incredibly proud of every one of you.
Keep working hard, keep learning, keep supporting each other — and most importantly, enjoy the journey!