Swim England Open Water
National Age Group Championships 2026
Representing Derwentside & Gateshead Swim Team
Tomorrow, two of our D&G athletes head to Rother Valley Country Park in Sheffield to compete at the Swim England Open Water National Age Group Championships 2026. Alice Forrest and Talia Staines will both be taking on the 7.5km event — and Talia goes into it as the defending champion, having won this title last year.
No sooner had they finished a full week competing at the Aquatics GB Next Gen Championships than they are back on the start line again. That is just the kind of athletes they are.
The National Age Group Championships is one of the most prestigious open water events in the Swim England calendar, bringing together the best young open water swimmers from across the country. Talia will be looking to defend her title, while Alice will be pushing hard for a result of her own.
Open water swimming at 7.5km demands not just fitness but composure — navigating a course, managing the pack and staying focused over a long distance in natural water. Both athletes have shown this week that they have exactly that.
We are incredibly proud of you both. Go and show them what D&G is made of.