29th July – 2nd August 2026
Holywell Amateur Swimming Club delivered a solid performance at the Swim Wales Summer National Championships 2026, highlighted by a very impressive medal haul and dozens of personal bests (PBs).
The five-day long-course championships brought together some of the finest aquatic talent from across the nation to compete at the highest level.
Following on from a successful Easter National Championships, the Holywell squad entered the Swim Wales Summer Nationals (officially known as the Swim Wales Summer Championships or Swim Wales Summer Meet). This event is the premier elite-tier summer swimming competition in Wales. Featuring over 1,000 competitors, coaches, and volunteers; it stands as one of the largest and most vibrant aquatic events in the country. It serves as a vital component of the broader Aquatics GB Home Nation Summer Nationals, offering top-tier athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest domestic level.
The meet was held from 29 July to 2 August 2026 at the Wales National Pool in Swansea, and the Holywell team proved themselves as an outstanding force within North Wales aquatics.
The club’s standout performances at the 2026 Nationals;
Noah Jones-Walker who came away with Gold and is now a Welsh Summer National Champion in the 50m Breast. Noah also won Bronze in the 100m Free and Silver in the 50m Free.
Thomas Baldwin and Patrick McCullah gave great showings in the distance events, after coming from the British Open Water Championships where they both finished top Welsh Males in their age groups, Thomas came away with 2 Bronze medals in the 800m and 1500m and Patrick had a Bronze medal in the 800m free and 200m Breaststroke and a Silver in the 1500m Free.
Poppy Johnson had a great swim in the 50m Breaststroke winning Bronze.
Charlie de Haan bagged himself 4 Silvers and a Bronze – 400IM and 200IM Silver, 100m and 200m Backstroke Silver, 50 backstroke bronze.
Oliver Langridge had impressive swims in the 400m IM winning Silver and in the 50m Breaststroke taking the Bronze.
Our younger swimmers did amazingly well – Emily M’Keown winning 2 Bronze medals in the 50m and 100m Free, and the rest of the team getting a multitude of PBs. Very well done to the entire team, the coaches are extremely proud of you all.
Our 12/13 Mixed relay teams gave a great showing of themselves winning 3 Silver Medals. Noah, Betsy, Charlie and Emily winning Silvers in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m Freestyle relays and Charlie, Noah, Thea and Emily winning Silver in the 4 x 100m Medley Relays.
The Team :
Thomas Baldwin (2 Bronze, 2 PBs)
Charlotte Batt (1 PB)
Clemmie Batt (2 PBs)
Thea Cartwright (1 Silver, 1 Final, 2 PBs)
Charlie de Haan (7 Silver, 1 Bronze, 6 Finals, 7 PBs)
George Donnan (1 PB)
Poppy Johnson (1 Final, 1 Bronze)
Betsy Jones (2 Silver, 7 Finals, 6 PBs)
Noah Jones-Walker (1 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze, 4 Finals, 1 PB)
Martha Langridge (2 PBs)
Oliver Langridge (1 Silver, 1 Bronze, 3 Finals, 4 PBs)
Emily M’Keown (3 Silver, 2 Bronze, 5 Finals, 4 PBs)
Elen McCoole-Jones (2 Finals, 5 PBs)
Patrick McCullagh (1 Silver, 3 Bronze, 1 Final, 5 PBs)
Millie McPherson, Amber Nash (6 PBs)
Luca Owen (1 Final, 1 PB)
Bella Twist (5 PBs).
The team had 31 individual Finals.
1 Golds = Noah Jones-Walker 50m Breaststroke National Champion.
19 Silvers = (Thea 1), (Charlie 7), (Betsy 2), (Noah 4), (Oliver 1)- (Emily 3), (Patrick 1)
11 Bronze = (Thomas 2), (Charlie 1), (Poppy 1), (Noah 1), (Oliver 1), (Emily 2), (Patrick 3)- Personal Best times (PBs) = 54
Lastly, thank you to all the parents/guardians for supporting our swimmers! Special mention to the team managers; Kate Fisher and Sheryl Garrett for your support poolside looking after all the needs of the swimmers. Also, a massive thanks to Gary McCullaugh and Sarah McCoole for officiating and to Kerry Johnson for Marshalling.
