With the start of the new season, planning and training for the Essex County Championships 2027 has begun.
For the Diamond Squad, and some swimmers in Gold Squad, the Winter County and Regional Championships will be the first major galas of the season. For all our swimmers — especially our younger swimmers — the main competition to work towards will be the Essex County Championships at the start of 2027.
Qualifying for Essex County Championships
To compete at the Essex Championships, swimmers will need to achieve the relevant qualifying times by 19 December 2026.
These are the main galas between now and the qualifying deadline, giving swimmers several opportunities to achieve as many county qualifying times as possible:
- 🏊 Dunmow Icebreaker Meet
- 🏆 B+D Club Championships
- 🐋 Killerwhales County Countdown
These meets give swimmers multiple chances to race, improve their personal bests and work towards the qualifying times they need.
Once the qualifying period is complete, swimmers will then have around six weeks to really focus on the events they have qualified for, helping them prepare to race at their best when the Essex Championships arrive.
As the interim coach for Silver Squad, I’m looking forward to seeing what the swimmers can achieve over the next five to six months. There is plenty to work towards, and it will be exciting to see their progress along the way!
⏱️Check your swimmer’s times
Parents and swimmers can use the link below to check current Personal Best (PB) times and compare them with the Essex qualifying times: Swimming Results – Individual Best Times
Essex County qualifying times
You can find the full Essex County qualifying times here: 2027 Essex Age Group Championships – Qualifying Times
One important reminder: the age group you need to look at is based on the swimmer’s age at the end of 2027, not their current age.
For example, if your swimmer is 12 now but turns 13 during 2027, you should look at the 13-year-old qualifying times.
Good luck to all our swimmers — enjoy the racing, keep working hard and let’s see what you can achieve!🤞🏼