Rykneld Swimming Club celebrates outstanding county championships success
“The attitude and dedication of the swimmers is outstanding, and I’m honoured to witness them succeed first hand. Proud is an understatement”
Rykneld Swimming Club are celebrating an outstanding performance at the Derbyshire Short Course County Championships, with 25 qualifying swimmers achieving an impressive set of results following months of hard work, dedication and commitment in the pool.
Head Coach Carl Kirsopp and Assistant Head Coach Evie Greenhalgh led the team across the two weekends of competition at Moorways Sports Village in Derby. Across 93 individual events, Rykneld swimmers achieved an incredible 81 Personal Bests, alongside an impressive medal haul of 16 Gold, 7 Silver and 8 Bronze medals. David Smurawa also took home the 100m Individual Medley (IM) Trophy making him the Derbyshire Boys Open 2026 Champion.
Medal Tally:
Adam Smurawa: 2 Gold, 1 bronze
Caitlyn Bird: 1 Silver
Charlotte Vowler: 1 Bronze
David Smurawa: 10 Golds, 2 Silver
Kacper Barszcz: 1 Silver
Leo Hemmingray: 2 Bronze
Millie Nuttall: 2 Bronze
Rex Morley: 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze
Sasha Kulev: 2 Gold, 1 Silver
Head Coach Carl Kirsopp “The entire 3-day event has been successful for Rykneld to the say the least. Each swimmer gave it absolutely everything and that’s reflected with the amount of PBs and medals the swimmers received. The attitude and dedication of the swimmers is outstanding, and I’m honoured to witness them succeed first hand. Proud is an understatement”
The club’s success extends beyond its swimmers, with four dedicated volunteers recently achieving Swim England officiating qualifications. Their success is a testament to the club’s thriving volunteer culture and is a cause for celebration, helping to build an even stronger foundation for the future of Rykneld.
Rykneld Swimming Club continues to grow, with an influx of swimmers progressing from its Learn-to-Swim programme into competitive squads. Rykneld Swimming Club have also established a Club-Link programme with swimming lessons at Clay Cross Active, creating a clear pathway for enthusiastic young swimmers to develop their skills and potentially become the competitive swimmers of the future.
The club trains up to five times a week at Clay Cross Active Leisure Centre in Clay Cross, a modern community facility that is providing the ideal environment for swimmers to develop and thrive.