Berkshire & South Buckinghamshire clinch Division Two title to return to top flight

Berkshire & South Buckinghamshire make an immediate return to the top division after securing the Division Two title at the GoCardless Swim England National County Team Championships 2024.

The battle for the Division Two crown was between two of last year’s relegated sides, Berkshire & South Buckinghamshire and Middlesex.

It was a closely fought contest that went right down to the final event and finished with just 5.5 points between the two counties.

Middlesex went ahead just after the halfway mark of the competition, however, Berkshire & South Buckinghamshire moved into a narrow lead late on in the day to take the spoils.

At one stage, there was just 0.5 separating the pair, with the title-winning points total standing at 469.5.

Despite missing out on the top spot, Middlesex will also make an immediate return to Division One, with the top four all earning promotion.

They finished on 464 points and were followed by Staffordshire (451 points) and Oxford & North Buckinghamshire (435.5 points) to complete the top four.

Those results also mark a pleasing improvement for Staffordshire, who narrowly missed out on promotion in 2023 after finishing in fifth place.

Berkshire & South Buckinghamshire coaches, Fabian Whitbread (Maidenhead Marlins Swimming Club) and Joe Evans (Wycombe District Swimming Club), praised their swimmers, their team and their competitors.

True credit to the county

Fabian said: “It’s a fantastic team effort, honestly. After going down last year, to be able to bounce right back up and come first in the division is fantastic.

“All credit to the team, team support, the morale was fantastic and fantastic racing which was so, so close and overall, a fantastic day.

“It was very touch and go. I think we were fourth at one point and then third, second, first and then back down to third and then at the end it was all down to the last race and honestly, it was a fantastic experience. It’s so exciting and what a result!”

On comparing last year’s disappointment to this year’s joy, Fabian added: “It’s never nice going down but then again you always want to think about what things you can correct and bounce back on.

“This year it was really well planned, organised fantastically well by the county and we’ve bounced right back up and we’re looking forward to next season already and we’ll take it in our stride.

“It’s true credit to the swimmers. There was quite a few swimmers who were on the team last year and to obviously then come back and do what we’ve done this year – they’ve done so well.

“Shout out to Middlesex, they were fantastic all the way right to the end and they produced some fantastic races so credit to their coaching staff and their swimmers as well.

“This event is by far the loudest competition we’ve ever done. It’s a national competition, all the counties in one swimming pool. It’s a brilliant competition and we’re looking forward to next year.”

Joe added: “We’re very pleased. After going down last year, to go back up is a really great achievement.

“The swimmers were great and a true credit to the county – they’ve done a really good job.

“It was a close competition and it was good to see them all being supportive of each other and being a team.

“The event has been brilliant. It’s always an exciting way to start the season with the noise and atmosphere.”

You can view all the results from Division Two of the GoCardless Swim England National County Team Championships 2024 here.

Images: Will Johnston Photography