SwimGainz Junior Development League Finals: a fun and engaging way to compete for young swimmers!
- Mickaël Malaper
- Jun 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 5
🏊♂️ SwimGainz Junior Development League Finals 2025 – May 31st, Sandwell Aquatics Centre
Sections:
The SwimGainz Junior Development League Finals is a true highlight of the West Midlands’ youth swimming calendar: an energetic, inclusive gala that brings together developing swimmers from across the region.
A brief history of the league:
Established in 1984 as the Ross‑on‑Wye Junior League it celebrated its 41st birthday this year. The competition began with just four clubs and has since grown into a regional staple, regularly featuring 12 teams in a fun, inclusive round‑robin format (4 rounds followed by a finals day). Named after long-time coordinator Trixie Pulsford, the league prioritises safe, friendly competition and splits its final event into A & B finals, ensuring swimmers of all abilities receive a competitive opportunity.
SwimGainz joined the team:
In 2023, the league secured main sponsorship from SwimGainz, a swimming coaching and stroke-analysis company founded and ran by Ryan Coley and co-founder Josh Bradley (pictured above), bringing renewed energy and organisational support to the event.
If you have been following us for a while, you may remember our coverage of the 2024 Finals Day in Coventry, where SwimGainz’s partnership helped deliver a vibrant and fun gala experience. It’s a relationship we’re excited to continue!
Now in its third consecutive year with SwimGainz at the lead, and after two years at the Alan Higgs centre of Coventry, the competition moved to Sandwell Aquatics Centre the swimming pool, legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth games.
This year’s league saw swimmers from 18 clubs competing over the 4 rounds with 17 of them joining the finals day in Sandwell.
I asked Ryan how to best describe the event in one sentence and the philosophy behind it, this is what he had to say:
"The league is about having fun and creating a pathway for further development and growth."
What happened on the day:
B Final:
Kicking off at 11:30 AM on May 31, the B Final welcomed around 360 swimmers aged 9–14 from nine clubs:
- Orion
- Solihull
- Broadway
Few action images of the B Final
Over 62 sprint events, from 25m freestyle to the 100m individual medley, City of Hereford emerged victorious!
Full score table for the B Final is available below:
A Final:
After a short break, the A Final showcased 8 top teams with a total of around 320 swimmers who raced for the title:
- Evesham
- Pershore
- Redditch
For the second year in a row, Worcester claimed the crown — finishing just ahead of Blythe Barracudas by 10 points!
Full score table for this final is available below:
Behind the scenes of our coverage this year:
When last year our coverage included a mix of photography and videography. This year we leaned heavily into photography. Paulina (my partner in crime) ran the social media and caught some behind‑the‑scenes of the coverage, while I focused on what I do best: capturing the action of the day!
My kit for this day included:
Two action cameras:
One handheld, one remotely triggered mounted on a tripod positioned in the gallery opposite the spectator stand, framing race starts. Lenses in play: Canon EF 300 mm f/2.8L IS Mk II (action) and Canon EF 70–200 mm f/2.8L IS Mk III (was on the remote-controlled system shown below).
2. One presentation/behind‑the‑scenes camera.
3. One timelapse rig: Tilt‑shift lens (Canon 50mm f2.8L tilt-shift) on a tripod, creating a “miniature” effect across the day (check out some of the resulting images below).
Why This Matters:
Why this event is important to me: as a swimming coach myself, and having supported many young swimmers over the years, I know how daunting competition can feel: long days, hot & humid pool halls, and maybe only a single race after hours of waiting.
I know I am not selling it right?!?
The SwimGainz JDL flips that script:
Sprints galore: 62 events of 25 m and 100 m races keep everyone moving.
Relay excitement: 4x25 m relays and the climactic 10x25 m “cannon ascent” freestyle relay that swimmers and spectators love.
Non‑stop action: Minimal downtime means more racing and less waiting around.
Fun extras: 80’s‑themed costumes, “best dressed” and “best supporters” contests, hot‑heat prizes, participation medals, and swim hats for all.
80's style was the dress code for this event! 😎🕺🪩
Sprint races are more than just exciting, they are an important part of a young swimmer’s development. Like in many other sports, building speed early on helps develop strength, coordination, and confidence. These short-distance events give swimmers the chance to push themselves and grow their skills, serving as a vital stepping stone in their journey through the sport.
Over my years in the pools, first as a swimmer, then as a coach, and now behind the lens, I have rarely seen organisers invest so much care into making every swimmer’s, coaches, and spectators having an enjoyable and friendly experience of their participation.
And it doesn’t stop here: Ryan and his team are already planning bigger and better for 2026, so keep an eye out for what is to come!
“Make sure you bring the noise!” — Ryan
It is important to mention that this event wouldn’t be possible without the SwimGainz Junior Development League sponsors:
- Encodian
Sponsors play a crucial role in this type of events, enabling funding, offering prizes to participants, or providing their expertise in supporting an event like the JDL.
Grass-roots sports wouldn’t exist without them, so it is important to remember their role in getting young people involved in sports.
More stunning action images in the online gallery!
If you have missed it, you can find all the images of both finals in our online gallery, it will remain live until the 30th of November 2025: Click here to see it
As you made it that far so you may as well bag a 30% discount on any purchase in the gallery of this event using the code "SGZ30" at checkout (valid until the 29/06/2025 on order of £20 minimum)
Get Involved in 2026!
Want to get involved into next year’s edition of the SwimGainz Junior Development League?
Then head to their website here for more information: Click here
Thank you for reading!
Stay tuned for more swimming‑related content in the coming months.
Swimmingly, Mickaël!
Comments