New Year, Bigger Splashes: Bootham Swimmers Excel at Major Championships
Published by Bootham School on Friday 23rd of January 2026
Bootham swimmers have made an outstanding start to the new year, delivering exceptional performances at two major school swimming competitions and reinforcing the school’s growing reputation for excellence in the pool.
Yorkshire Cup Success – Crowned Yorkshire Schools Under 15 Champions
On Wednesday 21 January, a squad of 16 Bootham swimmers travelled to St Peter’s School to compete in the prestigious Yorkshire Cup, an annual event that brings together the top schools from across the county. The competition featured a wide range of races, with individual swimmers selected at random – adding an extra layer of excitement and tension throughout the day.
In the Under 15 girls’ category, the team of Macee, Lilly, Emilia and Annabel produced a near-perfect performance, winning every race apart from a tightly contested breaststroke individual that was decided on the wall. This success was matched by the Under 15 boys’ team of Patrick, Sam, Dante and Aubrey, who recorded multiple victories and consistent top-three finishes across all events.
Their combined efforts saw Bootham crowned Yorkshire Schools Under 15 Champions, finishing an impressive 30 points clear of GSAL. Notably, two members of the squad are in Year 8, highlighting the long-term potential within the team.
The Under 18 swimmers faced fierce opposition, including international athletes, junior Olympians and national-level competitors. Despite the challenge, Bootham delivered a strong performance to secure third place overall, once again featuring two Year 8 swimmers and underlining the depth of talent within the school.
Across all age groups, Bootham finished second overall, their highest-ever placing at the Yorkshire Cup, ahead of Bradford, Hymers, Ripon and St Peter’s.
A special congratulations goes to Kaitlyn, Annabel, Patrick, Emilia, Lexi, Macee, Dante and Aubrey, who all set new school records in individual events. Several relay teams also posted times faster than those recorded at the ESSA National Finals, demonstrating remarkable progress in just a few months. Attention now turns to the next major test, with Bootham swimmers travelling to the Olympic pool in London for the Bath and Otter National Championships in March.
Junior Swimmers Impress in Leeds
Bootham’s success continued with the junior squad on Friday 16 January, when 24 swimmers competed at the North Eastern Junior Schools Swimming Championships at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds.
Morning individual events produced several standout performances. Ettore and Magnus both secured third place in the Year 4 and 5 breaststroke races, while Sofia delivered a superb swim to claim second place in the Year 6 front crawl, finishing just 0.01 seconds behind the winner.
The afternoon relays showcased Bootham’s depth, with numerous top five finishes across events. By the end of the competition, both the boys’ and girls’ teams finished sixth overall in the North East. When combined, Bootham placed an excellent fifth overall as a school.
Individual honours included Magnus, who broke the Year 4 boys’ 25m front crawl school record, and Oscar, who shattered the Year 3 boys’ front crawl record by more than four seconds.
Well done to all Bootham swimmers for their commitment, teamwork and determination – you have done yourselves and the school incredibly proud.
