Welcome to the very first edition of our brand-new monthly blog series! Each month, we’ll be bringing you the latest highlights, news & updates, and celebrations from across the NOVA Centurion family. With so much going on in the world of performance swimming, we’re thrilled to have a space to share stories, successes, and everything in between from our incredible squads, coaches, and wider community.
March Highlights | Racing, Records & Rising Talent
March is traditionally a busy time in the NOVA calendar, and this year was no exception! We kicked off the month with a bang, hosting our Level 1 National Qualifier Meet, a standout event that drew in some of the country’s top age-group and performance swimmers.
The meet was a huge success, producing a wave of phenomenal swims and personal bests. We were especially pleased to be able to offer additional heats for the longer distance events, supporting swimmers looking to sharpen their qualifying times ahead of the summer season. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and we’re already looking ahead to including these extra opportunities again in 2026.
A huge thank you must go to our tireless team of volunteers, visiting clubs and families, and the fantastic staff at Harvey Hadden Sports Village, your support and enthusiasm make these events possible, and we are truly grateful.
All Eyes on London | Aquatics GB Championships
We are thrilled to celebrate eight outstanding NOVA athletes who have qualified for the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, taking place at the iconic London Aquatic Centre this April. This is one of the most prestigious meets on the domestic calendar, and we’re incredibly proud of our swimmers who have earned their place amongst the country’s elite.
Representing NOVA will be:
- Lily Jackson-Oates – 100 & 200 Breaststroke, 200 & 400 IM
- Cira Fletcher – 50, 100 & 200 Breaststroke, 200 IM
- Tyler Tombs – 50, 100 & 200 Breaststroke
- Joe Greaves – 200 IM, 200 Freestyle
- Pippa Hickman – 100 & 200 Breaststroke
- Dan Walker – 1500 Freestyle
- Freya Jones – 1500 Freestyle
- Maya Almohammed – 50 Butterfly
New Initiative | Introducing the Speedo Sprint Series
March also marked the exciting launch of a brand-new initiative: the Speedo Sprint Series! Designed to add an extra layer of fun and challenge to our regular sprint meets the series will span both our June and September events.
Here’s how it works:
- Swimmers who enter both meets and compete in any 50m, 100m, and the 200IM will be eligible.
- The highest cumulative World Aquatic Points across those events will determine the winners.
- Winners in designated age groups will receive Speedo prizes!
We’re excited to partner with Speedo to reward not just performance, but consistency and commitment across the series. More info can be found here:
https://www.swimmingmeetresults.co.uk/NOVA/
Coach Joe Goes Global (Again!) | Sweden Grand Prix
We’re so proud to share that our Director of Coaching, Dr. Joseph Stanford, flew out to Sweden in March to serve as Head Coach for the Swim England DiSE squad at the Swedish Grand Prix, an exciting international meet showcasing emerging talent.
This was an incredible opportunity for Coach Joe, and we’re delighted that Swim England entrusted him with such a prestigious role. And yes, you read that right… Dr. Stanford. Huge congratulations to Joe on being awarded his Doctorate, a truly remarkable achievement that reflects his dedication not only to coaching but also to the development and science of swimming.
As always, thank you to all our swimmers, families, coaches, volunteers, and supporters for making NOVA Centurion the vibrant, high-performing community it is. We can’t wait to share more news & updates next month, and in the meantime, we’ll see you at the pool!
Stay fast, stay focused
Team NOVA
