ABOUT US

Who We Are

NOVA Centurion is the competitive arm of the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad. The swim squad is the elite performance programme for Nottinghamshire swimming and one of the UK’s top swimming clubs.

We train at many pools including the 50-metre pool at Harvey Hadden Sports Village in Nottingham and have squads and training facilities based around the county.

We are proud to be one of Swim England’s National Performance Centres partnering with the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University and supported by local clubs to deliver outstanding training and a range of swimming scholarships to talented, high-performing students.

Harvey Hadden

History

The programme first started with Nottingham City Council at Victoria Baths in Sneinton and was then based at Beechdale Baths prior to moving into Harvey Hadden Sports Village in 2015.

The Sports Village is the flagship facility of Nottingham City Council. The £16m redevelopment is the home of NOVA Centurion where the squad trains, and also hosts all of our competitions throughout the swimming season.

Our Coaching Heritage

Neville Cross

Neville Cross

Chief Coach
1973 to 1980

 

Bill Furness

Bill Furness (OBE)

Head Coach
1980 to 2013

 

Jamie Man

Jamie Man

Head Coach
2013 to 2014

 

Nathan Hilton

Nathan Hilton

Director of Coaching
2014 to 2023

 

Joseph Stanford

Dr Joseph Stanford

Director of Coaching
2023 to present

 

Decades of Achievement

Since 1973 the Squad been supported by Nottinghamshire County Council who, until April 2012, managed the day-to-day running of the Squad.

From 2012 the Squad has been run by Notts ASA. During these years, under the NOVA Centurion banner, the Squad has become one of the most successful in the country, having won the Great Britain Club Team Championships and been the Top Team at both the National Senior, Youth and Age Group Championships on numerous occasions.

Our success does not stop there, and we are proud to say that we have a shining Olympic record with successes culminating in…

We had our swimmers compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games winning a bronze in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay and more recently, at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a superb 4th finish in the 400IM, after having completed our programme.

Read the full story to explore the history of our exceptional head coaches whose vision and leadership have helped build a lasting programme of excellence.

At Nova Centurion, we are committed to developing young swimmers across Nottinghamshire through strong partnerships with local clubs. We provide a clear pathway for athletes to progress, whether they aspire to reach the top of their sport or simply become the best they can be. Our exceptional coaching staff focuses on both technical excellence and personal growth, ensuring every swimmer is supported in reaching their full potential, whether that’s competing at the Olympic level or achieving their personal goals.

Joseph Stanford – Director of Coaching, NOVA Centurion

Our Aim

To be the leading swimming programme in GB; achieved through providing a connected pathway that develops individuals into international senior swimmers.

Join us!

To start your performance swimming journey with NOVA Centurion.

TESTIMONIALS

Honours Board

Nottinghamshire’s International Medalists

Celebrating Nottinghamshire swimmers who have won medals at the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, Commonwealth Games, or World University Games.

2000 - Present
2022Freya Colbert4×200 Freestyle RelayBronzeCommonwealth Games, Birmingham, EnglandEngland
2022Freya Colbert4×200 Mixed Freestyle RelayGoldEuropean Championships, Rome, ItalyGreat Britain
2022Freya Colbert4×200 Freestyle RelaySilverEuropean Championships, Rome, ItalyGreat Britain
2022Freya Colbert400 Individual MedleyBronzeEuropean Championships, Rome, ItalyGreat Britain
2018Joshua Grob50 FreestyleSilverEuropean Para Championships, Dublin, IrelandSwitzerland
2018Joshua Grob400 FreestyleBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Dublin, IrelandSwitzerland
2016Charlotte Henshaw100 BreaststrokeGoldEuropean Para Championships, Funchal, PortugalGreat Britain
2016Oliver Hynd100 BackstrokeGoldEuropean Para Championships, Madeira, PortugalGreat Britain
2016Oliver Hynd400 FreestyleGoldEuropean Para Championships, Madeira, PortugalGreat Britain
2016Oliver Hynd200 Individual MedleyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Madeira, PortugalGreat Britain
2016Oliver Hynd100 FreestyleSilverEuropean Para Championships, Madeira, PortugalGreat Britain
2016Oliver Hynd4×100 Freestyle RelaySilverEuropean Para Championships, Madeira, PortugalGreat Britain
2016Charlotte Henshaw100 BreaststrokeBronzeParalympic Games, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilGreat Britain
2016Oliver Hynd100 BackstrokeSilverParalympic Games, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilGreat Britain
2016Oliver Hynd400 FreestyleGoldParalympic Games, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilGreat Britain
2016Oliver Hynd200 Individual MedleyGoldParalympic Games, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilGreat Britain
2015Charlotte Henshaw100 BreaststrokeSilverWorld Para Championships, Glasgow, ScotlandGreat Britain
2015Oliver Hynd400 FreestyleGoldWorld Para Championships, Glasgow, ScotlandGreat Britain
2015Oliver Hynd200 Individual MedleyGoldWorld Para Championships, Glasgow, ScotlandGreat Britain
2015Oliver Hynd100 BackstrokeBronzeWorld Para Championships, Glasgow, ScotlandGreat Britain
2014Oliver Hynd200 Individual MedleyGoldCommonwealth Games, Glasgow, ScotlandEngland 
2014Oliver Hynd400 FreestyleGoldEuropean Para Championships, EindhovenGreat Britain
2014Oliver Hynd200 Individual MedleyGoldEuropean Para Championships, EindhovenGreat Britain
2014Oliver Hynd4×100 Individual Medley RelaySilverEuropean Para Championships, EindhovenGreat Britain
2013Charlotte Henshaw100 BreaststrokeBronzeWorld Para Championships, Montreal, CanadaGreat Britain
2013Oliver Hynd400 FreestyleGoldWorld Para Championships, Montréal, CanadaGreat Britain
2013Oliver Hynd200 Individual MedleyGoldWorld Para Championships, Montréal, CanadaGreat Britain
2013Oliver Hynd100 BackstrokeBronzeWorld Para Championships, Montréal, CanadaGreat Britain
2013Samuel Hynd400 FreestyleSilverWorld Para Championships, Montréal, CanadaGreat Britain
2012Rebecca Adlington400 FreestyleBronzeOlympic Games, London, United KingdomGreat Britain
2012Rebecca Adlington800 FreestyleBronzeOlympic Games, London, United KingdomGreat Britain
2012Charlotte Henshaw100 BreaststrokeSilverParalympic Games, London, United KingdomGreat Britain
2012Oliver Hynd200 Individual MedleyGoldParalympic Games, London, United KingdomGreat Britain
2012Oliver Hynd400 FreestyleSilverParalympic Games, London, United KingdomGreat Britain
2012Oliver Hynd100 BackstrokeBronzeParalympic Games, London, United KingdomGreat Britain
2012Samuel Hynd400 FreestyleBronzeParalympic Games, London, United KingdomGreat Britain
2011Oliver Hynd200 Individual MedleyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Berlin, GermanyGreat Britain
2011Oliver Hynd400 FreestyleSilverEuropean Para Championships, Berlin, GermanyGreat Britain
2011Samuel Hynd400 FreestyleGoldEuropean Para Championships, Berlin, GermanyGreat Britain
2011Samuel Hynd200 Individual MedleyBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Berlin, GermanyGreat Britain
2011Samuel Hynd4×100 Individual MedleyBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Berlin, GermanyGreat Britain
2011Charlotte Henshaw100 BreaststrokeSilverEuropean Para Championships, Berlin, GermanyGreat Britain
2011Rebecca Adlington800 FreestyleGoldWorld Championships, Shanghai, ChinaGreat Britain
2011Rebecca Adlington400 FreestyleSilverWorld Championships, Shanghai, ChinaGreat Britain
2010Rebecca Adlington400 FreestyleGoldCommonwealth Games, Delhi, IndiaEngland
2010Rebecca Adlington800 FreestyleGoldCommonwealth Games, Delhi, IndiaEngland
2010Rebecca Adlington200 FreestyleBronzeCommonwealth Games, Delhi, IndiaEngland
2010Rebecca Adlington4×200 Freestyle RelayBronzeCommonwealth Games, Delhi, IndiaEngland
2010Jessica Sylvester4×100 Freestyle RelaySilverCommonwealth Games, Delhi, IndiaEngland
2010Sasha Matthews4×200 Freestyle RelayBronzeCommonwealth Games, Delhi, IndiaEngland
2010Rebecca Adlington400 FreestyleGoldEuropean Championships, Budapest, HungaryGreat Britain
2010Rebecca Adlington800 FreestyleGoldEuropean Championships, Budapest, HungaryGreat Britain
2010Rebecca Adlington4×200 Freestyle RelayGoldEuropean Championships, Budapest, HungaryGreat Britain
2009Charlotte Henshaw100 BreaststrokeGoldEuropean Para Championships, Reykjavik, IcelandGreat Britain
2009Charlotte Henshaw200 Individual MedleyBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Reykjavik, IcelandGreat Britain
2009Samuel Hynd400 FreestyleGoldEuropean Para Championships, Reykjavik, IcelandGreat Britain
2009Samuel Hynd200 Individual MedleyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Reykjavik, IcelandGreat Britain
2009Samuel Hynd4×100 Medley TeamSilverEuropean Para Championships, Reykjavik, IcelandGreat Britain
2009Rebecca Adlington800 FreestyleGoldWorld Championships, Rome, ItalyGreat Britain
2009Rebecca Adlington400 FreestyleBronzeWorld Championships, Rome, ItalyGreat Britain
2009Rebecca Adlington4×200 Freestyle RelayBronzeWorld Championships, Rome, ItalyGreat Britain
2009Samuel Hynd400 FreestyleGoldWorld Para Championships Short Course, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilGreat Britain
2009Samuel Hynd200 Individual MedleySilverWorld Para Championships Short Course, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilGreat Britain
2009Samuel Hynd100 Individual MedleyBronzeWorld Para Championships Short Course, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilGreat Britain
2008Rebecca Adlington400 FreestyleGoldOlympic Games, Beijing, ChinaGreat Britain
2008Rebecca Adlington800 FreestyleGoldOlympic Games, Beijing, ChinaGreat Britain
2008Samuel Hynd400 FreestyleGoldParalympic Games, Beijing, ChinaGreat Britain
2008Samuel Hynd200 Individual MedleyBronzeParalympic Games, Beijing, ChinaGreat Britain
2008Rebecca Adlington800 FreestyleGoldWorld Short Course Championships, Manchester EnglandGreat Britain
2008Rebecca Adlington4×200 Freestyle RelaySilverWorld Short Course Championships, Manchester EnglandGreat Britain
2006Rebecca Adlington400 FreestyleSilverEuropean Championships, Budapest, HungaryGreat Britain
2006Jessica Sylvester4×100 Freestyle RelaySilverEuropean Championships, Budapest, HungaryGreat Britain
2006Callum Lawson4×50 Medley RelaySilverWorld Para Championships, Durban, South AfricaGreat Britain
2004James Crisp100 BackstrokeSilverParalympic Games, Athens, GreeceGreat Britain
2004James Crisp100 BreaststrokeSilverParalympic Games, Athens, GreeceGreat Britain
2004James Crisp400 FreestyleSilverParalympic Games, Athens, GreeceGreat Britain
2004James Crisp200 Individual MedleyBronzeParalympic Games, Athens, GreeceGreat Britain
2002Adam Faulkner4×100 Freestyle RelayBronzeCommonwealth Games, Manchester, EnglandEngland
2002James Crisp100 BackstrokeGoldWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002James Crisp100 BreaststrokeGoldWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002James Crisp100 ButterflyGoldWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002James Crisp4×100 Freestyle RelayGoldWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002James Crisp200 Individual MedleyGoldWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002James Crisp4×100 Medley RelayGoldWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002James Crisp100 FreestyleBronzeWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002James Crisp400 FreestyleBronzeWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002Tim Reddish100 ButterflyGoldWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002Tim Reddish4×100 Freestyle RelayGoldWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002Tim Reddish100 FreestyleSilverWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2002Tim Reddish400 FreestyleSilverWorld Para Championships, Mar del Plata, ArgentinaGreat Britain
2001James Crisp100 BackstrokeGoldEuropean Para Championships, Stockholm, SwedenGreat Britain
2001James Crisp100 ButterflyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Stockholm, SwedenGreat Britain
2001James Crisp100 FreestyleGoldEuropean Para Championships, Stockholm, SwedenGreat Britain
2001James Crisp200 Individual MedleyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Stockholm, SwedenGreat Britain
2001James Crisp4×100 Medley RelayGoldEuropean Para Championships, Stockholm, SwedenGreat Britain
2001Tim Reddish100 ButterflyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Stockholm, SwedenGreat Britain
2001Tim Reddish400 FreestyleGoldEuropean Para Championships, Stockholm, SwedenGreat Britain
2001Heidi Earp100 BreaststrokeBronzeEuropean Short Course Championships, Antwerp, BelgiumGreat Britain
2000Heidi Earp4×50 Medley RelayBronzeEuropean Short Course Championships, Valencia, SpainGreat Britain
2000James Crisp100 BackstrokeGoldParalympic Games, Sydney, AustraliaGreat Britain
2000James Crisp4×100 Freestyle RelayGoldParalympic Games, Sydney, AustraliaGreat Britain
2000James Crisp200 Individual MedleyGoldParalympic Games, Sydney, AustraliaGreat Britain
2000James Crisp100 ButterflySilverParalympic Games, Sydney, AustraliaGreat Britain
2000James Crisp4×100 Individual MedleySilverParalympic Games, Sydney, AustraliaGreat Britain
2000James Crisp100 FreestyleBronzeParalympic Games, Sydney, AustraliaGreat Britain
2000James Crisp400 FreestyleBronzeParalympic Games, Sydney, AustraliaGreat Britain
2000Tim Reddish4×100 Individual MedleySilverParalympic Games, Sydney, AustraliaGreat Britain
1999James Crisp100 BackstrokeGoldEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999James Crisp100 ButterflyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999James Crisp200 Individual MedleyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999James Crisp4×100 Medley RelayGoldEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999James Crisp400 FreestyleSilverEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999Tim Reddish100 ButterflyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999Tim Reddish50 FreestyleGoldEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999Tim Reddish100 FreestyleGoldEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999Tim Reddish400 FreestyleGoldEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999Tim Reddish4×100 Freestyle RelayGoldEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999Tim Reddish200 Individual MedleyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999Tim Reddish4×100 Medley RelaySilverEuropean Para Championships, Braunschweig, GermanyGreat Britain
1999Catrin Davies4×200 Freestyle RelayBronzeWorld Student Games, Majorca, SpainGreat Britain
1998James Crisp100 BackstrokeGoldWorld Para Championships, Christchurch, New ZealandGreat Britain
1998James Crisp200 Individual MedleyGoldWorld Para Championships, Christchurch, New ZealandGreat Britain
1998James Crisp4×100 Medley RelaySilverWorld Para Championships, Christchurch, New ZealandGreat Britain
1998James Crisp400 FreestyleBronzeWorld Para Championships, Christchurch, New ZealandGreat Britain
1998James Crisp4×100 Freestyle RelayBronzeWorld Para Championships, Christchurch, New ZealandGreat Britain
1998Tim Reddish100 ButterflyGoldWorld Para Championships, Madrid, SpainGreat Britain
1998Tim Reddish100 FreestyleGoldWorld Para Championships, Madrid, SpainGreat Britain
1998Tim Reddish400 FreestyleGoldWorld Para Championships, Madrid, SpainGreat Britain
1998Tim Reddish4×100 Freestyle RelayGoldWorld Para Championships, Madrid, SpainGreat Britain
1998Tim Reddish4×50 Freestyle RelayGoldWorld Para Championships, Madrid, SpainGreat Britain
1998Tim Reddish4×50 Medley RelayGoldWorld Para Championships, Madrid, SpainGreat Britain
1998Tim Reddish50 FreestyleSilverWorld Para Championships, Madrid, SpainGreat Britain
1997James Crisp400 FreestyleSilverEuropean Para Championships, Badajoz, SpainGreat Britain
1997James Crisp100 BackstrokeBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Badajoz, SpainGreat Britain
1997James Crisp200 Individual MedleyBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Badajoz, SpainGreat Britain
1996Tim Reddish200 Individual MedleySilverParalympic Games, AtlantaGreat Britain
1996Tim Reddish100 FreestyleBronzeParalympic Games, AtlantaGreat Britain
1995Alex Bennett4×200 Freestyle RelayBronzeEuropean Championships, Vienna, AustriaGreat Britain
1995Tim Reddish100 ButterflyGoldEuropean Para Championships, FranceGreat Britain
1994Alex Bennett4×100 Freestyle RelayGoldCommonwealth Games, Victoria, CanadaEngland
1994Alex Bennett4×200 Freestyle RelaySilverCommonwealth Games, Victoria, CanadaEngland
1994Alex Bennett4×100 Individual MedleySilverCommonwealth Games, Victoria, CanadaEngland
1994Tim Reddish100 ButterflyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Perpignan, FranceGreat Britain
1993Nicola Kennedy4×100 Individual MedleyBronzeEuropean Championships, Sheffield, United KingdomGreat Britain
1993Tim Reddish100 ButterflyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Rome, ItalyGreat Britain
1993Tim Reddish50 FreestyleBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Rome, ItalyGreat Britain
1992Tim Reddish100 ButterflySilverParalympic Games, Barcelona, SpainGreat Britain
1992Tim Reddish100 FreestyleBronzeParalympic Games, Barcelona, SpainGreat Britain
1991Tim Reddish100 ButterflyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Barcelona, SpainGreat Britain
1991Tim Reddish200 BackstrokeGoldEuropean Para Championships, Barcelona, SpainGreat Britain
1991Tim Reddish100 BackstrokeSilverEuropean Para Championships, Barcelona, SpainGreat Britain
1991Tim Reddish100 FreestyleBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Barcelona, SpainGreat Britain
1991Tim Reddish200 Individual MedleyBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Barcelona, SpainGreat Britain
1990Tim Reddish100 ButterflyGoldWorld Para Championships, Assen, NetherlandsGreat Britain
1990Tim Reddish200 Individual MedleyGoldWorld Para Championships, Assen, NetherlandsGreat Britain
1990Tim Reddish100 FreestyleBronzeWorld Para Championships, Assen, NetherlandsGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish100 ButterflyGoldEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish400 FreestyleGoldEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish100 BackstrokeSilverEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish100 FreestyleSilverEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish4×100 Freestyle RelaySilverEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish200 Individual MedleySilverEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish4×100 Medley RelaySilverEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish100 BreaststrokeBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish200 BreaststrokeBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish200 FreestyleBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1989Tim Reddish400 Individual MedleyBronzeEuropean Para Championships, Zurich, SwitzerlandGreat Britain
1970Michael Richards200 BackstrokeGoldCommonwealth Games, Edinburgh, ScotlandWales
1970Michael Richards100 BackstrokeSilverCommonwealth Games, Edinburgh, ScotlandWales
1924Constance Jean4×100 Freestyle RelaySilverOlympic Games, Paris, FranceGreat Britain
1920Constance Jean4×100 Freestyle RelaySilverOlympic Games, Antwerp, BelgiumGreat Britain

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