Brilliant Bristol takes centre stage on National Championships day one

Day one at Harvey Hadden Sports Village opened with the Free Solo, setting the tone for a busy programme that also included the Mixed Technical Duet, Acrobatic Routine, Technical Duet and Free Team.

From commanding solo swims to complex team acrobatics, the opening sessions offered a great watch to spectators on venue.

The Free Solo saw Rushmoor Artistic SC’s Ranjuo Tomblin produce a breathtaking performance. He dominated the event to take the national title with a hugely impressive score of 262.7875, finishing well clear of the rest of the field.

His result also meant that he got to keep the Helen Elkington Trophy, awarded to the highest placed individual in the Free Solo score – a title he also won last year.

Behind Tomblin, City of Salford enjoyed a double podium finish. Aimee Lawrence secured silver with a score of 187.3238, while Lena Ramanah-Beck followed closely to take bronze and junior gold on 186.3550.

Although the Technical Mixed Duet featured only two entries, all four swimmers brought a great atmosphere to Nottingham, with Isabelle Thorpe of City of Bristol SC and Tomblin coming out on top to claim the gold medal in an upbeat routine (224.9650).

City of Leeds Synchronised SC’s Filippa Smith and Salvador Ingham took second place (and junior gold) with a score of 99.3450.

The first team event of the championships came in the Acrobatic Routine, where City of Bristol SC delivered an impressive performance to take gold with 132.5100.

City of Preston Aquatics SC claimed silver, just like this year, with a score of 119.3536, while City of Salford — 2025 champions — added another podium finish by securing bronze on 116.0313.

During the first medal ceremony of the championships, the Gemma Yates Trophy was presented once again. Awarded to a Swim England Artistic Swimming athlete for endeavour, the trophy honours the memory of Gemma Yates, who swam for Walsall SCC and sadly passed away at the age of 17.

This year’s recipient was Amelia Raby from Rushmoor.

In the afternoon, Bristol’s Kate Shortman and ‘Izzy’ Thorpe dominated the Technical Duet. With a score of over 300 (305.3983) the Olympic silver medallists swam in a league of their own.

Silver went to their GB teammates, Holly Hughes and Loya Cenkci (256.2683), who won the junior gold medal with their score. City of Salford’s Lawrence partnered with Libby Taylor to complete the podium with a score of  216.1983.

The day concluded with the Free Team event. 17 teams took part in the event but once again it was Bristol who came out on top.

With a score of 148.3375 Alyssa Garrett, Amelie Williams, Bo Jones, Hannah Gibbons, Joséphine Phillips, Molly Hussey, Nia Rushton, Pia Lanham, Anastasia Appleby and Katherine Boitsidis claimed the national title.