Kent County Championships – Parent Guide

Your complete, friendly, energetic guide to understanding qualification.

The Kent County Championships are one of the biggest competitions of the year, bringing together the fastest swimmers from clubs across Kent. To take part, swimmers must achieve certain qualifying times during a set period. Here’s how it all works in plain English.

1. Qualifying Window

Swimmers must achieve their times within the official qualifying period:

  • 800m Freestyle: 1 January 2025 – 3 January 2026
  • All other events: 1 January 2025 – 13 January 2026
Only times achieved in this window count.

2. Where Times Must Come From

A qualifying time must:

  • Be achieved at a licensed meet (Level 1–4)
  • Appear on the Swim England Rankings
  • Be the swimmer’s fastest time in that event during the window

3. Types of Qualifying Times

Automatic Qualifying Time (AQT): Guaranteed entry.
Consideration Time (CT): May be accepted depending on space.

4. Age Groups

A swimmer’s age is based on their age on 31 December 2026.

5. Entry Deadlines

  • 800m Freestyle: 4 January 2026
  • All other events: 14 January 2026

6. Entry Fees

  • £11 per event (up to 400m)
  • £15 for 800m & 1500m

7. What This Means for Your Swimmer

Understanding whether your swimmer is likely to be accepted can feel confusing, so here’s the simple version:

  • If they achieve the Automatic Time, they’re in.
  • If they achieve the Consideration Time, they might get in depending on space.
Kent limits the number of swimmers per age group and per event distance. The next section shows the exact limits for each event.

8. Event Acceptance Limits

Kent limits the number of swimmers per age group and event distance.

Event Distance 10/11 12 13 14 15 16 17+
50m 34 34 34 34 34 34 46
100m 21 21 21 21 21 21 24
200m 16 16 16 16 16 16 18
400m 14 14 14 14 14 14 14
If a swimmer has the Automatic Time, they are guaranteed entry.
Consideration Times are accepted based on space and ranking.

9. Using Swim England Rankings

Every licensed race is uploaded to Swim England Rankings, which Kent uses to verify times.

Parents can use Rankings to:

  • See their swimmer’s fastest time
  • Confirm the time is valid
  • Compare it to AQT and CT
  • Check where their swimmer ranks in their age group
  • Estimate acceptance chances using the event limits
Example: If your swimmer is 13th fastest in 100m Breaststroke (Age 13) and the event accepts 21 swimmers, they are very likely to be accepted.

10. Distance Events (800m & 1500m)

  • Use Consideration Times only
  • Accepted based on fastest swimmers first
  • Event capacity is limited
Visit Kent Swimming Website Check Swim England Rankings

Kent County Championships – A Parents Guide