Yorkshire have won the ASA National County Team Championships for the first time in 14 years under the guidance of a York City Baths Club coach as Team Manager. The victorious team also included two YCBC swimmers.



The historic win saw Yorkshire beat long-running title-holders Lancashire, who have held the title since 2002, into second place. Heather Robson, who coaches the County Squad at YCBC, was Yorkshire Team Manager, playing a key part in the win. Heather said:

This was the first time I’ve team managed for Yorkshire so it was an honour to be asked. To be part of a very focussed, enthusiastic group of young swimmers and Coaches at a National event and win convincingly made it an epic day to remember.

Included in the Yorkshire Team were YCBC swimmers Harry Devlin, 16 and Jason Robson, 13. The boys both competed in the 100m breaststroke, in their age groups. Jason clinched first place in his race and Harry touched in fifth place in his. Malton schoolboy, Jason also swam in the 12/13yr Boys 200m Medley Team that took first place.

Yorkshire is considered to be one of the giants of the competition. They were runners up last year and have only fallen outside of the Top Three once in the past 14 years. However, despite being the strongest team on paper, the title of Division One National County Champions has eluded them since 2001, until this weekend.

Harry Devlin, who travels almost daily, from his home in Leeds, to train with YCBC commented:

I have competed in the inter-counties since 2012 and never won the event until this year. To be held off from the title for those four years, by Lancashire, and then to beat them this year to take the title, makes it all extra special. It’s one of the best competition atmospheres and it’s a big meet for up and coming swimmers to aim for. We really enjoyed the whole experience, the team atmosphere makes it even more enjoyable and winning by over 50 points, the first time in the four years that I’ve been there, made it even more worthwhile.

More than 900 swimmers from 36 counties, from across the UK, competed in two divisions on Sunday. Yorkshire and 19 other County teams, in Division One, competed at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. Yorkshire won eight races in total, including Jason’s two wins, which helped to take their points tally to 544, surpassing Lancashire’s total of 486 points.