NINE Swindon Dolphin swimmers have earned the right to compete in this summer’s series of national championships.

The open water event kicks off proceedings with Dolphin represented by Cathy Naus in the three kilometre event at Rother Valley Country Park, South Yorkshire.

The pool program gets underway in Sheffield with James Watson, Lauren Matthews, Miles Farrington, Regan Jefferies and Craig Harris all competing at the British Summer Championships.

William Davies and Denice Gardo then take to the blocks at the English championships, also at Sheffield, while Welsh national Fraser Durston competes in the Swim Wales Summer meet in Swansea.

Watson has grown throughout the season, with bronze in the 1500m freestyle at the National Short Course Winter Championships and two golds at the Regional Championships boosting his confidence going into the British Summer Championships.

He has qualified in 13 events, although has opted to only compete in nine.

Competing in her fifth national competition, Matthews has qualified in the 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley, while Farrington goes in the 1500m freestyle after earning a gold medal at the Regional Championships.

Making his second appearance on the national stage, Jefferies competes in the 200m breaststroke at the Summer Championships, while Harris will be looking to get back on track following the disappointment of illness during the British Para-Swimming International Meet earlier this year.

The 17-year-old competes in the 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke and the 200m individual medley.

Davies, 16, has not made the British Summer Championship cut this year, qualifying again for the English summer nationals where last year he won 1500m freestyle bronze.

Gardo broke the club’s long-standing 100m backstroke record earlier this year and will aim to drop her club record mark further in her first national level meet at the English summer nationals.

Durston will be competing in the Swim Wales Summer Open Meet in five events - 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley - having won gold in the 400m individual medley last year.

Naus qualified for the three-kilometre event at the National Open Water Festival after a second-place finish at the Regional Open Water Championships.