School Swimming Carnivals
Every school holds an annual Swimming Carnival or Swimming Trials that encourages participation from all students.
The program may include competitive races for serious swimmers as well as novelty and fun events designed to promote involvement, teamwork, and school spirit.
It is a fantastic opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate.
Age Groups
All students compete in the age group they will turn this calendar year.
Events are organised into the following age categories:
-
Junior: 8, 9, 10 years
-
11 Years
-
Senior: 12 & 13 years
Event Exceptions
-
50m Freestyle is run in single-year age groups: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 years.
-
100m Freestyle are OPEN events
-
200m Individual Medley is conducted in 2 divisions - Junior (8/9/10 years) and Senior (11/12/13 years)
Qualifying Times & School Team Selection
The top two place-getters in each event at the school carnival may qualify to represent their school at the Zone Swimming Carnival, provided the qualifying standards are met.
To ensure swimmers can participate safely and competitively at the Zone Carnival, certain events require athletes to meet qualifying times.
Schools may send up to two (2) students per event and per gender.
Events requiring qualifying times:
Open 100m Freestyle & 200m Individual Medley Standards
50m Events - review the previous year’s Zone results:
-
50m Freestyle
-
50m Backstroke
-
50m Butterfly
-
50m Breaststroke
While there are no formal qualifying times for the 50m events, schools are encouraged to review the previous year’s Zone results when determining a student’s suitability to compete at Zone level. These results should be used as a performance benchmark.
When submitting entry times, schools must ensure that nominated swimmers have achieved times reasonably close to the previous year’s top-10 performances to maintain a strong competitive standard within this representative pathway.
Schools are asked to use their discretion when nominating swimmers. Swimmers must have achieved times within the required standard to be eligible for these events.
Multi-Class Swimming Events – Students with a Disability
Multi-Class swimming provides students with a disability the opportunity to represent their school, Diocese and potentially MacKillop. It is a rewarding experience that helps build confidence and self-esteem.
Eligibility and Classification
-
Students must be officially classified by the relevant sporting body before competing in MacKillop selection events.
-
Parents/carers are responsible for organising their child's classification.
-
Students must have current classification documentation (national, provisional or review status).
-
Students compete against other students with disabilities, with results calculated according to their classification.
Eligible Disability Categories
-
Physical Impairment
-
Vision Impairment
-
Hearing Impairment
-
Intellectual Impairment
Age Groups
-
Junior: 8, 9 and 10 years
-
Senior: 11, 12 and 13 years
Events are held in separate boys' and girls' divisions.
Swimming Events
The following events are available to both Junior and Senior age groups:
-
50m Freestyle
-
50m Backstroke
-
50m Breaststroke
-
50m Butterfly
-
100m Freestyle
Important: Students must have their classification completed before participating in Multi-Class swimming events.
Zone Swimming Carnivals 2026
The first 4 places in each event will be eligible to compete at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival.
Zone Order of Events
ZONE RIBBONS
Zone ribbons will continue to be awarded to swimmers who place 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in each event, based on the results of their respective Zone Swimming Carnival
ZONE AGE CHAMPIONS
Zone Age Champion and Runner-Up awards will continue to be presented to the highest-performing swimmers in each of the following age categories, for both boys and girls:
-
Junior
-
11 Years
-
Senior (12/13 Years)
Awards will be determined based on swimmers' results at their respective Zone Swimming Carnivals.
ZONE SWIMMING QUALIFIERS – 2027
The selection process for the 2027 Diocesan Swimming Carnival will be different due to the introduction of the combined Primary & Secondary carnival format.
Each event will have 10 swimmers qualify to compete at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival at SOPAC.
The qualification process will be as follows:
-
Automatic Qualification: Swimmers who finish 1st or 2nd in their respective events at each of the 4 Zone Swimming Carnivals will automatically qualify for the Diocesan Carnival. This will account for 8 competitors per event.
-
Additional Qualifiers: As SOPAC can accommodate 10 competitors per event, the next two fastest swimmers across all four Zones, based on their recorded times, will also be invited to compete.
Notification of Additional Qualifiers
Once all four Zone Swimming Carnivals have been completed, results will be reviewed to determine the 2 additional qualifiers for each event.
Students who qualify through this process will be notified by the end of Week 6.
The 2027 Diocesan Swimming Carnival will take place in Week 9 at SOPAC.
2026 Zone Records:
Congratulations to our outstanding swimmers on setting NEW Zone records this year:
BLACKTOWN ZONE
JUNIOR GIRLS RELAY (Mary Immaculate), a new time of 2:56.53 - Anna Phillips, Eva Phillips, Neve Palmer, & Darya Sablina
WILLIAM FORD (St Andrews, Marayong) Open Boys 100m Freestyle, a new time of 1:07.21
HUGH EDSALL (St Bernadette’s, Lalor Park) 10 Years Boys 50m Freestyle, a new time of 35.19
NEPEAN ZONE
EAMON MELISKA (OLOW, Emu Plains):
- 10 Years Boys 50m Freestyle with a new time of 32.27
- Junior Boys 50m Breaststroke with a new time of 50.79
- Junior Boys 200m Individual Medley with a new time of 3:16.18
HILLS ZONE
SENIOR BOYS RELAY (St Bernadette’s, Castle Hill), a new time of 2:21.47 - Cameron McVean, Jacob Woolford, Blake Moynahan & Arthur Wu
ARTHUR WU (St Bernadette’s, Castle Hill) broke 3 records:
Open Boys 100m Freestyle with a new time of 1:04.71
Senior Boys 200m Individual Medley with a new time of 2:35.82
Senior Boys 50m Backstrokewith a new time of 34.85
CAMERON McVEAN
(St Bernadette’s, Castle Hill) 12 Years 50m Breaststroke with a time of 36.23
A special mention to Arthur Vu (St Bernadette’s, Castle Hill), who finished 2nd in the 12 Years 50m Breaststroke, where the record was broken. Arthur’s time was also faster than the previous record.
Zone Representatives
Parramatta Diocesan Swimming Carnival
Wednesday 4th March 2026 - Blacktown Aquatic Centre, Blacktown.
The first 4 places in each event will be eligible to compete at the NSWCPS Swimming Carnival
Diocesan Swimming Carnival Order of Events
2026 Parramatta Diocesan Swimming Program
2026 Parramatta Swimming Results
DIOCESAN records
Congratulations to our outstanding swimmers on setting NEW DIOCESAN records!
Arthur Wu (St Bernadette’s, Castle Hill)
Senior Boys 50m Backstroke - new record time: 33.96 (Previous record from 2002)
Senior Boys 200m IM - new record time: 2:36.96 (Previous record from 2008)
Cameron McVean (St Bernadette’s, Castle Hill)
Senior Boys 50m Breaststroke - new record time: 36.11 (Previous record from 2011)
A special mention to:
- Arthur Vu (St Bernadette’s, Castle Hill), who finished 2nd in the Senior Boys 50m Breaststroke, where the record was broken.
- Cameron McVean (St Bernadette’s, Castle Hill), who finished 2nd in the Senior Boys 200m IM, where the record was broken.
2026 Zone & Diocesan Age Champions & Records
NSWCPS Swimming Championships
The first 3 places in each event will be eligible to compete at the NSWPSSA Swimming Carnival.
Wednesday 1st April 2026 - SOPAC, Homebush
NSWCPS Swimming Polding & MacKillop results 2026
NSWPSSA Diving Championships
Tuesday 28th April 2026 - SOPAC, Homebush
NSWPSSA Swimming Championships
Monday 27th April & Tuesday 28th April 2026 - SOPAC, Homebush
2026 NSWPSSA Swimming Championships Resulrs
