Medals Gala

WELCOME TO THE SWAMP

What a Day! Thank You!

The return of the Garstang Gators Medals Gala on Saturday 6th June 2026 proved to be a fantastic celebration of swimming, bringing together clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers, team managers, parents and swimmers for an unforgettable day of racing and achievement.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to every volunteer, official, team manager and coach whose dedication and hard work helped make the event such a success. Events of this scale simply would not be possible without your commitment, professionalism and enthusiasm.

Most importantly, congratulations to all the swimmers who took part. From first-time competitors to experienced racers, every athlete contributed to the incredible atmosphere throughout the day and showcased the very best of competitive swimming.

A special congratulations goes to Blackpool Aquatics for winning the prestigious Gators Trophy after an outstanding team performance across the gala.

We hope you enjoy your visit from AP Race Clinic, whose support added an extra dimension to the event with truly unique spot prizes and was greatly appreciated by swimmers and spectators alike.

The overwhelming success of this year’s gala has already sparked plans for the future, and we are delighted to confirm that the Garstang Gators Medals Gala will return in 2027. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another memorable day of swimming, competition and community spirit.

Essential Information

Gala Programme Now Available

Gala Programme

Click link for Live Results on the day

Live Results

We were delighted to have Steven Smith Photography attend the Gala. Please click HERE to access photos from the event.

 

Gator's Trophy

The Gators Trophy Has Its First Champions

History was made at the 2026 Garstang Gators Medals Gala as the inaugural Gators Trophy took to the pool for the very first time.

Created to celebrate club’s teamwork, and spirit, the unique 4x50m Mixed Freestyle Relay challenged clubs to assemble a squad spanning four age groups:

  • One Under-10 swimmer
  • One Under-12 swimmer
  • One Under-14 swimmer
  • One Open-Age competitor

Ten clubs answered the challenge, but only one could become the first name engraved into Gators folklore.

Blackpool Aquatics ASC

With a superb combined performance, Blackpool Aquatics stormed to victory in a winning time of 1:57.08, securing not only the prestigious Gators Trophy but also their place in Medals Gala history.

The championship-winning quartet was:

  • Oscar O’Connell
  • Joseph Stanney
  • Toby Smith
  • Archie Honey

Their performance set the benchmark for future generations and ensured that the very first Gators Head would be heading back to Blackpool.

The Hunt Begins

The trophy may have left the swamp for its first adventure, but its story is only just beginning.

Every club that took part helped create a fantastic contest, and now the challenge has been set. Blackpool Aquatics will return in 2027 as defending champions, with every other club eager to take the Gators Head from their grasp.

The question is no longer who will be the first to make history.

The question now is: who will be brave enough to take it from them?

AP Race was founded in 2019 by Triple Olympic Champion Adam Ramsay-Peaty, with his training partner, and now CEO, Ed Baxter. The initial aim was to run five Race Clinics across England and provide a unique experience for attendees. With these events selling out in less than 9 minutes and the standard of the delivery of these clinics, Adam & Ed realised there was a huge opportunity to launch innovative projects to drive the swimming world forwards. 

The growth of AP Race has been rapid and they couldn’t be more grateful for the support we have seen from the swimming community.

In 2021 Better Than Yesterday became embedded within AP Race and everything they do. The pursuit of becoming Better Than Yesterday is not about being faster, or stronger or more powerful than the day before, it is about the dedication to continual progression.

Being Better Than Yesterday is the commitment that when you wake up every day you always make the decision to make the choices that will lead you towards your goals.

You don’t always need to be faster; you don’t always need to be stronger but every day you just need to ask yourself to be… 

Better Than Yesterday