In pictures: Participants make a splash at 41st Maidenhead Swimarathon

Teams showcased their enthusiasm on Sunday as they made a splash to raise vital funds at the Maidenhead Lions 41st Swimarathon.

The popular event was back for another year at Braywick Leisure Centre and saw schools, businesses and community groups enter teams, filling 111 of the 120 spaces available, to complete relays of the pool from 7am to 7pm.

Up to 10 teams of eight took to the pool every hour to swim for 50 minutes.

The event is organiser the Lions Club of Maidenhead’s ‘biggest fundraiser’ of the year.

The funds raised through the event, including gift aid, are split 50:50 between each team’s chosen charity and the Maidenhead Lions.

Last year, the club celebrated 40 years of the Swimarathon and raised £34,500, and organisers hoping to reach £41,000 for the 41st year.

Brenda Butler, Swimarathon organising team member, said she was ‘amazed and chuffed’ to see the fundraising total standing at £19,000 early on Sunday morning.

Since the first ever event, more than £1million has been raised in total.

This year, a total of 14 schools entered 84 teams between them, and six sports clubs and youth and disability organisations entered 19 teams.

Teams from charities, churches and the Rotary Club of Maidenhead Bridge also took to the pool this year.

Some of the other participants included Cox Green School, Courthouse Junior School, Newlands Girls’ School, Braywick Court School, the Maidenhead Marlins and Maidenhead’s Starfish Swimming Club.

Royal Borough mayor Cllr Mandy Brar also attended the event to cheer on the mayor’s charity team, who took to the pool in the morning.

Maidenhead’s MP Josh Reynolds was also in attendance and spent time talking to organisers and teams and watching the action.

The Lions mascot roamed the event, taking photographs with visitors. 

“[I’m chuffed],” Brenda said.

“It’s success, success, success. You can’t beat the happy faces.”

This year, the Lions were giving out commemorative pens to mark the 41st Swimarathon, which was supported by more than 40 volunteers.

Club president Jo Manisier said she was ‘very happy’, adding that there was an atmosphere of ‘real excitement’ and ‘real gleefulness’.

The event was once again supported by the Louis Baylis Charitable Trust.

The Swimarathon awards ceremony will be taking place on Friday, March 27 at Braywick Court School.

So far, the Swimarathon JustGiving fundraiser stands at more than £23,000.

It can be viewed at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/swim2026