The Mandurah Swimming Club has claimed its third consecutive A-grade pennant at the 2026 Belt Up Country Pennants in Karratha. The competition, held from February 27 to March 1, featured nearly 400 swimmers from regional clubs across Western Australia, with over 600 spectators, coaches, and officials in attendance.
Unlike many swimming competitions, the country pennants focus on team performance rather than individual medals, with clubs accumulating points collectively. Mandurah's team of 30 swimmers finished the weekend with 980 points, winning the A-grade pennant for the third year in a row. Additionally, swimmer Luke McDonough set a new competition record in the A-grade boys' 50m freestyle, clocking 25.31 seconds, breaking a record that had stood since 2014.
Mandurah Swimming Club president Samantha Maley praised the team's performance. 'We're incredibly proud to have come away as A-grade pennant winners, as well as taking out the A-grade relay overall winners title,' she said. 'Our swimmers brought the heat to every single race, showing determination and teamwork.'
Maley attributed the club's success to its coaching team, led by head coach Hyojin Son, and the dedication of swimmers, coaches, officials, and families. The event was hosted by regional clubs from Karratha, Broome, Tom Price, Wickham, and Onslow, and supported by the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, the Insurance Commission of WA, the Road Safety Commission, and the City of Karratha.
Swimming WA general manager Kirsty Read highlighted the competition's significance as one of the largest participation events in regional WA. 'That visibility matters, not only for growing our sport but for demonstrating the value of aquatic facilities within regional communities and supporting future investment by local governments,' she said. The 2027 Belt Up Country Pennants will be held in Geraldton.
