Bedford Junior Aquathlon a great success with 187 young participants
The Bedford Junior Aquathlon proved to be another fantastic success, with 187 young athletes taking part in the event. Of those competitors, 127 lived within Bedford Borough, demonstrating the strong local appetite for swimming, running and active lifestyles.
The event attracted participants from 69 different schools, including 40 schools based in Bedford Borough, highlighting the extensive reach and impact of the competition across the community.
The aquathlon provided an enjoyable and supportive environment for young people to challenge themselves, build confidence, and celebrate their achievements alongside friends and family.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Gale Family Charity Trust and GLL for their valued support of the event. Their contribution helped make the day possible and ensured a memorable experience for all participants.
With strong participation numbers and excellent community support, the Bedford Junior Aquathlon continues to be a key event in encouraging young people to get active and enjoy the benefits of sport.
See the results for the Bedford Junior Aquathlon October 2026.
Aquathlon objectives
One of the primary objectives of the Bedford Junior Aquathlon is to promote inclusivity and encourage sports participation among youngsters of all abilities. The event warmly welcomes both novices and seasoned contenders, underscoring its inclusive values. Every participant will receive a medal, while trophies will be awarded to the top three performers in each category to reward their achievements.
Find out the full distances each age group will be required to swim and run (PDF).
Please see the video of our October 2024 Bedford Junior Aquathlon.
Aquathlon rules, running routes and pool layout
Please read the following documents, they contain important information for participants.
- Aquathlon rules (PDF)
- Pool layout for Years 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (PDF)
- Pool layout for Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 (PDF)
- Running route (PDF)
- Over taking in pool (PDF)
- Parking map (PDF)
- Red Route video
- Blue Route video
Important dates for March 2027 Aquathlon
- Booking form available from TBC.
- Deadline for booking form TBC (due to popularity this event will be capped at 200 participants. If we reach this number of bookings before the deadline, we will close bookings).
- Email to be sent out to all participants TBC.
- Bedford Junior Aquathlon TBC (Robinson Pool and Bedford Park) (1st, 2nd and 3rd presented awards on day).
- Results emailed out to all participants TBC.
Participants must book their place before the deadline, no entries will be accepted on the day.
Email sport@bedford.gov.uk for more information about the Bedford Junior Aquathlon.
Yoga and Wellbeing in the Park 2026 - another successful year
Nearly 800 attended our most inclusive Yoga and Wellbeing in the Park yet!
This year’s annual Yoga and Wellbeing in the Park returned on Sunday 7 June, offering a range of 20 different activities across two zones and attracting people of all ages, abilities and interests.
Now in its ninth year, the event at Bedford Park next to the Pavilion showcased and supported local wellbeing talent in one of Bedford’s most loved green spaces.
Organised by Bedford Borough Council’s Sports Development Unit and sponsored by The Harpur Trust and Delomac Roofing, the event was part of the Great Big Green Week, a national celebration of community action on climate and nature.
A key focus this year was ensuring the event was as inclusive and accessible as possible. Three sessions were adapted for people who are less able and those with disabilities, and three sessions were supported by British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters. These enhancements helped make this year’s event the most inclusive yet, enabling even more residents to take part and enjoy the benefits of wellbeing activities.
Some of the most popular yoga sessions this year included the Sound Bath for all ages and abilities and the Shift Your Energy yoga session.
Other highlights included wellness chair massages, as well as women’s and family sessions.
Attendees also explored a wide range of practices, such as laughter yoga, a Reiki group session, cacao ceremony, breathwork and Qigong.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the inclusive and accessible sessions, family-friendly atmosphere and high-quality instructors.
Planning is already underway for next year’s Yoga and Wellbeing in the Park, with organisers hoping to build on this year’s success and welcome even more participants.
If you are interested in taking part, please email amy.stevens@bedford.gov.uk for further information and to register.
Feedback from the 2026 event
This is my second year attending Yoga and Wellbeing in the Park and I had the best time. I was so impressed at how many different activities and sessions were available. A British Sign Language interpreter was there too, which made the event really inclusive. I enjoyed the Breathwork session and having wellness chairs made it much easier for people like me who struggle with mobility. I am looking forward to next year's event.
I loved that there were so many classes to either choose from or attend. My favourite was in zone A at 1pm with Lauren, had a sign language interpreter, which is genuinely considerate and made this class really accessible.
It was really easy to find and see what was happening when. The organisation was superb.