The Swimming Waikato Awards Night for 2026 took place at St. Paul’s Collegiate School, Hamilton on Friday night, 7 August. The theme was “In Living Colour: Celebrating Our Swimmers.” This annual event honours regional contributors, including the Swimming Volunteer of the Year Award, club achievements, and top athletes
Hayley Jones, a coach and committee member of the Mercury Bay Swimming Club was awarded Swimming Volunteer of the Year at that auspicious event.
Hayley has loved swimming for as long as she can remember. She grew up in Exmouth in Western Australia. “I was a swimmer all through my schooling years. I swam in my club in Western Australia from the age of 8 years to 14 years and then took a break for a few years. I came back to swimming as an adult. Instead of the pool however, it was the ocean. I decided to try open water swimming and I loved it. When Hayley came to live in New Zealand in 2013 with her New Zealand born husband, Mark, she found there was a strong open water swimming community in New Zealand.
Hayley is a master swimmer and competes in swimming competitions throughout the summer. “I make podium in my age group and I am very pleased about achieving that,” says Hayley.
“I swim weekly through the summer and winter with the Mad KOWS (Kuaotunu Open Water Swimmers). Not long ago some of us swam to Great Mercury island.” (For any swimmer reading his, The Mad Kows are a group of all-year-round swimmers who swim every Sunday morning at 8.00am from the Kuaotunu Reserve.)
Hayley’s volunteer role is actually with the Mercury Bay Swimming Club where she has been involved for the last six years.
“I have a real passion for swimming and I really love coaching. We have such a cool club here in Whitianga. It’s a small country club but we have between 160-190 club members. I am not the only volunteer. There is a very good group of volunteers plus we also have a wonderful group of coaches who are also all volunteers who dedicate their time to the club. Some don’t have their kids involved anymore but they still come.
My role in the swimming club entails being a coach, committee member and Treasurer. I organize race nights and help the coaches in the organization of the groups and the schedules alongside the rest of the committee. I am also a member of the Pool Trust.
So in particular, last season this meant Hayley coached five groups and at some point was at the pool four days a week. She also managed the Masters which is two mornings a week. That entails the Masters swimmers coming to do their training plan or they just swim. They are part of the club as well.
“The award is for the club,” says Hayley. “None of us do it for awards and certificates. We do it because we love it, but just to get some recognition makes it that little bit extra worthwhile.
“These days people are busy and juggling work and family time. Being a volunteer costs time. effort and money. It is nice to be recognized and it’s great for our swimming club.”
Hayley and Mark have two young daughters, Amelia and Jasmine who are part of the swimming club.
“Our girls love swimming and they come to events with me. Both have just started open water swimming. I encourage anyone who loves swimming to come and join in an open water event.”
One last word from Hayley; “We do need more coaches. If anyone is interested, please reach out through Facebook messenger.”
