House Success: Swim gala makes a splash at the RCHK pool as ming house takes home championship trophy for fourth year in a row
By Bradley Tang
The annual school RCHK Swim Gala made a triumphant return this year on February 23, 2026, but for the first time in recent memory, the Swim Gala took place at a familiar location to most - right at the RCHK pool! This change was due to the cancellation of the original event caused by Typhoon Ragasa on September 20, 2025. Due to this sudden weather disruption, the event was held instead at the RCHK school pool, turning a day of competition into a vibrant, school-wide celebration.
The atmosphere was electric as Ming, Qing, Tang and Song houses battled it out in the water, cheered on by classmates who came to support their teams. The change of venue from the Ma On Shan Swimming Pool, which is one of the largest public swimming pools in the district, created an intimate atmosphere where swimmers and supporters were able to interact and support each other like no other events before.
Ming swimmer diving in for the race. Photo Credit: Hadrian Yip, Black Chambers
Black Kite’s Athletics Director, Mr Nick Sherriff Smith, explained the reasoning behind the change. “With Super Typhoon Ragasa causing a cancellation, it was not possible to book the Ma On Shan pool again this year. We have to book around six months in advance, and there is a ballot and selection process because many schools want to use the pool for events; we are actually about to make our application for the coming academic year next month. We felt it was important to have a version of the gala, and the only alternative was to host a smaller affair in our own pool. Whilst this meant shorter races, smaller crowds, and no novelty events, it was still important to recognize our contingent of swimmers and give them the opportunity to represent their house. It was a great event with an intimate, strong atmosphere, even with the lower numbers around the pool.”
The camaraderie and support by the participants across houses with cheers at poolside was infectious. While the location was new, the result at the top of the leaderboard was a familiar story. In a display of team work and skilled swimmers, Ming House once again proved that they dominated in aquatics. Swimming with power and precision, they accumulated points across all categories including 50m events in Freestyle, Breaststroke, Fly, and Back. Ming House defended their championship against all challengers and claimed the overall championship trophy once again. Team relays were also the highlights of the day with the grand finale relay which included mixed ages and gender of Year 7-13 students.
Teams cheering poolside at the house relay. Photo Credit: Hadrian Yip, Black Chamber
The Swim Gala 2026 marks an incredible four consecutive victory for Ming House, evidence that solidifies their status as true champions in school swimming.
When asked about the victory, Ming House Director, Ms Pandya, said, “Four years in a row is a testament not just to the talented swimmers we have, but to the incredible spirit and depth of our whole house. Everyone gave it their all to keep the trophy in Ming House.”
With the great success of this year's event, the combination of fierce competition, camaraderie and a new, intimate atmosphere at the home pool has set a high bar for all future swim galas.