The two-day competition attracted around 350 swimmers, plus referees, parents and clubs from around southern NSW.

Meet director Felicity Palmer said swimmers has travelled from Yass, Bathurst, Albury, Canberra, Young, Junee, Wagga and the South Coast.

With swimmers aged from eight years old to open divisions plus multiclass races for swimmers with disabilities.

It's the first time in many years that Griffith has hosted a carnival of this size and Griffith's swimmers enjoyed the easy commute to the event.

Griffith Swim Club's girls captain Annie Jones said it was cool to be waking up in her own bed before arriving to swim instead of getting up early to travel elsewhere.

"It's great to see so many people here, and it's great to see everyone come together and do what they love," Annie said.

"It's really great to have a big lane to swim in, other pools have cramped lanes. Everything is new and fresh and clean."

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Mrs Palmer said hosting the event was a big deal for Griffith and its swim club, and was a great opportunity for the city to showcase the new outdoor pool.

"Hopefully these clubs will see Griffith has a nice pool and it's a nice area and return for our local club meets later," she said.

Mrs Palmer said the chance to host the Country Regionals came up rarely, with towns competing fiercely for hosting duties.

"We have a lot of experience officials who have come to help run the event," she said.

Usually held later in January the event was brought forward to January 8 and 9, and Mrs Palmer said she wanted to pay tribute to the Griffith Swim Club's volunteers.

"Our vice-president Peta Serafin has been amazing. She has done an amazing job pulling the committee together and the club's volunteers have stepped up to help."

It wasn't just club members, coaches and parents watching from the side of the pool, Swimming NSW CEO Mark Heathcote was poolside during the competition.

Mr Heathcote said the new outdoor pool would make a big difference to the sport locally and into the future.

"We want to reward councils that make investments in aquatic facilities," Mr Heathcote said.

He said there was significant economic benefit to 300 plus families coming to Griffith and staying a night or two.

He said bringing events like the regionals to towns meant the new facilities would be showcased to other swim clubs, hopefully meaning visitors return to compete in local swim club events knowing quality facilities are available.

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