AN expected 1200 of the state's finest regional swimmers are bound for Wangaratta this month to swim in the Victorian Country Long Course Championships, the biggest swimming event ever held at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre (WSAC).

The event will run from January 21 to January 23 and include more than 100 events from open age to 11 and under, in what will be the biggest event ever held at the city's new 50 metre outside pool.

Ahead of the event, lifeguard managers from WSAC attended the recent International Swimming Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) to gain insight into the running of major swimming events as part of the WSAC professional development program.

Facilities and aquatics coordinator Sean Donovan, operations team leader Lauren Kelly, bookings and administration officer Nia Tao, and customer experience team leader Amanda Burbury said the experience was helpful and they are looking forward to helping host the Victorian Championships.

"Obviously MSAC holds massive events, and WSAC has never been exposed to that before, so it was more to get an idea on how everything is run, set up and just to experience that level of event," Mr Donovan said.

"Observing the way major swim meets are held in Melbourne means we can present the upcoming meet really well here in Wangaratta.

"From the talk going around it should be fairly impressive, we're excited to be a part of it and it will be good for us to have this kind of experience."

The country championships is an annual event organised by Swimming Victoria in conjunction with alternating host swimming clubs around regional Victoria.

Mr Donovan said it will be an exciting event to offer to the community.

"The whole precinct in general; we're hoping it can have that attraction for these top events," he said.

"We are really trying to bring back a community feel to this pool.

"Even though it was constructed purely on the basis that it could hold these sorts of events; I think that's how a lot of people look at it, but not at all, we also want to encourage recreational use as best as we can."

For information on pool opening times, lessons, events and the Victorian Country Long Course Championships, please visit www.wsac.vic.gov.au.