David takes to finals like a fish to water

EIGHT-year-old David Doran represented Peterswell National School in the Connacht Minor Schools’ Swimming Championships recently. The talented youngster competed in the age seven to nine age group of the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke. He finished 17th in the 50m freestyle, eighth in the 50m backstroke and achieved the qualifying time for the national schools’ final. The Peterswell pupil was delighted to have made the national finals beating his personal best (PB) by four seconds in the process.

David’s 12-year-old sister, Ciara Doran, took part in the 14 and under age group in the Connacht Senior Schools’ Championships last week, representing Gort Community School.

Ciara swam in the 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley, finishing first in all three events and in the process setting new PBs.

“In the 100m backstroke, Ciara swam a time of  1:12:20, in a very exciting race from start to finish, Ciara has produced some great swims this year but even this swim, I have to admit left us all amazed as she took over 2:48 seconds of her PB. In the 400m freestyle, Ciara swam the fastest time in her age group and also a new PB, which she was delighted with, 4:48:10 taking over 2:93 seconds off her time in the process. In the 200m Im, Ciara swam a new PB – a time of  2:40:48, a 1:28 sec PB, again a very exciting race,” her father Patrick explained, adding, “As a family, we are delighted and proud of both Ciara and David’s achievements”.