Swimmers work hard at UL gala

ENNIS Swimming and Lifesaving Club had a very successful weekend in University of Limerick arena at the Irish Age groups Division 2 Championships. The club brought 11 swimmers to this national gala to compete against over 500 athletes from 72 other clubs from around the country.

Aoife Deane and Ivana Pyne became national champions in their respective events, while the 15 and over girls’ relay also captured gold.

In the 11-12 age group, Elise Pyne, at her first national gala, put in some fantastic swims to come third in the 200m backstroke final and fourth in the 100m backstroke final both in personal best times.

Sean Heaney also at his first nationals, swam very well in the 100m and 200m breaststroke.

In the 13-14 age group, Aoife Deane won gold in the 800m freestyle with a time of 10.22.30, over seven seconds ahead of the second-placed swimmer. She won silver in the 400m freestyle and came seventh in the 200 IM with a personal best. She rounded off her weekend with a personal best in the 200m backstroke of 2.46:19 narrowly missing a place in the final.

Aoife Barry made the final of the 200m freestyle and swam a great race to come fourth in 2.24:28, she also achieved personal bests in the 100m and 400m freestyle as well as 100m backstroke.

Ivana Pyne won gold in the 200 IM in 2.42:01, silver in the 100m freestyle with a huge personal best of 1.05:58 taking over four seconds off her previous time. She also won silver in the 100m backstroke and made the final of the 100m butterfly coming fourth in another personal best time of 1.17:66. She also swam personal bests in the 200m and 400m freestyle.

Nathan Coote took over three seconds off both his 100m and 200m breaststroke times narrowly missing out on the final in the 200m. Ruairí Power had some great swims making finals in the 100m freestyle taking seven seconds off his previous time and making the final of the 200m event in a 13-second personal best time of 2.27:93. He also got personal bests in the 400m freestyle and 100m breaststroke.

In the 15-16 age group, Aoibheann Hogan captured a bronze medal in the 200IM in a personal best time of 2.48:63. She also swam well in the 800, 400, 200 and 100m freestyle getting personal best times and she finished off her weekend with a great swim in the final of the 200m backstroke coming fifth in a personal best time of 2.48:65. Eimear McGrath made finals in the 100m and 200m backstroke and had a great swim in the 400m freestyle getting a personal best of over seven seconds.

Emily Ryan made finals in the 100m and 200m freestyle, coming fifth in the 200m event and she captured the silver medal in the 100m in a time of 1.04.63. Emily was the anchor leg of the winning freestyle team bringing the team of Eimear McGrath, Aoibheann Hogan and Meadhbh Grogan home with gold in 29.56.

Katie Shannon, competing in the 17-18 age group, won silver medals in the 800m, 400m and 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke and rounded a very successful weekend off with a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle in a personal best time of 1.06.24.