Lakelanders secure awards and new PBs at Belfast Aspiring Champions Gala
19 Oct 2025
Lakelanders secure a slew of awards and new PBs at Belfast Aspiring Champions Gala
11 swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders swimming club made their way to the Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre in Belfast to compete at Swim Ulster's Aspiring Champions Meet; the first Gala of the season for swimmers aged 13 and over. The event was held over two days, 18th & 19th October. Coaches across Ulster use this gala to assess and monitor swimmers' skills, providing the scaffolding for the building blocks for success in the coming season.
All the work so far on skills and technique resulted in a slew of Swim Ulster Awards, personal bests and many top ten finishes for the Enniskillen Lakelanders.
Holly Barkley (14) had 3 great swims. She maintained her time in the 200m Individual Medley and achieved PBs in the 100m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle, where she also achieved a bronze medal.
Darragh Collins (14) began the season with an impressive performance, securing a gold in the 50m Freestyle, a silver in the 100m Freestyle and a bronze in the 200m Individual Medley.
Sophie Hanna (13) wiped a fantastic 7.6 seconds off her entry time in the 100m Butterfly. She went on to clock another new PB in the 200m Individual Medley, collecting a bronze award. Further strong performances in the 100m Backstroke and the 50m Freestyle ensured she maintained her entry times in both.
Anna May Hill (14) had a great day at her first aspiring champs. She claimed a new PB in her 50m Freestyle achieving a bronze medal. She secured a 4 second PB in her 100m Backstroke and held her own in her first ever 200m Freestyle race.
Russell Mikiewicz Lumayad (15) had two great swims. He achieved a bronze medal award in 100m Freestyle followed by a new PB in 100m Butterfly .
Ryan Mongan (15) shaved a whopping 29.68 seconds off his PB in the 200m Individual Medley, 6 seconds off his 200m Breaststroke PB and claimed further new PBs in the 100m Breaststroke and Freestyle races to clinch a total of 3 bronze awards and 3 top ten finishes in all.
Anton Neal (14) secured new PBs in both the 200m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle events.
Emma Speer (14) swam the 200m Breaststroke and achieved a silver pin for her time, finishing third fastest 14 year old.
Haralds Uzulins (14) was delighted to secure a 3 second PB in 100m Freestyle, winning a bronze time banded medal. He also produced strong a swim in the 50m Freestyle.
Conal Walker (17) swam well in 6 events across the 2 days, claiming PBs in 100m Freestyle, 100m Individual Medley, 200m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly.
Finley Walker-Leonard (14) achieved two PBs in both the 100m Backstroke (taking 16 seconds off) and 100m Individual Medley (taking 13 seconds off).
Head Coach Fionna Orr was pleased to see the swimmers’ dedication to training pay off with a great start to the competitive season. The swimmers benefitted greatly from her guidance on racing approach & strategy throughout the two day gala. Club PRO Janette Mongan, praised all the club volunteers who helped out over the two days but also hailed the swimmers for their maturity in how they approached this start to the new racing season saying, 'The 11 Lakelanders here this weekend have done themselves and their club proud with amazing individual swims. The team spirit amongst these young athletes throughout the two days was fantastic to see, a shining example for our club and for our younger swimmers back home in particular’.
‘We look forward to our Junior Gala on Sunday 26th October, where junior swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders will enjoy competing against visiting swimmers from other clubs from the surrounding regions. Our senior swimmers will form an important part of the team of volunteers needed to run this type of gala, ensuring an enjoyable event for the younger swimmers as well as hopefully raising some much needed funds for Enniskillen Lakelanders ASC.’
The club express their gratitude to Lough Erne Resort and Western Cars Enniskillen for their continued support of the swimmers.
- 19 Oct 2025Lakelanders secure awards and new PBs at Belfast Aspiring Champions Gala
11 swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders swimming club made their way to the Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre in Belfast to compete at Swim Ulster's Aspiring Champions Meet; the first Gala of the season for swimmers aged 13 and over. The event was held over two days, 18th & 19th October. Coaches across Ulster use this gala to assess and monitor swimmers' skills, providing the scaffolding for the building blocks for success in the coming season.
All the work so far on skills and technique resulted in a slew of Swim Ulster Awards, personal bests and many top ten finishes for the Enniskillen Lakelanders. - 13 Oct 2025Lakelanders’ Future Challengers deliver strong South Lakes swims
Enniskillen Lakelanders kicked off the 2025/26 Swim Ulster competition season on Sunday when 17 junior members took part in the Future Challengers Meet 1 at the South Lakes Leisure Centre in Craigavon. - 13 Jul 2025Lakelanders Sparkle at National Championships in Limerick
Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club were well represented on the National stage at the 2025 Irish Age Group National Championships at the University of Limerick Sports Arena last week. Six young Lakelanders’ swimmers joined almost 700 swimmers from over 100 clubs competing over four days of exciting competition. - 06 Jul 2025Enniskillen Lakelanders will be well represented at Summer National Competitions
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Thursday 10th July sees the start of the 4 day Irish National Age Group Championships for swimmers aged 14 and under in the UL Sport Complex at the University of Limerick. Six Lakelanders have qualified to attend, two of whom are competing at this level for the first time. - 29 Jun 2025Enniskillen Lakelanders Celebrate Season Successes
Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club held their annual End of Season Gala last Saturday 28th June. This marks the end of the club's a very different 10 month season swimming in two counties across the FODC council. The gala is an opportunity for swimmers across all groups to compete side by side and a fun relay to round of the event. - 22 Jun 2025Medals and PBs galore for the Lakelanders at Summer Gala in Lisburn
Swim Ulster’s Swim Festival 2025 took place in Lisburn's Lagan Valley Leisureplex on Sunday the 22nd of June.
A squad of 18 Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers, along with Head Coach Fionna Orr, made their way to Lisburn for the event. - 08 Jun 2025Medals and PBs for Lakelanders at Banbridge Open
Banbridge Open Long Course Meet took place in Craigavon’s South Lakes Leisure Centre on Saturday the 7th of June.
A squad of 13 Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers, along with Head Coach Fionna Orr, made their way to the fabulous South Lakes Leisure Centre long course (50m) swimming pool for the final club meet of the season for the older swimmers. This meet provided the final opportunity for competitive swimmers to qualify for Swim Ireland's Irish Summer National competitions. As a bonus Banbridge swimming club had extended their invitation to clubs from all over Ireland. The chance to achieve qualifying times and compete against the best in Ireland was too good to miss. - 07 Jun 2025Young Lakelanders fought fierce battle with Lecale in AquaSprints Final
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The event saw the young Lakelanders compete in a head to head battle against a strong squad from Lecale Swimming Club, while Swim Belfast and Olympia battled it out in the Division 4 B final, making the night a double event. - 01 Jun 2025Lakelanders success in Bangor
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The annual Swim Ulster competition offers an opportunity for younger swimmers born between 2017 and 2012 to race over 25m sprints in all four strokes, in both individual and relay events.
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