Lakelanders top the medal board at Spring Gala
26 Apr 2026
Lakelanders top the medal board at Spring Gala
Photos by Cara O'Donohue
Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club held their Spring Junior Gala on Sunday 26th April, an event aimed at younger swimmers. As the Lakelanders approach the first year complete at their temporary base at Omagh Leisure Centre and there was much excitement among the swimmers from the outset with 41 swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders taking part. They were joined by competitors from eleven other Ulster swimming clubs. For many of the 8-14 year-old competitors, this would be one their first experiences of individual competition, that all important first step for every sportsperson.
Swim Ireland referee Lars Beheme oversaw almost 795 entries from the 206 excited swimmers in attendance. Lars was supported by a strong group of over 50 parents and older swimmers volunteering from the Lakelanders club which helped ensure that the busy gala ran smoothly. It was a very successful event for the Lakelanders, raising much needed club funds and giving swimmers the chance to put their training into practise and show off their talents with a large haul of medals and an abundance of PBs on the day.
Gold medals were achieved by Mollie Kate Brewster in 100m Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle, Butterfly and 100m Individual Medley, Emily Irvine in 50m Backstroke and Freestyle, Isla O’Donohue in the 50m Breaststroke, Poppy Brownlee in the 50m Backstroke, Amy Swidani in the 50m Breaststroke and Erin McGrath in the 100m Breaststroke for the girls. For the boys James McSorley took gold in the 100m Freestyle, Backstroke, IM and 50m Breaststroke, Jakub Mikievicz Lumayad in 50m Backstroke, Butterfly, Freestyle, 100m Breaststroke, Backstroke and Individual Medley, Charlie Brewster in the 50m Breaststroke and Oliver Nacer in the 50m Breaststroke. In total the Lakelanders picked up 24 Gold Medals
The medals continued to flow with silvers awarded to Ella Neal in the 100m Backstroke and Freestyle, 50m Butterfly and 50m Freestyle, Emily Irvine in 100m Backstroke and Freestyle, Natalie Swidani in the 50m & 100m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke, Isla O’Donohue in the 50m Backstroke and Freestyle, Maia Rolston-McAuliffe in the 100m Backstroke and Tara Collins in the 50m Breaststroke. For the boys silvers were awarded to Charlie Crawford in the 50m Breaststroke, Ollie Elliott in the 100m Breaststroke and James McSorley secured silver in the 50m Butterfly. A wonderful 16 silver medals for the Lakelanders.
There were also bronze medals for Elin O’Donohue in the 50m Breaststroke, Imogen Neal in the 100m Breaststroke, Lauren Loizides in the 100m Breaststroke and Natalie Swidani in the 100m IM. For the boys there were lots of bronze medals too. Ollie Elliott in the 100m Backstroke, Freestyle and Individual Medley, Charlie Crawford in the 50m Backstroke and Eoghan Donnelly in the 100m Individual Medley, ensuring the Lakelanders were at the top of the Club Medal count with a total of 49 medals to Enniskillen. An amazing tally of new PBs by many other Lakelander competitors are also testament to the hard work of all the young swimmers each week in the pool.
Club PRO Janette Mongan expressed her thanks to a wide range of people who all came together to make the Junior Gala a success - praising all club members for their help and support, events like these can only run with the help and hard work of the volunteers. Thanks are also expressed to the staff at the Omagh Leisure Centre for facilitating the event. The club are indebted to the generous support provided by local businesses- EVChargers Ireland, R2 Motor Repairs, Encirc, Hair Square, Harold Graham, MacNeary Rasdale & Co, Farmcare Products, Gibson Solicitors, SCH Construction Ltd, Cassidy Oils, Thomas Hanna & Co, Beechvale, SD Kells, Corry’s Chemist, Enniskillen Hi Phone, Western Cars & Lough Erne Resort. We are also very grateful to all parents who donated and sourced the raffle prizes.
Janette praised Aideen Speer, gala secretary, for her trojan work behind the scenes ensuring the smooth running of the gala. She also thanked Head Coach Fionna Orr and Coach Chelsey Weir and the wider coaching team for their commitment to all the swimmers. The support of the coaching team ensured we had a competitive event which was also an enjoyable learning experience for all.
The club look forward now to several of their older swimmers flying the flag for Enniskillen at the 3 day Ulster Long Course Championships in Bangor next weekend.
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Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club held their Spring Junior Gala on Sunday 26th April, an event aimed at younger swimmers. As the Lakelanders approach the first year complete at their temporary base at Omagh Leisure Centre and there was much excitement among the swimmers from the outset with 41 swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders taking part. They were joined by competitors from eleven other Ulster swimming clubs. For many of the 8-14 year-old competitors, this would be one their first experiences of individual competition, that all important first step for every sportsperson. - 19 Apr 2026Cracking Racing in Craigavon for Enniskillen Lakelanders' Swimmers
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Saturday morning saw fantastic swimming by 11 of our younger athletes competing in a range of 25m races in the short course format. Many PBs were smashed with the young Lakelanders doing their club proud in the pool. - 29 Mar 2026Enniskillen Lakelanders' swimmers clinch medals & top ten finishes for their sch
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Participants competed in a range of more demanding events, including Individual Medley (IM), Breaststroke, and Freestyle. The Lakelanders swimmers performed with determination throughout the meet, embracing the challenge of competing against a high standard of provincial opposition while striving to achieve personal best times. - 16 Mar 2026Lakelanders claim awards & PBs in Bangor
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