23 Jun 2024

Enniskillen Lakelanders Celebrate Season Successes

Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club held their annual End of Season Gala last Saturday 22nd June. This marks the end of the club's 10 month season for many of the younger swimmers and is an opportunity for swimmers across all groups to compete side by side with exhibition and fun events followed by annual presentations and the coveted Coaches' Cups.

Throughout the End of Season Gala, everyone from beginners to parents were treated to an exhibition from top level athletes, with swimmers competing for medals, bragging rights and demonstrating the results of all their long hours of training and competing.The 12 individual events ran smoothly, with lots of smiling faces as medals were awarded. The closing event was the much anticipated “Mother of all Relays”, with 72 participants from our club including coaches and parents taking to the water for seven minutes of nip and tuck swimming. Lots of cheering saw Kate Mc Dade’s team hit the wall first with Kiril Chursin’s team second and Ellie Dunlop’s finishing in third place.

When the swimming was completed, a special reception was held with pizza for everyone and the end of year celebrations continued with Cups for special recognition of effort throughout the year awarded to the following swimmers.

CUP WINNERS

Group A -            Niamh Howell  and  Jakub Mikiewicz Lumayad 

Group B -            Emma Speer and Darragh Collins

Group C -            Hannah Lynch  and Russell Mikiewicz Lumayad 

Group D -            Kate Mc Dade and Kiril Chursin

The Head Coach's Award was presented to Ellie Dunlop after a season of outstanding performances at competition. This award also recognises Ellie’s commitment and application to training where she is a great role model to the younger swimmers. The Committee Cup was presented to Sarah Speer and Ava Neal in recognition of their help with younger members at the Aquasprint league and during training sessions.

This year the Lakelanders have 11 swimmers qualified for the Irish Summer National competitions in Limerick (Age Groups) and in Dublin (Youth and Senior Championship). The qualifying swimmers were presented with new t-shirts and zip tops sponsored by The Lough Erne Resort, whom the club acknowledged for their continued and generous support of the club in the 2023/2024 season. We wish all our swimmers good luck for the National finals.

Chairperson Aideen Speer brought the season to a close praising the efforts of all the swimmers and parents for their commitment to their sport. She paid tribute to the efforts of parent volunteers, committee and coaches who not only made the end of year event possible but who are there throughout the year. They give their time generously to help the club provide the outstanding service it does for the local swimmers. Aideen applauded club Head Coach Ben Wiffen for all his work this year. Along with Claire Morris, the club's Foundation Coach, a committed volunteer who gives her time each week to the younger members of the club. The club wishes all our members a lovely summer and is looking forward to seeing all swimmers return to the pool in September. The evening was finished off with an ice cream much to the delight of parents and swimmers.

---

All news