Enniskillen Lakelanders Junior Gala April 2022
05 Apr 2022
Enniskillen Lakelanders Host first Home Gala in 3 years!
Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club held their first Junior Gala in three years on Sunday 3rd April, an event that was aimed at the younger swimmers from the local club and other clubs from around the Ulster region. For many of the 8-13 yr old competitors, this would be their first individual competition, that all important first step for every sports. The older Lakelanders swimmers have been achieving great things in the pool recently and every one of those swimmers started at their first Junior gala, so for the swimmers and the club, Junior galas are very important events in developing the next generation of champions.
143 swimmers aged 8-13 attended the event which was overseen by Swim Ireland referee Lars Beheme from East Cavan Swimming Club, who in turn was supported by a 42 strong group of parent and older swimmer volunteers from the Lakelanders club co-ordinated by club Gala Secretary Michelle Reihill. Swimmers and their families travelled from 9 other swimming clubs from across the province of Ulster with many of them competing for the first time. Lakelanders swimmers racked up a haul of 29 medals and almost 100 PBs on the day.
Gold medals were achieved by Martha McCreesh (11), 50m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly; Ava Neal (12), 50m Breaststroke; Emma Speer (11), 100m Breaststroke; Sophie Hanna (10), 100m Individual Medley and Darragh Collins (11), 100m Breaststroke.
The medals continued to flow with Silver awarded to Emma Speer (11), 50m Breaststroke; Sarah Speer (13) 100m Butterfly; Ava Neal (12), 100m Butterfly and 100m Freestyle; Jessica Miller (11), 100m Breaststroke; Mirko Man (11), 100m Backstroke; Luke Lannon (12), 100m Backstroke and 100m Butterfly; Arlen Cassidy (8), 50m Breaststroke and Fionn Brewster (9), 50m Breaststroke.
Bronze medals were won by Clara Leonard (9), 50m Backstroke; 50m Butterfly, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle & 100m Individual Medley; Sophie Hanna (10), 50m Backstroke; Mylene Leonard (11), 100m Backstroke; Jessica Miller (11), 50m Breaststroke; Keira Salcedo (9), 50m Breaststroke; Sarah Speer (13), 50m Breaststroke; Martha McCreesh (11), 50m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke; Eimear Carey (13), 50m Freestyle and Fionn Brewster (9), 50m Freestyle.
Not only did the local young swimmers excel on the medals count but many top ten finishes and new personal bests were achieved including top ten finishes in 50m Backstroke by Keira Salcedo, Katie McGowan, Lara Brady, Ella Neal, Emma Speer, Maeve Rolston-McAuliffe, Erin Salcedo, Sarah Speer, Aoife Carey, Eimear Carey, Emmett Coyle, Daire Burke, Mirko Man, Russell Mikiewicz Lumayad and Ryan Mongan.
Top ten finishes in 100m Freestyle for Ava Neal, Erin Salcedo, Beth Buchanan, Eimear Carey, Aoife Carey, Mirko Man, Luke Lannon and Ryan Mongan.
Top ten finishes in 50m Butterfly for Keira Salcedo, Myleene Leonard, Erin Salcedo, Mirko Man, Enda Burke and Ryan Mongan. Top ten finish in 100m Backstroke for Beth Buchanan.
Top ten finish in 50m Breaststroke for Emily Maguire, Muireann Cassidy, Sophie Hannah, Katie McGowan, Ella Neal, Meabh Donnelly, Holly Barkley, Holly McCabe, Erin Salcedo, Katie James, Beth Buchanan, Sarah Speer, Aoife Carey, Eimear Carey, Emmett Coyle, Daire Burke, Mirko Man, Darragh Collins, Sam Curran, Anton Neal, Ryan Mongan and Russell Mikiewicz Lumayad.
Top ten finish in 50m Freestyle for Muireann Cassidy, Katie McGowan, Sophie Hannah, Lara Brady, Ella Neal, Emma Speer, Maeve Rolston-McAuliffe, Myleene Leonard, Beth Buchanan, Ava Neal, Aoife Carey, Daire Burke, Emmett Coyle, Darragh Collins, Mirko Man, Luke Lannon, Enda Burke, Russell Mikiewicz Lumayad and Ryan Mongan.
Top ten finishes in 100m Breaststroke for Myleene Leonard, Holly Barkley, Katie James, Olivia McCaffrey, Aoife Carey, Eimear Carey, Luke Lannon, Ryan Mongan, Enda Burke and Russell Mikiewicz Lumayad.
New PB times were set by Beth Buchanan, Aoife Carey, Eimear Carey, Mylene Leonard, Martha McCreesh, Jessica Miller, Ava Neal, Erin Salcedo, Keira Salcedo, Emma Speer, Sarah Speer, Lara Brady, Emily Maguire, Muireann Cassidy, Katie McGowan, Holly McCabe, Ava Nugent, Ella Neal, Maeve RolstonMcAuliffe, Holly Barkley, Maebh Donnelly, Katie James, Olivia McCaffrey, Emmett Coyle, Daire Burke, Sam Curran, Ryan Mongan, Luke Lannon, Enda Burke, Russell Mikiewicz Lumayad, Mirko Man, Arlen Cassidy, Darragh Collins, Anton Neal and Rua Moore; some of whom competed for the very first time.
Events like these can only run with the help and hard work of the volunteers. A large team of parent and senior swimmer helpers ensured that the busy gala ran smoothly. The club are very grateful to the staff at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum for facilitating us and for the generous sponsorship provided by local businesses (Cassidy and McCreesh Orthodontic Practice, MTL Marine and Nuastyle). The club are also very grateful to those who donated the wonderful raffle prizes.
The swimmers and their families are very thankful to the Lakelanders coaching team led by Ben Wiffen and Claire Morris who supported the swimmers so well on the day and made sure it wasn’t only a competitive event but an enjoyable learning experience for all. After the gala Junior age group Coach Claire Morris said “There was a wonderful atmosphere of genuine excitement from the youngest to the oldest competitors. As a coach, I was so proud of each and every child who participated today. Their attitude of friendship, support and encouragement to each other was amazing. Their commitment to training is paying off with fabulous technique and excellent results. Well done and roll on the next gala!”
Head coach Ben Wiffen thought it was “Great to see our younger swimmers show off all their hard work and feel the community spirit with the whole club coming together to run a successful event.”
The junior swimmers will set their sights next on the first round of the Aquasprint League next weekend in Armagh.
Thank you to Noel McManus for the lovely photos!
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