
Enniskillen Lakelanders will be well represented at Summer National Competitions
29 Jun 2024
Enniskillen Lakelanders will be well represented at Summer National Competitions!

Photo Credits: Andrew Paton
With the 2023/2024 swimming season coming to an end, the finale for the competitive swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders is the Irish Summer National competitions. These competitions will take place across two meets in July with Age Group Championships will take place in Limerick, followed by Irish Summer National Youth & Senior Championships in Dublin. There is great excitement among the 11 local swimmers who have qualified to compete at these events.
Thursday 11th 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, three of whom are competing at this level for the first time.
All of these swimmers have recently been awarded the FODC Sports Award for their achievements in swimming and they look forward to representing Fermanagh on the National stage this summer. They are proudly sponsored by the Lough Erne Resort.
Sophie Hanna (12) will compete in the 50m Freestyle in Limerick.
Martha McCreesh (13) fresh from captaining this year’s Aquasprint squad, will compete in the 100m Breaststroke, Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly events.
Crea Mullen (12) will race in the 50m and 100m Freestyle and the 100m Backstroke.

Ava Neal (14) will have a busy few days as she competes in the 50m, 100m & 200m Freestyle, 100m & 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley.

Emma Speer (13) will swim in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley events.
The Irish Youth and Senior Summer National Championships 2024 competition follows two weeks later with five Lakelanders achieving the standards required to compete in the National Aquatic Centre, Dublin.

Kiril Chursin (18) is looking forward to racing in the 50m Freestyle and the 100m Breaststroke events.

Ellie Dunlop (15) will represent Fermanagh in the 50m 100m & 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley races.

Hannah Lynch (15) has qualified to race in the 200m, 400m, 800m & 1500m Freestyle and the 200m Backstroke events.


Kate McDade (16) will represent Fermanagh in the 100m, 200m & 400m Freestyle, 100m & 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley.

James Mongan (17) will compete in the 200m Backstroke event.
Club Chairperson Aideen Speer commended all the swimmers on their hard work and dedication to their sport and hoped that they would be rewarded with much fruit for their labour. The Lakelanders Committee would also like to thank the coaching team led by Ben Wiffen for their outstanding work with the swimmers and the Lough Erne Resort for their generous support of the Club throughout the year, culminating in supporting the National Squad with sponsorship of the National Kit.

A squad of 9 swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club attended the Ulster Age Group and Senior LC Championships at the Bangor Aurora Leisure Complex on 1st, 2nd & 3rd May. Competitors from across 32 clubs in Ulster met the tough qualification standards to take part in this key meet over three days, targeting Ulster podium spots, and those important Summer National qualification times.
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.
Portadown ASC and Lurgan ASC hosted the South Lake Open Meet 2026 at South Lake Leisure Centre, Craigavon on Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th April. A total of 26 Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers competed over the two day meet.
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.
On Saturday 21st March, a group of 14 young swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club took part in Round 4 of the Swim Ulster Future Challengers Series, held at Lagan Valley Leisureplex in Lisburn. The competition drew over 450 swimmers between the ages of 10 and 14 from across Ulster.
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.
11 Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers travelled to the Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex, Bangor to compete in Round 2 of Swim Ulster’s ‘Aspiring Champions’ Meet Series on 14th & 15th March. This spectacular 50m pool was the perfect venue for the many challenging events the Fermanagh swimmers were eager to dive into over the weekend.
A squad of 33 Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers attended the Swim Belfast Open Meet on Sunday the 15th of February in Lagan Valley Leisureplex, Lisburn. The gala was a great success for the Fermanagh swimmers who relished the opportunity to compete against swimmers from clubs across Ulster, Leinster & Connacht, returned home with numerous medals and personal best times.
Local Swimmers Sparkle for their Schools as Past & Present Lakelanders lead the way for Fermanagh at Swim Ulster’s Senior Schools’ Cup & Championships in Bangor
The Swim Ulster Schools Cup & Championships 2026 took place on Friday 6th February at Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex Bangor. Over 1000 swimmers from more than 130 schools across the province of Ulster took part in the one day event. Three local schools were part of the action with 22 local swimmers taking part.
On Saturday 31st January, 13 young swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club competed in Round 3 of the Swim Ulster Future Challengers Series at Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre, Belfast. The meet attracted over 450 swimmers aged 10–14 from across Ulster, all taking on the more challenging events of Individual Medley (IM), Backstroke and Butterfly.
The Lakelanders squad rose to the occasion, relishing the opportunity to race against strong provincial competition while aiming for personal best performances.
6 Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers competed at Swim Ulster’s Open Long Course Meet at the Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex in Bangor on the 24 & 25th January. Swimmers from clubs all over Ireland attended this exciting start to the Long Course season and the Lakelanders were eager to race their fellow athletes in the fabulous 10 lane 50m pool at the Aurora.