Enniskillen Lakelanders’ Shine at Nationals in Dublin
28 Jul 2024
Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers reap the rewards of their hard work at the National Championships in Dublin
Swim Ireland's new look 2024 Irish Youth and Senior Summer National Championships took place at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin from Tuesday 22nd to Saturday 27th July 2024 at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre, Dublin. The five-day event saw 1125 swimmers from over 120 clubs compete from all over Ireland to as far afield as Dubai. The path to nationals is paved by hundreds of hours of pool so to qualify for this prestigious competition is a huge achievement for all swimmers. There was high excitement and some nerves among the five Enniskillen Lakelanders who had qualified. Nonetheless in the experienced hands of Head Coach Ben Wiffen, the team brought home several medals, certificates and PBs back to their club.
Kiril Chursin (18) qualified for two events and really enjoyed his third trip to Irish Summer Nationals. Kiril had very strong swims over the competition week. The 100m Breaststroke saw him hit the wall the 15th fastest 18 year old, shaving 1.91 seconds off his PB, a performance for which he was awarded a special Swim Ireland Certificate in recognition of his time improvement. Kiril went on to secure another new PB in the speedy 50m Freestyle event, clocking a time of 26.68.
One of the youngest Lakelanders to compete was Ellie Dunlop (15) an Ulster Squad swimmer, qualified for four events at the National Championships. Ellie secured a silver medal and a new PB after a tight final in the 100m Breaststroke. She narrowly missed a podium spot in the nail biting 200m Breaststroke final where a new PB of 1.85 seconds ranked her 5th in Ireland. Ellie collected another new PB in the 200m Individual Medley. Ellie also qualified to compete in the open 50m Breaststroke, racing against all qualified swimmers aged 15+, doing Lakelanders proud in the exciting Finale event, a successful week demonstrating her dedication to training throughout the season.
Hannah Lynch (15), another of the club’s Ulster Squad swimmers, collected bronze medals in both the arduous 800m & 1500m Freestyle races. Hannah hit the wall at 18.53.16 in the 1500m Freestyle, taking a whopping 16 seconds off her PB and was awarded special Swim Ireland awards for her improved PBs in the 800m & 1500m Freestyle. She went on to clock in at 4th place in the 200m Backstroke final, narrowly missing the podium, 7th place in the 400m Freestyle final and 17th in the 200m Freestyle finals. A very busy and successful week for Hannah which also brought her two Swim Ireland awards for improved PBs in the 200m Backstroke and 400m Freestyle in addition to Ulster Squad qualification times in the 200m Backstroke, 400m Freestyle & 800m Freestyle. All magnificent achievements and much encouragement for next season.
Kate Mc Dade (15) was racing in the highly competitive 16 -17 year old category at her third summer National championships. Kate hit the wall 3rd fastest 16 year old in the 200m Breaststroke heats and narrowly missed the podium in the Final, securing a new PB and a special Swim Ireland award for highest improvement points. She finished 5th in her age group in the 100m Breaststroke Final with another PB. Qualifying for another final in the 200m Individual Medley, a strong swim brought her another new PB and an 8th place finish among the 16 year olds.
More strategic swimming produced another high ranking with a 12th place finish in the 400m Freestyle event to finish a busy and very successful Championship for Kate.
17 year old James Mongan enjoyed competing at his second National Championships, swimming a strong 200m Backstroke race to hit the wall on his seed time and finish in the top 25 of his age group.
Head Coach Ben Wiffen praised the swimmers’ efforts over the 5-day meet stating “Irish Nationals are always a highly competitive and tense event. It showcases the swimmers’ hard work throughout the year and I was extremely pleased with every swimmer’s individual performances. Multiple medals, certificates and PBs makes it all worthwhile.”
Club Chairperson Aideen Speer praised the swimmers’ efforts and commitment to their sport. Aideen said ‘These swimmers have been training hard over the season and their success is testament to their dedication in the pool. All the swimmers and their families are also grateful to club sponsors Lough Erne Resort and Western Cars. Special thanks is reserved for Enniskillen Lakelanders’ Head Coach Ben Wiffen for his hard work with the swimmers throughout the season and during the 5 days of the event.’
The club look forward this week to cheering on Ben’s brother Daniel Wiffen as he swims for Ireland at the Olympics in Paris.
We look forward now to next season but as a club we are very concerned for our future. Formed in 1970, Enniskillen Lakelanders has produced regional and National Swimmers but with the news that the Lakeland Forum is to close for an optimistic three years, the club’s future and the potential loss of swimmers in the county is inevitable unless there is a U turn in the current plan and an alternative site acquired for the new leisure centre so as to ensure no loss of pool provision.
Since its establishment the Club has maintained a high profile in swimming across Ulster and Ireland. These opportunities are now being taken from our present members and future swimmers for the next number of years within the County. We strongly propose that a more informed plan is made for swimming in Fermanagh.
- 16 Feb 2026Lakelanders take the Lead in Lisburn
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. - 12 Feb 2026Past & Present Lakelanders lead the way for Fermanagh at Swim Ulster’s Senior Sc
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. - 01 Feb 2026Young Lakelanders Swim to Success in Belfast
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. - 26 Jan 2026Lakelanders Secure Medals & PBs at Swim Ulster Open Meet in Bangor
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. - 07 Dec 2025Lakelanders’ future challengers deliver strong swims in Omagh
A strong squad of Lakelanders junior swimmers took part in Swim Ulster Future Challengers Meet 2 at Omagh Leisure Centre on Saturday.
Coach Chelsey Weir was there to support the young swimmers who brought home a substantial haul of medal award pins and a raft of new personal times. - 07 Dec 2025Success for Lakelanders at Sliabh Beagh Winter Gala
6 Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers made the journey to the Coral Leisure Centre Monaghan for Sliabh Beagh Swimming Club’s Winter Cluster Meet on 6th & 7th December. - 30 Nov 2025Lakelanders Swimmers Shine for their schools at Ulster Schools Championships
Swim Ulster Primary Schools Cup and Championship was held at the Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex, Bangor on Saturday 29th November 2025. Excited for this opportunity to represent their schools, 22 swimmers across 10 local schools headed to Bangor determined to do the South-West proud and qualify for the All-Ireland Championships held in Dublin in March. Although a school competition, all the students attending are committed members of the Enniskillen Lakelanders swimming club and mustered all their skills and training in competing against the best swimmers from schools across Ulster. A successful day saw 4 podium finishes and an amazing number of swimmers qualify for the All-Ireland primary school championship to be held at the National Aquatic Centre Dublin next year. - 10 Nov 2025Lakelanders push for top performances at Dungannon’s 40th Anniversary Gala
A squad of 10 Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers attended Dungannon Swimming Club’s 40th Anniversary Gala on Sunday the 9th November at Dungannon Leisure Centre. The gala was a great success for the young swimmers who returned home with numerous personal bests. - 27 Oct 2025Lakelanders Host First Home Gala in Omagh
Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club held their Autumn Junior Gala on Sunday 26th October, an event aimed at younger swimmers. This was the club’s first Gala in their new temporary base at Omagh Leisure Centre and there was much excitement among the swimmers from the outset with 37 swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders taking part. They were joined by competitors from nine 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 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.
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