Irish Open Championships Success for Lakelanders
08 Apr 2023
Irish Open Championships Success for Lakelanders
Swim Ireland’s Irish Open Swimming Championships started on Saturday (1st April) at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre in Dublin. The 5-day event saw almost five hundred swimmers from seventy clubs compete for national titles in thirty-four individual events and for places on seven Irish National Teams, including a home European Under 23 Championships in August. Four swimmers from the local Enniskillen Lakelanders swim club attended the prestigious meet keen to compete with the best in the country.
Ellie Dunlop (14) swimming in the Irish Open Championships for the first time reached finals in both 50m and 100m Breaststroke events, just missing out on a place in the 200m Breaststroke final. Ellie was delighted with her PBs over the 5 day meet and has now secured her time for the Swim Ireland Regional Squad with her 100m Breaststroke performance.
Kate McDade (14) continues to show her progress at her first Irish Open Championship. A massive achievement in itself to qualify for this competition, Kate further impressed with PBs in both her events – the 100m and 50m Breaststroke. Kate soared up the rankings by 30 and 12 place’s respectively, narrowly missing out on finals in both events. A huge step up for the young Lakelander whose commitment and drive in training is paying off.
Older sister Anna McDade (16), returned to the Irish Open for the second consecutive year, competed in 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke events. Anna performed to her PBs and was delighted to qualify for finals in all three events where she lined up with the best in Ireland and beyond, including Olympians. A fantastic achievement in a competition at this level. Fantastic swimming from the McDade sisters!
Lakelanders Head Coach Ben Wiffen praised the swimmers performances at this meet and was delighted to see Ellie and Kate edging closer to their Irish and Ulster Squad times respectively, whilst Anna made finals for all her events. All the girls doing their club proud showing our younger swimmers a shining example of what can be achieved from consistent hard work in training.
Also swimming under the Lakelanders Cora Rooney (18) was on top form competing in the 100m and 200m Backstroke, 50m and 100m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly events. Cora progressed to finals in four events and impressively improved her entry time with new PBs in four events. The highlights of the meet included taking the Bronze medal in the 50m Butterfly ‘A’ final and achieving the consideration times for the 2023/24 National Squad.
Gala Secretary Michelle Reihill praised all the competitors who have all shown great maturity and have gained valuable race experience which will be put to good use at the upcoming Ulster Long Course event in Bangor at the end of April.
- 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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