Lakelanders Host 17 Ulster Clubs for Successful Home Gala 2019

05 Nov 2019

Last Sunday 3rd November, Fermanagh Lakeland Forum was the venue for the Enniskillen Lakelanders Autumn Gala 2019. The event hosted 17 clubs from across the Ulster region and saw 200 swimmers come together for more than 700 individual races.

Licensed by Swim Ireland, the gala was overseen by 4 national officials and involved over 30 local parents acting as support officials, timekeepers, marshalls and cafe assistants, parents from other clubs who lent their support for timekeeping duties. For the Lakelanders swimming club, events such as this are more than a fantastic opportunity for members to compete at a high level, they are also important fundraisers to help the club continue to provide the service it does for the Fermanagh community.

Swim Ireland race referee Frank Stevens, got proceedings underway at 9.00am with the Girls 9&Over 50m Backstroke, where the top spots went to visiting clubs, with Beth Buchanan, Beth Jones, Erin Farry and Hannah Beacom finishing in the top 10. In the Boys 9&Over 50m Backstroke Lakelanders swimmer Tom Buchanan claimed the Gold medal; Luke Lannon secured the Silver medal with a PB, with personal bests also recorded for Oliver Mooney and Dara Ronan. Top 10 finishes also for Adam Forster (narrowly missing out on a medal) and Paddy Huang in his first ever gala.

The Lakelanders claimed more medals in the 100m Backstroke with Emilie Reihill (PB), Frank Buchanan (PB) and Kealan McShea claiming the Gold Medals, Oisin McManus (PB) taking Silver and Dara Ronan (PB) claiming the Bronze medal. The Lakelanders 14&Over boys dominated this event taking all top 5 positions. There were personal best swims for Saoirse McGovern, Lauren Keaney, Ellie Dunlop, Hannah Lynch, Darren Woods, Kiril Chursin, Peter McGowan and Luke Aiken - who also secured a new Swim Ulster Qualifying time in this event.

The 50m Breaststroke event saw Luke Lannon from the Lakelanders take the Silver medal and Sarah Speer (PB) and Kate McDade claim the Bronze spots. Beth Jones (just missing out on a medal), Erin Farry and Ciosa McConnell also swimming to their best ever times, with Ciosa and Molly Johnston providing us with a thrilling race with just 0.2 seconds separating the two Lakelanders.

In the 100m Breaststroke event Emilie Reihill, Ciosa McConnell and Frank Buchanan hit the top spots to claim Gold medals, whilst Cora Cassidy (PB), Molly Johnston and Oisin McManus (PB) laid claim to the Silver medals, with Kealan McShea securing the Bronze medal. A strong performance by the Lakelanders with Molly Rice, Hayden James, James Mongan and Kiril Chursin also posting personal best times.

In the 50m Butterfly Sarah Speer produced a strong swim taking 11 seconds of her previous best time with Luke Aiken also producing a personal best swim.

With the event approaching the halfway point the swimmers lined up for the 100m Butterfly event where Emilie Reihill (PB), Frank Buchanan and Dara Ronan all secured the top spots taking home the well deserved Gold medals, with Cora Cassidy and Oisin McManus (PB) claiming the silver medals. Ciosa McConnell produced a strong swim to secure a 15 second PB and Tom Buchanan was pleased to produce a 5 second PB.

Moving onto the 50m Freestyle race Beth Buchanan, Erin Farry, Hannah Beacom, Molly Johnston, Cora Cassidy, Kyle James all hit new personal best times. Luke Aiken produced a fantastic swim to achieve a PB but also his third Swim Ulster qualifying time allowing him to move on to the next step in the Swim Ulster Pathway. Hayden James was also delighted to achieve his first Swim Ulster qualifying time in this event.

In the 100m Freestyle race, Emilie Reihill hit the top spot again securing her 4th Gold medal with Oisin McManus also hitting the top spot for the boys. Cora Cassidy, Hayden James, Frank Buchanan (PB) and Ben Lynch secured the Silver medals for the home club with Dara Ronan posting a PB to secure the Bronze medal. There were also personal bests recorded by Ciosa McConnell, Hannah Lynch, Dara Toner, Kiril Chursin, and Peter McGowan.  Hannah Lynch saw her hard work in training paying off and securing her third Swim Ulster qualifying time allowing her to move on to the next step in the Swim Ulster Pathway.

The final event of the morning the 100m Individual Medley saw Jamie Lannon, Cora Cassidy (PB) and Kealan McShea claim the Gold Medals. Oisin McManus produced a PB to claim the Silver medal while Molly Johnston (PB), Kiril Chursin and Dara Ronan all finished their morning swimming with Bronze medals. Beth Buchanan, Luke Lannon, Alisha Farry, Ciosa McConnell, James Mongan, Peter McGowan and Ben Lynch also produced strong swims are were rewarded with new personal best times.

For many of our younger swimmers this event was their first experience of a level 2 gala and proved to be a great learning experience and allowed them to put into practice everything they have been working hard at training to master. Well done to Hannah Armstrong and Paddy Huang for attending their first gala, and special mention also to Kyle James, Ava Neal and Aoibheann McCarney trying out some new strokes and 50m distances for the first time.

With the event finished, and everyone's thoughts turning to lunch, the Swim Ireland officials commended the organisation and running of yet another successful Enniskillen gala. Lakelanders Chairperson Sara Lannon praised the club, parents, coaches and swimmers saying 'Everyone should be extremely proud of another exceptionally well run gala. The Enniskillen Lakelanders are a fine example of a sports community coming together to raise funds for a club we are all so proud of for the benefit of our children, swimmers who love their chosen sport, and that’s what it’s all about'.

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