Lakelanders Junior Autumn Gala Proves a Big Hit
04 Mar 2020
Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club continued their series of Junior swimming events last Sunday 29th September when local Fermanagh athletes were joined by swimmers from 9 different Ulster clubs for the Lakelanders 1st competitive Gala event of the 2019/20 swimming season. Indeed for many of the 7-12 yr olds taking part, this would be their first competitive swimming event ever.
The emphasis for these events is about showing beginners and younger swimmers the fun of competing in a swimming gala in a safe and friendly environment and the Lakelanders were grateful for the support received from Fermanagh & Omagh Council to help make the event possible.
Swim Ireland referee Lars Beheme from Cavan kicked of proceedings at just after 9.30am with the 25m backstroke and immediately the local swimmers got off to a fantastic start with 14 medals, Gold medals for Hannah Lynch(10), Ashling Man (12), Sam Curran (8), Michael McGowan (10), James Mongan (12), Silver medals for Muireann Cassidy (7), Eloise Boyd (11), Adam Forster (10), Darren Woods (12), Bronze medals for Sarah Speer (10), Alisha Farry (12), Luke Lannon (9), Patrick Toal (10), Conal Walker (11).
The next event was the 50m butterfly and the young Lakelanders continued to impress with Gold medals for Hannah Lynch (10), Molly Rice (12) with Silver medals secured by Michael McGowan (10), Oliver Money (11), Hayden James (12) and Bronze medals for Kate McDade (11), Luke Lannon (9).
The Lakelanders continued to shine in the 25m breaststroke event with another medal haul with Gold medals for Muireann Cassidy (7), Emma Speer (8), Hannah Lynch (10), Sam Curran (8), Michael McGowan (10), Oliver Mooney (11), James Mongan (12). Silver medals for Alisha Farry (12), Conal Walker (11), Ryan McGowan (12). Bronze medals were won by Sarah Speer (10), Ashling Man (12), Luke Lannon, Adam Forster (10), Nathan Pacha (12).
The popular 50m Freestyle saw Gold medals for Hannah Lynch, Anna Cairns (12), Michael McGowan, Silver medals for Molly Rice, Luke Lannon, Hayden James (12) and a bronze medal for Adam Forster.
The 25m Butterfly event saw Gold medals for Alisha Farry, Michael McGowan, Oliver Mooney, Darren Woods, Silver medals for Hannah Lynch, Eloise Boyd, James Mongan, with Emma Speer, Adam Forster picking up the Bronze medals.
The 50m Backstroke saw Gold medals for Hannah Lynch, Michael McGowan, Silver medals for Emma Speer, Anna Cairns and Bronze medals for Kate McDade (11), Molly Rice, Hayden James.
The 25m Freestyle saw Gold medals for Muireann Cassidy (7), Michael McGowan, Hayden James, Silver medals for Hannah Lynch, Ashling Man, Adam Forster, Conal Walker (11), James Mongan, Bronze medals for Emma Speer, Alisha Farry, Patrick Toal, Rory Aiken (11)
The 50m Breaststroke was a very successful event for the young Lakelanders with Gold medals for Sam Curran, Silver medals for Emma Speer, Anna Cairns, Michael McGowan, Oliver Mooney and Bronze medals for Hannah Lynch, Kate McDade, Luke Lannon, Kyle James (10), Conal Walker (11).
The final individual race of the day - the 100m IM, saw Gold medals for Anna Cairns, Silver for Hannah Lynch , Molly Rice, Luke Lannon, Michael McGowan and Bronze for Ryan Mongan, Adam Forster and Hayden James. This brought the Lakelanders medal tally to an amazing 89 individual medals over the short mornings swimming!
The Girls 100m 7-10 year old Freestyle relay saw the local team of Sophie Cathcart, Erin Farry, Hannah Lynch and Sarah Speer claim the Bronze medals. The team of Niamh Ahern, Muireann Cassidy, Madeleine Curran and Beth Jones swam well to finish in fourth place, while the team of Aiobheann McCarney, Ava Neal, Lucy Rice and Emma Speer finished in Fifth place. For the older Girls (11-12) the team of Eloise Boyd, Anna Cairns, Alisha Farry and Ashling Man had a close battle with Swilly Seals securing the bronze medals.
The Boys 100m (7-10) Freestyle relay saw our team of Josh Cassidy, Sam Curran Luke Lannon and Adam Forster win the Silver medals, with the team of Pacha Pranay, Harry Welsh, Ryan Mongan and Kyle James secure the bronze medals. For the 11-12 year old boys we had gold medals for the team of Rory Aiken, Oliver Mooney, Ryan McGowan and Hayden James, followed by the team of Ryan Aiken, Nathan Pacha, Austin Cassidy and Darren Woods claiming the silver medals.
The Girls 100 (7-10) Medley relay saw the team of Hannah Lunch, Sophie Cathcart, Sarah Speer and Erin Farry claim the Gold medals, with the team of Niamh Ahern, Muireann Cassidy, Beth Jones and Cara Trainor take the silver medals with a very close finish between the team of Emma Speer, Lucy Rice, Ava Neal and Aiobheann McCarney finishing in third for the Bronze medals. The older girls (11-12) also claimed the gold medal with the team of Kate McDade, Cora McConnell, Molly Rice and Saoirse McGovern producing strong swims, with the team of Eloise Boyd, Hannah Beacom, Anna Cairns and Ashling Man taking the Bronze medals home.
The boys 100 (7-10) Medley relay saw the team of Luke Lannon, Adam Forster, Patrick Toal and Austin Cassidy take the gold medals with Harry Welsh, Ryan Mongan, Michael McGowan and Kyle James swimming well to take home the Silver medals. For the 11-12 year old boys the team of James Mongan, Ryan McGowan, Hayden James and Conal Walker secured the Gold medals finishing just ahead of the Lakelanders team of Oliver Mooney, Ryan Aiken, Darren Woods and Austin Cassidy in second place taking home the Silver medals.
The mixed medley relay produced some excellent swims with our 7-10 year old team of Luke Lannon, Adam Forster, Beth Jones and Cara Trainor taking the Gold medals, closely followed by the team of Sophie Cathcart, Sarah Speer, Michael McGowan and Kyle James securing the silver medals. The team of Patrick Toal, Emma Speer, Hannah Lynch and Ryan Mongan swam well to finish in 3rd place securing the bronze medals. In the 11-12 year old category the team of Eloise Boyd, Oliver Mooney, Molly Rice and Hayden James enjoyed a very close race with swimmers from Breifne but emerged Victorious claiming the Gold medals!
Special mention goes to Niamh Ahern, Sophie Cathcart, Sam Curran, Ashling Man, Nathan Pacha, Pranay Pacha and Conal Walker for whom this was their first taste of competitive swimming.
After 3 hours with 106 heats and 568 individual races, the event drew to a close with tired but exhilarated youngsters, proud of their medals and their swimming. Lakelanders Gala Secretary Noel Mc Manus, paid tribute to the 35+ parents and senior swimmers who volunteered their time to help run the event saying, 'this was a fantastic start to the season for our younger swimmers and it could not happen without the support the club receives from our parent volunteers. I have no doubt events such as this are pivotal in launching the competitive careers of some future Fermanagh swimming stars'.
- 13 Jul 2025Lakelanders Sparkle at National Championships in Limerick
Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club were well represented on the National stage at the 2025 Irish Age Group National Championships at the University of Limerick Sports Arena last week. Six young Lakelanders’ swimmers joined almost 700 swimmers from over 100 clubs competing over four days of exciting competition. - 06 Jul 2025Enniskillen Lakelanders will be well represented at Summer National Competitions
With the 2024/2025 swimming season coming to an end, the finale for the competitive swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders is the Irish Summer National competitions. There is great excitement among the 6 Lakelanders swimmers who have qualified to compete at the Age Group Championships in Limerick.
Thursday 10th 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, two of whom are competing at this level for the first time. - 29 Jun 2025Enniskillen Lakelanders Celebrate Season Successes
Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club held their annual End of Season Gala last Saturday 28th June. This marks the end of the club's a very different 10 month season swimming in two counties across the FODC council. The gala is an opportunity for swimmers across all groups to compete side by side and a fun relay to round of the event. - 22 Jun 2025Medals and PBs galore for the Lakelanders at Summer Gala in Lisburn
Swim Ulster’s Swim Festival 2025 took place in Lisburn's Lagan Valley Leisureplex on Sunday the 22nd of June.
A squad of 18 Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers, along with Head Coach Fionna Orr, made their way to Lisburn for the event. - 08 Jun 2025Medals and PBs for Lakelanders at Banbridge Open
Banbridge Open Long Course Meet took place in Craigavon’s South Lakes Leisure Centre on Saturday the 7th of June.
A squad of 13 Enniskillen Lakelanders’ swimmers, along with Head Coach Fionna Orr, made their way to the fabulous South Lakes Leisure Centre long course (50m) swimming pool for the final club meet of the season for the older swimmers. This meet provided the final opportunity for competitive swimmers to qualify for Swim Ireland's Irish Summer National competitions. As a bonus Banbridge swimming club had extended their invitation to clubs from all over Ireland. The chance to achieve qualifying times and compete against the best in Ireland was too good to miss. - 07 Jun 2025Young Lakelanders fought fierce battle with Lecale in AquaSprints Final
A team of 39 young swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders ASC travelled to the Lagan Valley LeisurePlex in Lisburn last Friday to compete in the A final of this year’s Forest Feast AquaSprints League.
The event saw the young Lakelanders compete in a head to head battle against a strong squad from Lecale Swimming Club, while Swim Belfast and Olympia battled it out in the Division 4 B final, making the night a double event. - 01 Jun 2025Lakelanders success in Bangor
Seven Enniskillen Lakelanders' swimmers travelled to the Aurora Complex in Bangor to race at the Ian Wright Memorial Gala at the weekend. - 18 May 2025Young Lakelanders give Lecale a tough battle for Aquasprint League Round 3
A team of 35 young swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders ASC travelled to Downpatrick on Saturday to compete in the third meet of this year’s Forest Feast AquaSprints league.
The annual Swim Ulster competition offers an opportunity for younger swimmers born between 2017 and 2012 to race over 25m sprints in all four strokes, in both individual and relay events.
The young Lakelanders who recently moved to Omagh for training following the closure of their home pool in the Lakeland Forum, took on the battle against Lecale with gusto. - 04 May 2025Quartet of Ulster titles and a slew of medals & PBs at Ulster LC Champs
A squad of 12 swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club attended the Ulster Age Group and Senior LC Championships at the Bangor Aurora Leisure Complex on 2nd, 3rd & 4th 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. - 19 Apr 2025Lakelanders light up the NAC at Irish Open
Swim Ireland’s Irish Open Swimming Championships started on Saturday (12th April) at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre in Dublin. The 5-day event saw over three hundred swimmers from over fifty clubs compete for National titles in thirty-four individual events. The competition saw twelve Championship Records broken as well as three Irish Senior and four Irish Junior Records across the five days of racing as swimmers aimed for places on Senior National Teams. This meet is also the first opportunity for athletes to qualify for the Regional and National programmes for the 2025-2026 season. Three swimmers from the local Enniskillen Lakelanders swim club attended the prestigious meet keen to compete with the best in the country and witness some of the top swimmers the world in action.
Follow Us
