
Lakelanders Trio Shine at Winter Nationals in Dublin
15 Dec 2024
Lakelanders Trio Shine at Winter Nationals in Dublin

Swim Ireland’s Irish Winter Championships got underway at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre at the weekend with over five hundred swimmers from seventy-seven clubs competing in the final national meet of 2024.
Three athletes from Enniskillen Lakelanders were excited to participate in this prestigious event and as per expectations they didn't disappoint, returning with personal best swims and high hopes for the long course season ahead building to the Irish Long Course finals in July 2025.
Ellie Dunlop (15) competed in the 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke and the 100m Individual Medley. Ellie qualified for the 100m & 200m Breaststroke finals, securing new PBs. She hit the wall 3rd fastest 15 year old in the 100m Breaststroke finals and 5th fastest of her age group in the 200m Breaststroke. Another strong performance in the 50m Breaststroke placed her 2nd fastest among the 15 year olds. Ellie ranked in the top 6 of the 15 year olds in a fabulous 100m Individual Medley event.
Hannah Lynch (15) topped the rankings in her age group in the 800m Freestyle. Further strong performances placed her in the lead of her age group in the 1500m Freestyle, 4th in the 200m Backstroke heats, and 5th 15 year old in the 400m Freestyle.
Kate McDade (16) had strong swims in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley preliminary rounds to secure a place in the finals in all. With impressive performances, Kate was the 5th 16-year-old to hit the wall in the 100m Breaststroke final, 4th of her age group in the 200m Breaststroke final and ranked in the top 6 of the 16 year olds in the tight 200m IM final. Another PB in the 50m Breaststroke brought Kate into 4th place in her age group while further strong swimming brought her home in 5th position of the 16 year old rankings in the 100m Individual Medley.
Committee representative Janette Mongan praised the swimmers, saying 'the club are very proud of their achievements, they have shown our younger swimmers a shining example of what can be achieved from consistent hard work in training'.
The club also thank Head Coach Ben Wiffen for his great work with the swimmers, supported by the parent volunteers undertaking various roles to ensure the swimmers were able to represent Enniskillen at the highest level at this prestigious National competition.
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A squad of 20 swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders ASC made a big splash at the Swim Belfast Invitational 2026, held at Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre, Belfast, on Sunday 7th June, delivering a series of outstanding performances against strong competition.
The Lakelanders rose to the occasion in style, returning home with an impressive haul of medals and personal bests (PBs), highlighting the hard work, determination, and commitment of these talented young athletes.
Banbridge Open Long Course Meet took place in Craigavon’s South Lakes Leisure Centre on Saturday the 6th of June.
A squad of 11 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.
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.