Lakelanders Triumph over Lecale in Aquasprint Round 2
18 Feb 2024
The Enniskillen Lakelanders took on Lecale Swimming Club from Downpatrick at Enniskillen Lakeland Forum on Saturday 18th February in the second round of the Aquasprint League. The League, sponsored by Forest Feast, is a starting point for the younger swimmers with opportunities to compete in all strokes in individual and relay races over 25m. Fifty-five of the younger Lakelanders swimmers born between 2016 and 2011 took to the pool in the hope of building on their first round win two weeks previous.
The gala opened with Medley Relays (Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly & Freestyle) and first up for Lakelanders was Group A of Conor Collins, Jakub Mikievicz Lumayad, Niamh Howell and Molly Kate Brewster hit the wall first to the cheer of the home crowd. Group B of Clara Leonard, Tori Veitch, James McSorley and Michael Carron and Group C of Crea Mullen, Emmett Coyle, Sophie Hanna and Daire Burke also hit first spot to win their age group events. In the last relay Martha McCreesh, Emma Speer, Darragh Collins and Mirko Mann were disappointed to lose out by .01sec but the team had done well and were eight points ahead after the first event.
Next were the individual events which began with the Backstroke which brought lots of 1st and 2nd spots for the Enniskillen side including 1st places for Niamh Howell, Michael Carron, Crea Mullen and Martha Mc Creesh. There were 2ndplaces for Molly Kate Brewster, Clara Leonard, Jakub Mikievicz Lumayad, Sophie Hanna, James McSorley, Daire Burke and Myleene Leonard. There were also great swims by Ella Rose Carron, Finn Coyle, Joshua Hill, Katie McGowan and Anton Neal. After a successful Backstroke round the Lakelanders led by twelve points.
Breaststroke was next, a stroke in which the Lakelanders usually dominate and they didn’t disappoint with all the girls securing the top spots; Niamh Howell, Clara Leonard, Keira Salcedo and Martha McCreesh. Maria Clifford, Sophie Hanna and Emma Speer took second spots. Jakub Mikievicz Lumayad, Michael Carron and Darragh Collins claimed second places for the boys while there was also point scoring by Joseph McKenna, Charles Armstrong, Natalie Swidani, Kealan Rice, Holly Barkley and Mirko Mann. Following the Backstroke round the Lakelanders had stretched their lead further and the score was 91 to 109.
The Butterfly stroke is one of the most difficult swimming strokes and the young Lakelanders have been making steady progress with first spots claimed by Mollie Kate Brewster, Crea Mullen and Martha McCreesh. Second spots went to Jakub Mikievicz Lumayad, Clara Leonard, Michael Carron, Sophie Hanna, Myleene Leonard and Darragh Collins. There were also great swims by Maia Rolston McAuliffe, Orlaith Howell, Daithi Owens, Emmett Coyle and Maeve Rolston McAuliffe. Lecale took the butterfly round but the Lakelanders held their lead heading into the Freestyle round.
The last individual event was the Front crawl where the Lakelanders swam really well again. The Lakelanders girls secured the top three spots across the board. Unknown to the young Enniskillen Lakelanders they we leading by twenty points heading into the relays.
The final event of the day had everyone cheering on the Lakelanders and again they won three out of the four freestyle relays leaving the home team awaiting the final results with hope of victory.
On the day Lakelanders had fifty-five swimmers, a clear sign of the popularity of swimming in Fermanagh and there was lots of great competitive swimming opportunities on the night for new and less experienced swimmers in the relay teams. These children are progressing so well, with some only in the club a few months, these included Emily Irvine, Ellie Kennedy, Tara Collins, Imogen Neal, Charlie Brewster, Domhall Burke, Tadhg Murphy, Elin O’Donohue, Shannon Brennan, Maddie Maguire, Ciara Kennedy, Tia Mbeulina, Erin Quigley, Anna May Hill, Luna Murphy, Alfie Miller, Holly McCabe, Haralds Uzulins and Finley Walker. They all did themselves proud and by the smiles on their faces really enjoyed the event.
Following speeches from the new team Captains Martha McCreesh and Darragh Collins, the final result were called out; Enniskillen Lakelanders 214 and Lecale 186. There was rapturous applause and smiles all around the home team.
Coaches Ben Wiffen and Clare Morris were extremely proud of all the swimmers and of their individual achievement as were the Aquasprint organisers with wonderful smiles, good behaviour and great swimming along with making friends and having fun. Ben and his family have enjoyed an amazing week of celebrating with Ben's younger brother Daniel Wiffen winning no less than two gold medals for Ireland at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, claiming world titles in both the 800m and 1500m Freestyle events. Inspiring stuff for all the Enniskillen Lakelanders training hard at the Forum!
Next weekend will see over thirty of the older swimmers heading to Craigavon for a two day Long Course meet.
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