01 Jul 2022

Thank you Noel McManus for the lovely photographs!

With the 2021/2022 swimming season coming to an end, the finale for the competitive swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders is the Irish Summer National competitions. These competitions will take place across two meets in July with Irish National Division 2 taking place in Limerick, followed by Irish Summer Nationals in Dublin. Summer National competitions last took place in 2019 so there is great excitement among the 13 local swimmers who have qualified to compete at these events.

 

Wednesday the 6th July sees the start of the 5 day 2022 Irish National Division 2 Competition in the UL Sport Complex at the University of Limerick.  Five Lakelanders have qualified to attend, three of whom are competing at this level for the first time alongside two of our more experienced swimmers.

Emilie Reihill (16) is competing across six events; 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke. The 16-year-old has worked hard all year, combining her GCSE studies, swimming and football training with competing across Ulster and this has paid dividends with these qualification times.

Frank Buchanan (16), fresh from his Athletics Silver medal at Tailteann Games Schools Interprovincial Championships in Tullamore, shows versatility in other sports and will compete in his favoured 100m and 200m Backstroke.

Hayden James (15) has also worked hard year dropping times in meet after meet and now looks forward to his first National finals, competing in the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke.

Kiril Chursin (16) is another swimmer who has shown great progression this season and is looking forward to his first National finals and will compete in the 50m and 100m Freestyle events along with the 100m Breaststroke.

The final newcomer to the National stage and the youngest Lakelander to compete at Division 2 is Kate McDade (14). Kate has worked hard all year to get her times down and is competing in the 50m, 100m and 200m Freestyle events along with the 100m and 200m Breaststroke.

Niamh O’Donnell (14) also had a successful season achieved the qualification times for this meet but is unfortunately unable to attend.

The 5 day Summer National competition follows two weeks later with seven Lakelanders achieving the standards required to compete in the National Aquatic Centre, Dublin.

The youngest Lakelander to compete, Hannah Lynch (13), has worked extremely hard all year. Fresh from captaining the winning Aquasprints team, Hannah looks forward with confidence competing in the 200m Backstroke and 400m Freestyle events.

Ellie Dunlop, another thirteen-year-old who has worked tirelessly all year, has qualified for 100m and 200m Breaststroke and 200 Individual Medley. For both Hannah and Ellie this is their first opportunity to qualify for this National competition and to achieve the Division one standards is commendable.

Jamie Lannon (14), another bright star in the Lakelanders club who has recently been selected for Swim Ulster’s Regional Development Squad, is participating in an impressive seven events over the week. Showing his versatility, he will compete in the 50m, 100m, 200m Freestyle, 100m and 200m Breaststroke, 100m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley events. Jamie will be hoping to match his success at Dave McCullagh International meet and the Swim Ulster Championships earlier this year.  

Another very successful Lakelander attending is Anna McDade (16). Anna has recently been awarded the FODC award for achievement in sport, having participated at several national and international events this season. Anna will represent the Lakelanders in her favourite 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke along with the 50m Freestyle event.

Izzy Lannon (16) will also compete in Dublin; Izzy is another well established and dedicated swimmer who will be hoping to match her season’s success in the 50m Freestyle and the gruelling 400m Individual Medley.

Molly Johnston (17) has been focused on her A-Level studies this year but has maintained her swimming very well and will compete in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke events.

Dara Ronan (18) has taken a short break from competitive swimming to concentrate on his Leaving Certificate exams over the past few months but will make a welcome return to compete in the 100m Butterfly and 100m Backstroke events on the National stage.

National Squad member Cora Rooney (17) will be competing across 4 events, the 50m, 100m and 200m Backstroke alongside the 50m Butterfly and will no doubt have an eye on places in finals and securing National medals.

Chairperson Aideen Speer commended all the swimmers on their hard work and dedication to their sport and hoped that they would be rewarded with much fruit for their labour. The Lakelanders Committee would also like to thank the Lough Erne Resort for their generous support of the Club throughout the year, culminating in supporting the National Squad with sponsorship of the National Kit.

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