
Spring Junior Gala 2023
05 Mar 2023
Thank you Mary Ann Salcedo for the photos
Enniskillen Lakelanders Host Junior Spring Gala
Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club held their Spring Junior Gala on Sunday 5th March, an event aimed at younger swimmers. Right off the back of their recent Aquasprint victory in Downpatrick last month the junior swimmers were eager to race individually at their home pool. Joining competitors from the local club were 14 visiting clubs from all over Ulster and Leinster. 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.
Swim Ireland referee Lars Beheme oversaw more than 1100 entries from over 300 excited swimmers in attendance. Lars was supported by a strong group of over 50 parents and older swimmers volunteering from the Lakelanders club which helped ensure that the busy gala ran smoothly. It was a very successful event for the Lakelanders, raising much needed club funds and giving swimmers the chance to put their training into practise and show off their talents with a large haul of medals and an abundance of PBs on the day.
Gold medals were achieved by Joseph Mc Kenna in 50m Breaststroke and 50mm Freestyle , Ava Neal in 50m Breaststroke, Erin Salcedo in 100m Breaststroke, Sarah Speer in 50m Butterfly , 100m Butterfly and 50m Breaststroke, Daire Burke 100m Breaststroke, Sophie Hanna 50m Backstroke and Niamh Howell in 50m Breaststroke.
The medals continued to flow with silvers awarded to Molly Kate Brewster in 50m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke, Jakub Mikievicz Lumayad won silvers in 50m Breaststroke and Backstroke, Ava Neal and Sarah Speer also won silver in 100m Breaststroke while Erin Salcedo picked up silver in 50m Breaststroke.
There were also bronze medals for Keira Salcedo & Emma Speer in 100m Breaststroke , a bronze for Madeline Curran in 50m Breaststroke, Lorcan Doherty won two bronze in his 50 and 100m Breaststroke and Martha McCreesh won two silvers in her 50 and 100m Backstroke.
Chairperson Aideen Speer expressed her thanks to a wide range of people who all came together to make the Junior Gala a success - praising all club members for their help and support, events like these can only run with the help and hard work of the volunteers. Thanks are also expressed to the staff at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum for facilitating our event. The club are indebted to the generous sponsorship provided by local businesses (Cassidy and McCreesh Orthodontic Practice, MTL Marine, SCH Construction, Cossum Swim School, Office Repair Centre, Nathan Carter, Lough Erne Resort, Mullen Domestic, Lisdergan Butchery, Burke Accountants, Cormac McCaffrey Transport, Thomas Hanna & Co Ltd, Elliott York Partnership, Gibson Solicitors and McLaughlins). We are also very grateful to all parents who donated and sourced a large number of wonderful raffle prizes and donations to our gala cafe.
Aideen praised Michelle Reihill, gala secretary, for her trojan work behind the scenes ensuring the smooth running of the gala. She also thanked all the coaching team led by Ben Wiffen and Claire Morris for their commitment to all the swimmers.The support of the coaching team ensured we had a competitive event which was also an enjoyable learning experience for all. We now look forward with renewed confidence to the rest of the season ahead.
The Senior swimmers are in action in two weeks time with the two-day Aspiring Champions meet in Bangor, good luck to all our competitors.
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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.