Castlebar - County Mayo - Swimming Results

Seven Swimmers from the Castlebar Swimming Club attended the Irish Age Groups Division 1 Competition held in Athlone Pool on 10th/11th/12th/13th July. This is one of Swim Ireland’s biggest swimming competitions of the year with 49 competing clubs and a very large spectator attendance’s throughout.

Darragh Quinn was the pick of the swimmers at this meet, having a very fine qualifying heat swim in Boys 16 Years 100m Breaststroke to reach a final and finish in 5th place on 1:12.87 alongside four other finalist all finishing on 1:12 – , this was a nail biting finish with Darragh leading the way in the first 50m. and only hundredths of a second seperated the first five places. Darragh also had personal best times in 100m Fly, 200m IM, 100m Backstroke and 100 m Freestyle

Laura Keaveney in Girls 15 Years had some very fine swims and made reserve finalist in 100m Fly in a time of 1; 12.25, Laura had a personal best time in 100m Backstroke and was seen smiling after her 100m Breaststroke in a time of 1; 24.95. Her other swims included 200m IM, 400m Freestyle and 100m Freestyle

Aisling Bourke made her debut at Division 1 and in the Girls 13 Years 100m Breaststroke she showed some real class in her heat swim to make reserve finalist in a time of 1; 25.91. Aisling swam her 100m Fly in a personal best time of 1; 19.80 and continued to make P B’s in 200m IM, 100m Backstroke and in the 100m Freestyle Aisling and twin Natalie finished in a time of 1; 10.20 – a remarkable coincidence!

This also was Natalie Bourkes first time to qualify for Division 1 and she left her mark as she had PB’s in 100m Backstroke and had a good 100m Breaststroke and 200m I.M.

Eleanor Grier -Gavin having made the Division 1 qualifying time at Division 2 the previous week again put in a really good performance in Girls 14 Years 100m Breaststroke, 100m Fly and 200m I.M.

Sarah Caulfield again showed style as she made 2nd reserve finalist in 100m Breaststroke in time of 1; 24.13 her other swims included 100m freestyle, 100m fly, 200m IM and 100m Backstroke and the club wishes her well as she makes her way to the Nationals in Lisburn .

The youngest swimmer James Sweeney also made his debut at this level and as usual his performances were admirable and in Boys 11-12 Years 100m Breaststroke he made 2nd reserve finalist. James had a personal best time in 200m IM and 100 m Freestyle and swam a great 100m Backstroke in a time of 1; 27.13.

To get to this level these swimmers put in plenty of effort and pool time showing great dedication and the efforts of their coaches must also be recognised.