Castlebar Swimming Club
National Swimming Championships - July 2002
By Linda McCaffrey
18, Aug 2002 - 16:49

The Irish National Swimming Championships were held in Lisburn from July 24th to 28th. The Castlebar swimmers who had qualified for this event did themselves and their coaches proud, with many fine performances and personal best times in both individual and team events. The swimmers and coaches timed their training impeccably, so that the competitors were in peak form for this prestigious event where they pitted themselves against the very best in the country. Indeed, the event also attracts many overseas entries, which makes for very tough competition.

The star performers for the Castlebar Club were sisters, Sara and Laura English in the Ladies events plus Cian Holland and Joseph Moran in the Mens events.

Cian Holland rounded off an excellent season by qualifying for the “A” final of the 50m Butterfly, where he finished 3rd in the junior category, in a personal best time. Cian qualified for the “B” final of 200m Butterfly, where he finished 1st Junior, again in a personal best time. He also reached the “B” final in the 100m Butterfly, where he had yet another personal best, also the “B” final of the 100m freestyle.

Sara English timed her training to perfection and was in brilliant form for her favoured Breaststroke event. She qualified for the “A” final of the 50m Breaststroke, and in a personal best time, finished 5th of the Irish swimmers. This is a fantastic achievement and is fitting reward for the commitment and dedication of this swimmer. Sara also showed great form in the 200m Backstroke and the 200m Individual Medley events, with personal best times in both.

Laura English qualified for the “B” final of the 200m Breaststroke, following an excellent swim and personal best time in the heats.

Laura also reached the “B” final of the 200m Individual Medley where she had another personal best time and was reserve finalist in the 100m Breaststroke. To round off a week of very fine swimming, Laura also had personal best times in the 400m Individual Medley and the 100m Freestyle.

Joseph Moran showed his usual good form in the Backstroke events by qualifying for the “B” final in the 100m Backstroke.

Joseph was also instrumental in helping 4 x 100m Medley Relay Team to reach the final of that event. Joseph, along with Cian Holland, Darragh Quinn and Ciaran Garrick , held their own admirably against very tough opposition to take the bronze medal in a very exciting race.

Many other Castlebar Swimmers had personal best times in Individual events over the weekend.

Ciaran Garrick improved his times in the 100m freestyle and 200m Individual Medley, as did

Colm Garrick in the 200m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke.

Darragh Quinn followed his successes at Division 1 with personal bests in the 200m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle.

Dara Dever had Personal Bests in the 100m Breaststroke and 200m Breaststroke, as did

Jimmy Wiseman in the 100m Individual Medley and the 100m Butterfly and

Jill Magee in the 200m Breaststroke.

Other swimmers to represent the Castlebar Club at the Nationals were Sarah Wiseman and Zoe Davis.

The biggest contingent ever from the Castlebar Swimming Club will travel to Mosney this year to represent Mayo at the National finals of the Community Games. We wish them well with their preparations and endeavours at the National Finals.

© Copyright 2002 by Castlebar - County Mayo -