Castlebar Swimming Club
Swim News - 6 November 2012
By Darina Molloy
6, Nov 2012 - 10:04

Following on from the excellent Castlebar Swimming Club ‘A' gala which kicked off this year's season, it was the turn of the B & C swimmers to enjoy a day out, also on home territory. First up was the boys' backstroke, with some good times for those swimming in three age categories: Conor Mongan (1:36.45), Michael Fahy (1:42.27), Ciaran Mylett (1:51.44), Rory Grady (1:55.96), Conaill Lynch (2:19.22), James English (1:41.16), Eoin Mitchell (1:15.65) and Matthew Moran (1:30.74). Conor Mongan just narrowly missed a B time for the breast stroke, swimming 1:48.97. The other Castlebar swimmers in this event were Michael Fahy (1:52.99), Ciaran Mylett (1:56.16), Tommy Huang (1:58.19), Conaill Lynch (2:07.39), Pierce Dunne (2:08.72), Rory Grady (2:11.75), James English (1:44.34), Eoin Mitchell (1:30.28) and Matthew Moran (1:52.91).

For the girls, there were some more fine performances, with Aoife Donohoe recording an A time of 1:34.49 in the 100 meter backstroke, and some more great swims from Rachel Henehan (1:49.78), Sarah Conlon (1:59.90), Hazel Coen (1:31.88), Louise Mongan (1:34.81) and Sarah Burke (1:39.74). In the breaststroke, there were further good swims from the girls with Aoife Donohoe leading the under-11s on 1:50.26, followed by Rachel Henehan (1:53.22), Megan Deely (1:53.22), Fiona Conway (1:55.40), Saoirse Hoban (1:59.32), Sarah Conlon (2:10.66), Brianne Horan (2:15.87) and Caitriona McCormack (2:33.56). For the under-13s, Louise Mongan recorded 1:49.01, and for the under-15s, Sarah Burke swam the 100m breaststroke in 1:43.72, with Meaghan Coen on 1:47.00.

The final event of the day was the 200 meter freestyle, with Sean O'Connor gaining an impressive A team of 2:52.40 and other Castlebar swimmers recording good times, including Ronan Dervan (3:07.31), Cian Donohoe (3:14.06), Michael Fahy (3:15.41), Conor Mongan (3:15.74), Ciaran Mylett (3:41.87), Tommy Huang (3:47.38), Pierce Dunne (3:54.62) and Conaill Lynch (3:59.43). For the under-13 boys, James English swam 3:14.24, while Eoin Mitchell gained his A time with a time of 2:27.07, followed by Matthew Moran on 3:08.94.

There were more A times for the girls in the 200m freestyle, with Hannah Grady recording 2:46.63 and Heather Fadden swimming 2:55.00. Also swimming in this event were Aoife Donohoe (3:01.59), Saoirse Hoban (3:02.47), Fiona Conway (3:04.29), Megan Deely (3:26.56), Rachel Henehan (3:52.63), Hazel Coen (2:54.11), Kianna Higgins (2:57.21), Louise Mongan (2:59.82), Megan Coen (2:43.69) and Sarah Burke (3:15.82).

The Castlebar swimmers also had a very successful ‘away' outing recently, with the annual Cranny Gala at Leisureland, Galway. It was a long day for the swimmers, who arrived home at a late hour, but a very worthwhile one in terms of personal best times and impressive performances. All strokes were swum over a 200 meter distance.

Edel Egan: IM silver in Galway.

First up were the 12 & under girls, who swam the backstroke and there were personal bests (PBs) all round for Edel Egan (2:47.32), Siofra McHale (2:51.79), Niamh Breslin (2:58.52) and Hannah Grady (3:11.52). The 13-14 girls also performed well in this event, with Sinead Mylett scoring a five-second PB - a mean feat given her already amazing times - and taking gold. There were PBs also for Aisling Grady, Laura Fahy, Aoibheann Hennigan, Paula McDonagh and Siofra Horan. Also swimming well for Castlebar was Meaghan Coen, with a time of 2:58.37.

For the boys, Sean O'Connor and Aaron Doherty continue to impress in the 12 & under age category, with both boys taking PBs. Nathan Rennick took an impressive 13 seconds off his previous PB, and there were more personal best records for Cillian Melly and Patrick Livingstone.

In the girls' breast stroke, there was bronze for Ambre Fadden for her time of 2:57.26 and PBs for Hazel Coen (3:28.81), Hannah Grady (3:35.61), Sinead Mylett (2:57.43), Caoimhe Hennigan (3:11.59) and Una Togher (3:23.49).

Jamie Murphy: Breast stroke gold in Galway.

Jamie Murphy took gold with a PB of 2:58.55 in the boys' breast stroke with Mark Dervan taking bronze in his age category for his 17-second PB of 2:46.83, while there were PBs also for Conor Melly (3:13.57), Ronan Dervan (3:24.88), Aaron Doherty (3:36.62) and James English (3:45.23).

In the 200 meter individual medley (IM) - which sees all four strokes combined in one event - Edel Egan took silver with a time of 2:51.14, while Sinead Mylett took gold in her age group with a time of 2:28.35. There were PBs all round for the other swimmers in this event - Siofra McHale (2:55.95), Niamh Breslin (3:11.25), Aisling Grady (2:37.73), Laura Fahy (2:45.44), Siofra Horan (2:47.15), Niamh Heneghan (2:48.30), Caoimhe Hennigan (2:48.50), Paula McDonagh (2:49.36) and Una Togher (2:58.30).

Jamie Murphy narrowly missed out on a podium finish, taking fourth place with a PB of 2:44.92 in the IM, with further PBs for Conor Melly (2:52.43), Sean O'Connor (3:01.50), Ronan Dervan (3:18.42), Nathan Rennick (2:49.13). There was bronze for Patrick Livingstone in his age group with a time of 2:23.05, and a 2-second PB for Cillian Melly. Mark Dervan had a very impressive 17-second PB of 3:04.36 in the 200m fly, while Cillian Melly took gold for his age group with a time of 2:26.24.

The final event of the night was the 200m freestyle, in which Hannah Grady swam a whopping 22-second PB for a time of 2:45.08. There were PBs also for Siofra McHale (2:36.23), Aisling Grady (2:22.54), Ambre Fadden (2:23.36), Laura Fahy (2:24.94), Paula McDonagh (2:26.06), Siofra Horan (2:26.54), Niamh Heneghan (2:30.98) and Aoibheann Hennigan (2:31.17). For the boys, Eoghan Grady secured gold with a PB of 1:58.78, and there were PBs also for Jamie Murphy (2:30.86), Aaron Doherty (2:43.62), Sean O'Connor (2:51.54), Mark Dervan (2:26.05) and Nathan Rennick (2:33.76).