Castlebar Swimming Club
Swimming News Update - 22 April 2004
By Linda McCaffrey
22, Apr 2004 - 00:01

A group of five elite swimmers from the Castlebar Swimming Club travelled to the National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown at the weekend to take part in the Nationals Long Course Championships. These swimmers were competing at the highest level in the country and were one of 46 competing clubs from the 32 counties

Performance of the weekend must go to Sarah Caulfield who won the B final in 200m Breaststroke – to quote her coach Sebastian “it was a fantastic final, she got what she deserved and all her hard work paid off as she swam a talented and intelligent race.”

Sarah also made the B final in 100m Breaststroke and had a great swim and then went on to qualify for the 200m IM final to finish in 4th place.

Colm Garrick another talented swimmer made the B final in 50m Backstroke and was placed 5th in a time of 30.98. He then went on to take his place in 100m Freestyle, 200m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke – no mean achievement to have Nationals qualifying times in all these strokes and study for the Leaving Certificate at the same time.

Dara Dever had the swim of his life in 50m Breaststroke to achieve a personal best time, win his heat and qualify for the B final to finish in 4th place in a time of 33.38 and rounded of what could only be called a successful weekend for Dara as he also took his place in 200m Breaststroke and 100m Breaststroke

Darragh Quinn a long standing elite swimmer of the club competed in 100m Fly, 100m Breaststroke, 200m IM, 100m Freestyle, 50m Fly, 50m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke. Whilst he achieved no major successes, he is looking forward to the Nationals short course championships in Lisburn in July.

Aisling Bourke competed for the first time at the Long Course Championships and took her place at National level to produce – in the words of her coach “ a well managed, good swim” in both the 200m Breaststroke and 100m Breaststroke.

These swimmers deserve much praise as they take their place at National level and fight off very tough opposition to make personal best times and reach finals in their individual events.