Archived News
Pre-Club Gala, 8th. December 2000.
Shenagh takes gold again for Castlebar swimming club
Grade A swimmers from Castlebar Swimming Club were in action at the Shark open gala which was held at Leisureland, Galway, on Saturday and Sunday last. This event which attracted clubs from Ballymena, Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford, Longford, Ennis, Limerick and Cork, as well as the Connaught clubs, certainly brought out the best in the Castlebar swimmers. Indeed, many produced personal best times, some achieved qualifying times for the Irish Age Groups later in the year and of course there were many medal winners.
Shenagh O' Byrne, competing in the under-11 category reached the final of the girls lOOm. freestyle event and in an extremely competitive race, produced a personal best time to take the gold medal.
Shenagh repeated this performance in the final of the girls under-11 100m. Butterfly event, to take a second gala medal in very convincing fashion in another personal best time.
Laura English, competing against many of the country's top swimmers, took the bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke (open) event. Laura had another good swim in the senior 200m.
Laura Keaveney reached the final of the girls under-13 100m. freestyle where she came 4th., again competing against the very best swimmers in the country. Laura also reached the final of the under-13 butterfly, where she came in 5th.
Zoe Davis produced a very fine swim to come ? in the girls under-13 100m butterfly final. On top of that Zoe along with Laura achieved the qualifying times for the Irish Age Groups (division 1).
Jill Magee represented the club in the girls under-15 100m freestyle event and was the reserve finalist.
Michael Walls took part in the boys under-11 500m. and proved that he was in great form against very tough opposition.
Jimmy Wiseman, Daragh Dever and Darmagh Quinn, all produced personal best times in the 200m breaststroke event.
This was a most successful weekend of swimming for Castlebar swimming club, with many swimmers building up to the Irish Age Groups distance meet in Dublin next weekend, followed by the All-Ireland senior schools finals in New Ross next month.
Well done to all the swimmers and of course endless credit is due to the club head coach, Francois Rossi and to Marian English, club chairperson and coach.