Swim Ulster Development Meet 4 in Larne
Seven Sliabh Beagh swimmers attended this development gala. It was a very big entry from clubs all over Ulster. Some were there to get qualifying times for the Ulster Age groups championships at the end of March. Others, like our swimmers were there mainly to gain competition experience, achieve new PB’s and see if they could beat the officials beady eyes and avoid penalty tickets (disqualifications).
Disqualification is the biggest challenge for novice swimmers who are trying to swim longer distances. When you begin to tire and you still have 50 to 75 m left in a 200m Butterfly swim, it is very easy to make a technical error and receive a ticket.
Our swimmers entered strokes and distances, ranging from 100 Individual Medley to 400 Freestyle. Each swimmer gave their best, swam smartly and achieved PB’s and some medals. What was evident from a learning perspective varied from start sharpness, turn management and stroke length. These are areas even the worlds’ best swimmers are always working on. So for our developing swimmers, it is important to experience the difficulty poor skill execution brings on and also an opportunity to see other swimmers, that they are competing against, do it better or in several instances less well than us. Of course we should always take home the good example, practice it and be better the next time out.
Personal best times varied from 3 second improvement to 10 second, with some closing in on Division 2 Qualifying times.
All swimmers did their families and their club proud and their coach was satisfied with all individual performances. Swimmers and their Stroke are listed below.
Katie Bowden 200m free PB, 100m fly PB, 100m breast PB, 400m free.
Faolan Campbell 100m back PB, 100m free PB
Ruadhan Curran 100m IM, 200m breast PB,100m back
Aoife Duffy 200m free PB
Niamh Lavelle 200m back PB, 100m breast PB, 400m free
Emma Mc Elvanney 200m free PB, 200m back, 100m breast PB
Ellen Mc Geogh 200m free PB, 100m breast PB
Deirdre O Harte 200m free PB
Caolan Roberts 100m back PB, 200m IM PB
Cormorant Age Group Gala
Sisters Caoimhe and Caragh Leonard and Lorcan Roberts took part in the Cormorants Age Group Gala in Donaghmeade, Dublin over the weekend. Representing their club Sliabh Beagh, Monaghan they competed against many of the top Leinster age group swimmers in this two day event. This competitive gala for young swimmers is great preparation for the Ulster Age Groups Championships coming up at the end of March. The swimmers were delighted to come back home a medal tally of 9 gold medals, 5 silver medals, 1 bronze, numerous Ulster Age Group Qualifying times and 5 Irish Division One qualifying times. This is a fantastic achievement at this early stage in the season
Sympathy Extended
The club would like to extend our sympathy to Arpitha and her family on the recent death of her grandfather. May he rest in peace