Colin and Alannah compete in Irish Open Short Course Championship.
The Lagan Valley Leisureplex, Lisburn was the setting for the 2015 Irish National Short Course (25m) Swimming Championships. Competition took place from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th December with 63 teams and over 400 swimmers competing for national titles. This is the first National Championships of the 2015/16 swimming season and representing Sliabh Beagh swimming club, Monaghan was Colin Gorman (16yrs) and Alannah Leonard (18yrs).
Colin was delighted to make 2 finals in the 100m & 200m butterfly, this was a fantastic achievement in an open competition. In the final of the 100m Fly he went under the magic minute in a time of 59.98 and in the 200m fly Colin finished in 11th position taking a massive 8.55 secs off and giving him a new personal best time of 2.13.82. Colin also competed in the highly competitive 50m & 100m freestyle and was delighted to bring home yet another personal best time in the 100m free of 55.26.
Alannah who has made a return to full training after her leaving cert year also had a great weekend making improvements in all her times from her last outing at the Ulster Short Course. Alannah had a busy weekend competing in 8 different events and making finals in 5 of them. Her best performances were in her favourite, the backstroke. Making a season best times of 1.05.76 in the 100m backstroke and 2.23.80 in the 200m backstroke. She was thrilled to make a personal best time in the 50m backstroke of 30.76 this also saw her finish 5th overall in the finals. Alannah also competed well in the individual medley events making finals of the 100m & 200m events, however decided to scratch from the 200 event to concentrate on 50 back final and finished a very respectable 12th overall in the 100m medley event.
Both swimmers now look forward to the beginning of the long course season which kicks off with the 2016 Swim Ulster International/Dave McCullagh Memorial which will take place in Aurora Bangor from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th March 2016. However first after a 2 day break they have Christmas training to look forward to, when training intensifies in preparation for the long course season.
Schools Gala in Monaghan Leisure Centre
Sliabh Beagh swimmers shone again last week at the Schools Gala in Monaghan Leisure Centre. There were great swims by the Curran bros, Conor and Eanna, Cionna Barry and Lara McCaughy. They won a haul of medals between them. Conor and Cionna also won trophies for best male and female swimmers. Conor and Eanna helped their school, Scoil Eanna, Ballybay to win the overall school’s trophy for the second time. Also well done to Hannah Sheridan and Zara Hannigan. Congrats to all.
Christmas training
This Saturday is the last training day for the Development squad. All other squads should check the club notice board and web-site for the Christmas training schedule.
Swim Ulster Qualifying Gala
The first Swim Ulster Qualifying Gala takes place in Lisburn this coming weekend.
This is the first meet of the season for some of our swimmers. Good luck to all taking part.