The last club competition in the regional season, the Swim Ulster swim festival held in Lisburn last weekend proved to be a fabulous event for the twenty Sliabh Beagh swimmers who attended the meet and achieved a large haul of top place podium finishes and personal best times.

In session one, brilliant first place finishes and gold podium winners were achieved in the U12 age-group by Clodagh McCabe (50 Butterfly), in the fifteen and older age-group by Sophie Neeson (50 Backstroke) and Aisling Duffy (50 Butterfly). Fantastic silver place podium finishes were achieved in the U10 age-group by Rian Lynch (100 IM, 50 Backstroke, 50 Butterfly), U12 age-group by Daithi Lynch (100 Breaststroke), U14 age-group by Matthew Mohan (50 Butterfly), fifteen and older age-group by Aisling Duffy (100IM, 50 Backstroke, 100 Butterfly). Superb bronze place finishes were achieved in the U12 age-group by Daithi Lynch (100IM), in the U13 age-group by Odhran MacCinna (50 Backstroke, 50 Butterfly), in the U14 age-group Matthew Mohan (100 Breaststroke) and Jay Kavanagh (50 Butterfly) and lastly, in the fifteen and above by Sophie Neeson (100 Breaststroke). Wonderful personal best times were achieved Hannah McKenna (100IM, 50 Backstroke, 50 Butterfly, ) Eilis MacCinna (100IM, 50 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle), Clodagh McCabe (100IM, 50 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle), Emma McKenna (100IM, 50 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle), Sophie Neeson (100IM, 100 Freestyle), Colm Duffy (100IM,50 Backstroke, 100 Breaststroke), Odhran MacCinna (100IM, 100 Freestyle), Matthew Mohan (100IM,100Freestyle), Eabha McMullen (100IM, 50 Backstroke,100 Breaststroke,100 Freestyle), Daithi Lynch (50 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle) and  Jay Kavanagh (100Freestyle).

After the dizzy heights of an exceptional positive session one, session two proved to be another smashing session of swimming performances for Sliabh Beagh swimmers. Leading the charges with top three podium finishes were achieved with sublime gold podium places in the U12 age-group by Lily Deery (100 Butterfly), Egan Hearty (100Backstroke, 100 Butterfly, 50 Freestyle, 200IM) and in the fifteen and over age-group by Hannah Sheridan (100 Butterfly, 200IM) and Kristupas Januskevic (100 Backstroke, 50 Freestyle, 200IM). Terrific silver place finishes were achieved in the U11 age-group by Sophia Vergnano (50Breaststroke), U12 age-group by Lily Deery (100Backstroke, 50 Freestyle), fifteen and over by Hannah Sheridan (100Backstroke). Outstanding bronze place podiums were achieved in the U11 age-group by Sophia Vergnano (200IM) and in the fifteen and over age-group by Hannah Sheridan (50 Breaststroke) and Kristupas Januskevic (50 Breaststroke). Marvellous personal best times were achieved Sophia Vergnano (100 Backstroke, 50 Freestyle), Lexi Ronaghan (50Breaststroke, 50 Freestyle), Aoife Mullen (50 Freestyle) and Lily Deery (50 Breaststroke).

This concluded a first class competition for the swimmers of Sliabh Beagh and brought to a close to the club season for the summer break. To ensure the smooth running of logistics on the day, Sliabh Beagh would to sincerely thank the team managers of Fionnuala Lynch, Claire Sheridan and Team coaches Ciaran McMullen and Pearse McGuigan in their supporting roles on the day, as well as congratulate the swimmers for their fabulous racing endeavours on the day.

Six swimmers from Sliabh Beagh earned the right  on the clubs second overseas swimming trip this season to compete at the exciting Stuttgart International swim meet, Germany on the 24/25^th June. With a competition that boasted over 50 teams competing with some 15 overseas teams from Ireland, Egypt, the UK, Swizterland, Austria and Ukraine as well as Germany the competition was certainty an International swimming event!

Sean, Rebekah, Evardas, Darragh, Aoibhin & Hayden

First day of the meet, Sean, Aoibhin, Rebekah, Eamon, Evardas, Harden & Darragh

Day One started off superbly with Edvardas Zumaras posting personal best times in the 100 Freestyle, 50 Butterfly and won an excellent bronze medal in the 100 Backstroke in the sixteen age-group in his first International swimming meet outdoors.  Sean Greenan, as the youngest member of team had a great first day at the level of meet finishing in best time in the 100 Freestyle finishing eighth in the U15 final, while in the 100 Backstroke he placed an agonising fourth place and in the 200 Individual Medley he had another brave swim after a long day at the pool in the extremely warm 30 degree heats placing fifth in the event. New swimming recruit Hayden James, brought great synergy and excitement to the Sliabh Beagh team being on his first International swimming meet placed 8^th in the U16 100 Freestyle, set a new personal best in the 50 Butterfly and placed in the top eight in his age-group in the 100 Backstroke having to navigate the absence of swimming pool roof lines whilst racing outdoors was new experience for him to master.  Darragh Hughes was competing in Stuttgart for the third time and with this level of previous experience he finished seventh in the 17 and older age group 100 Freestyle, placed fifth in the 50 Butterfly and finishing off his day with an excellent second place and silver medal podium in the 50 Breaststroke and brought a close to a rewarding day of racing for Darragh. Rebekah Gillis started of the meet in positive fashion with a sixth place in the 17 and older age group 100 Freestyle and fourth in the 100 Backstroke, & was in fantastic form battling hard for a well earned bronze in the 50 Butterfly and finished off her day of racing with a sublime first place finish and first gold for the team in the 50 Breaststroke.  Aiobhin MacCinna, was another swimmer on her first outing in Stuttgart at this level of competition and didn’t disappoint with strong performances in the seventeen and older age-group finishing fourth in the 100 Freestyle and 200 Individual Medley, seventh in the 50 Butterfly and fifth in the 100 Backstroke. Evardas posing proudly with his Bronze MedalDarragh proudly showing off his Silver MedalRebekah sporting her Bronze Medal

Despite the searing temperatures in Stuttgart on Day Two, Sunday continued to be a fantastic day of swimming for the Sliabh Beagh swimmers with best times, final swims and podium places aplenty. First up was Darragh Hughes who got his hand on the wall for welcomed third place and bronze in the 100 Breaststroke that included cash prizes for those swimmers placing in the 100 metre finals! Darragh also placed fourth in the 100 Butterfly and gave great coaching and personal encouragement to the other team members in his leadership position as Team Captain.   In the U15 age-group which proved to be very competitive, Sean Greenan was continuing his exceptionally consistency placing fourth in the 100 Breaststroke and finished top eight in both the 50 Freestyle and 200 Freestyle. Edvardas Zumaras again was having a big meet finishing third and touching for bronze in the U16 200 Backstroke as well as placing tenth in the 100 Butterfly, ninth in the 50 Backstroke and top eight in the 200 Freestyle to finish off a very rewarding sequence of performance for him.  In the same age-group, Hayden James had a confidence boosting swim in the 200 Freestyle winning his heats and finishing fifth overall, and had a tremendous personal best swim in the 50 Freestyle and put in a strong performance in his last event of the meet, finishing eighth in the 100 Butterfly. A determined swim by Rekekah Gillis guaranteed her a third podium of the meet and second place and silver in the 100 Breaststroke. In the 50Freestyle, Rebekah had a brilliant swim placing fourth, while in the 50 Backstroke and 200 Freestyle she raced to creditable fifth place finishes in both events. Aiobhin MaCinna had started off with a solid ninth place in the 50 Freestyle and then had a great performance in the 100 Butterfly finishing third and winning bronze and then backed it up with another brilliant swim in the 200 Freestyle picking up another bronze medal and finishing third. With a fourth place finish in the 50 Backstroke for Aiobhin, this brought to a close a very successful meet for her as well as the other competing Sliabh Beagh swimmers.

Day 2! Aoibhin, Rebekah, Darragh, Hayden, Sean and Evardas keeping it cool in the soaring heat!

This was a brilliant meet from start to finish and every swimmer gave a great account of themselves through very aversive conditions of 30 degree heat and long competition days. The Sliabh Beagh swimmers were great ambassadors to themselves, the families, the club and their country and worthy representatives at the level of competition. A big thanks to Eamon O’Hara, who despite being in retirement kindly stepped in to support the team with his sublime coaching support. A special thanks to Team chaperones Helen Hughes and Kim Greenan who gave support with the team logistics over a very demanding weekend of competition and finally, to Team Manager Sylvia Gillis who did a phenomenal amount of background work planning and sourcing in advance of the trip to make sure the travelling Sliabh Beagh team got the best support possible to make the whole experience for everyone as successful as it was.

A well deserved Bronze Medal for Aoibhin

Now the team will look forward to going back to training and preparing with four weeks of quality training as they look to make a splash at the last swim meet of the season at the Irish Summer Nationals in beginning on the 26^th July.

Rebekah Proudly showing off her Gold Medal

Darrah managed to convince the Edgyptian Head coach to trade tops!Showing off our stylish t-shirts!Hayden ButterflyMoney voucher for Darragh!Sean chilling after his race!Sean!Always time for a quick selfie – Thank you for all your support in Stuttgart Sylvia, Helen, Kim and Eamon!

BBQ and inflatable fun to celebrate the end of what has been a very successful 22/23 season.

The final qualifier for Sliabh Beagh swimmers, looking to achieve qualification for the Irish Summer Age-group and Youth/Senior Championships, took place on Sunday 28th May at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.

Sliabh Beagh swimmers had a great meet with many personal best times and podium places across the very busy day of racing.

In the U12 age-group, Owen Fitzpatrick started off the meet off on a real high finishing 2nd and picked up silver place podiums in the 100 Freestyle and 100 Fly and a bronze 3rd place in the 200 Individual Medley, also achieving an Irish National age-group qualification time in the process.

In the U14 age-group, Justas Jarusas held his focus to pick up a bronze podium in the 200 Backstroke as well as a qualification time for the Irish age-groups and had solid competition swims in the 100 and 200 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke. Swimming a year out of their age-groups and after their exploits the night before at the Round four Aqua Series meet in Downpatrick against Lecale, Riya George set personal best times in the 200 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly and 100 Freestyle, while Ridas Zelvys excelled with big personal best times in the 400 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle.

In the U16 age-group, Sean Greenan had some sublime swims in his four entered events, with big personal bests in the 200Backstroke, 100Fly and 100 Freestyle and picked up a well earned 3rd place and bronze podium in the 200 Butterfly. New Sliabh Beagh swimming debutant Hayden James had a positive first racing outing for his new club performing strongly in the 100 Freestyle, 50 and 200 Butterfly, while he won an excellent bronze podium in the 100 Butterfly. Kristupas Januskevic had a brilliant four race meet with four personal best swims from four (100 Breaststroke and 100 Freestyle) and with two 5th place finishes in the 50 Breaststroke and 200 Freestyle. Edvardas Zumaras continued on his consistent performance progression this season, with personal best times in the 100/200 Backstroke and 100 Butterfly, while Katherine Ryan had an impressive personal best in the in the 200IM and finished sixth in the 50 Breaststroke.

In the 17 and older age-group, Aisling Duffy had super personal best swims in the 200 and 400 Freestyle, while top 10 finishes were achieved by Aoibhin MacCinna (50/100 Butterfly and 50/100Backstroke) and Hannah Sheridan in the 50 and 200 Backstroke.

This brought to a close Sliabh Beagh’s qualification window for the Irish Summer National meets where the club will have 12 swimmers competing over the two meets. Other club swimmers and some of the national qualifier swimmers will have the opportunity to compete at the season’s curtain closer Swim Ulster Festival at the end of June, or the Stuttgart International on the same weekend, where the club will be represented at this prestigious event by six swimmers.