Sliabh Beagh swim club will attend the International Swimming Gala in Stuttgart, Germany on the 18 and 19 June 2016. This event will have 3,500 swimmers from all over Europe and Egypt and India. Clubs from Austria, Luxemburg, England, Wales, France, Russia, Romania, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Latvia and Turkey will compete and make friends and have fun.
The 50m Pool has a moving roof. So if the weather is kind, it will be open, if not, closed. The club swimmers and mentors will head out on Wednesday (main group), but some will travel on Thursday and Friday.
There are 26 swimmers in our team. Most will swim at least in 4 events. We are also entering relay teams. We will get an opportunity to train in the Pool on Thursday and Friday, to familiarise the swimmers with the ‘open roof’ aspect, as well as the starting blocks, turn and touch pads etc.
Everyone is looking forward to the adventure and are keen to ‘take on’ the other nationalities. Nothing will be easy at this gala. The organisers have just circulated the entry times and it is very clear we have a tough assignment in front of us. However, the character and skill and determination of our swimmers, as demonstrated many times in competition and in training, will surface and we too will be hard to beat.
The team manager and support staff are working on arranging an itinerary for the non swim time on Wednesday evening, Thursday and Friday. Good luck everyone and have a great trip!
The photograph below has the majority of those travelling to Stuttgart included.
Great Swims by Sliabh Beagh in Aquasprint Final
The Sliabh Beagh Aquasprint tem had a great final on Friday night 3rd June . A great group of boys and girls made their way to Armagh for the B final against Dungannon and Cookstown.
The children swam their hearts out and there was huge excitement at the poolside.
The support for all teams was amazing and the atmosphere was electric. Sliabh Beagh swimmers had some very exciting races and really excelled in the relays.
Congratulations to Dungannon who won the final and Cookstown who were runners-up.
Sliabh Beagh came third but there were no sad faces as we knew our swimmers did their best.
Thanks to our coches Linda and Dana, the parents who acted as time-keepers, touch judges, recorders and team leaders. Thanks too to our sponsors, Forest Feast, for providing tee-shirts, posters and medals again this year.
We wish all our swimmers a very happy summer – best wishes and thanks go to our D-group as they move on from aquasprint. The club is very proud of you all.