Last Saturday and Sunday 9 swimmers from the club competed in this qualifying gala (that means you must have a qualifying time in at least 2 different strokes to swim this gala). The standard was high as many swimmers attending are trying to gain times from events as diverse as the Olympic Games all the way down to the Ulster Age Group Championships. Our swimmers were aiming for the Ulster Championships and the National Division 2 qualifying standards.

All swimmers gave their best effort. However we suffered a few disqualifications in the gala. These varied from ‘moving on the blocks’ to incorrect arm action timing in Butterfly. Nevertheless effort and reward was present and all swimmers returned personal best times, bringing them into the qualification zone or lingering just outside it.

 For those not attending, the challenge is to put in a little more focused effort and enter the next Development gala and nail down the qualifying time.   We will also seek out another gala for all to attend (if possible) between March and May.  

The following are the swimmers and times from last weekend. 

100 Backstroke

• Sean McKenna 1.30.52;
• Claragh McGahon 1.30.81;
• Shauna McGahon 1.23.85;

200 Butterfly

• 3.03.71;

400 Freestyle

• Sean McKenna 5.52.33;
• Claragh McGahon 6.01.71;
• Shauna McGahon 5.21.05;

200 Breaststroke

• Colin Gorman 3.27.44;

100 Butterfly

• 1.30.00;
• Colin Gorman 1.32.45;
• Caolan McGee 1.21.68;

200 IM

• Sean McKenna 3.12.20;
• Colin Gorman 3.11.24;
• Caolan McGee Withdrew injured;

200 Backstroke

• Nathan Shields 2.47.61;
• Orla Young 3.09.40;

100 Freestyle

• Nathan Shields 1.12.34;
• Ciaran O’Mordha 1.05.04;
• Orla Young 1.17.16;
• Niamh Young 1.12.02;

100 IM 

• Ciaran O’Mordha 1.18.57;
• Orla Young 1.31.29;
• Niamh Young 1.28.97.