This weekend the Ulster Winter Open Short Course Championships took place in the Aurora Ulster HP centre Bangor.
This is the first championship meet of the swimming calendar and proved to be a great start to the season for three Fermanagh swimmers Alannah Leonard, Deirbhile Coll and Chelsea Wilson. This three-day event started on Friday and finished late on Sunday evening.
Deirbhile Coll (15) was delighted to produce two personal best times early in the season. In doing this she gained a bronze medal in the 800m freestyle and continued to have a brilliant day by knocking off 2 seconds in her 100m breaststroke. This was followed by improving her 50m-butterfly time.
Alannah Leonard (16) is beginning to reap the benefits of her hard work by producing personal best times in 8 of her 9 events this weekend. The highlight of Alannah’s weekend was to come on Sunday morning in the gruelling 400m individual medley when Alannah topped the podium as Ulster Senior Champion.
Alannah also received silver in the 400m freestyle in a time of 4.33.91 and a bronze in the 200m individual medley in a time of 2.24.27.
Alannah’s other achievements included completing the 100 freestyle in 1 minute flat and taking a whopping 5 secs off her 200 freestyle time and finishing a commendable 4th in this highly competitive event.
In her return to competitive action, Enniskillen and Larne swimmer Chelsea Wilson, picked up three titles in the Ulster Winter Open Short Course Championships.
The 22-year-old had quit swimming, but returned to training in February of this year. She won three races: 100m and 200m backcrawl, and the 100m individual medley.
Enniskillen swimmer Natasha Love came 12th in the 200 back crawl and a PB in her 100m breaststroke.
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