Autumn Meet medalists, Oisin McCaffrey-McManus, Caitlin and Natasha Love and Dara McGandy
The Swim Ulster Autumn meet took place at the weekend at Lisburn Leisure Centre. Seven young Lakelanders competed in what turned out to be a feast of swimming.
On Saturday the star of the show was the youngest swimmer representing the Lakelanders Oisin McCaffery-McManus. Oisin had a great day winning three medals in each of his events. In his first event he won gold in the 11-year-old boys 200 backstroke in a time of 2mins 56.47secs.
He then went on to win silver in the 400m freestyle in a magnificent time of 5mins 38.22secs. Oisin rounded of a great day by winning bronze in the boys 11-year-old 200 breaststroke in a time of 3mins 33.53secs.
Natasha Love also had a fruitful first day winning silver in the girls 15-year-old 100m breaststroke and later took a magnificent gold in the 100m backstroke in a time of 1min 10.61secs.
Her younger sister Caitlin also had a good day finishing fourth in the girls 12-year-old 100m butterfly in a time of 1min 23.79secs. In the 50m butterfly Caitlin had a tremendous swim to take silver in a time of 36.10secs! Caitlin also had great swims in the 200m freestyle and the 100m backstroke finishing 11th overall in both events.
Dara McGandy had a great first day finishing fifth overall in the boys 12-year-old 100 freestyle in a personal best time of 1min 12.39secs. He then finished 6th overall in the 400 freestyle in the boys 400 freestyle but left the best to last when he won bronze in the 50m breaststroke in a time of 40.82secs.
Sorcha Lavelle a swimmer who burst on the scene last year had a great swim in the 100m girls 13-year-olds 100m butterfly finishing 7th overall in a time of 1min 21.38secs. Sorcha followed this up with 12th place overall in the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1min 33,37secs and finished 18th overall in the 200 freestyle. Molly Flynn had a steady first day finishing 10th overall in the highly competitive girls 14-year-old 200m backstroke in a time of 1min 34.96secs. Molly also had a good swim in the 200 freestyle and only just missed out in a medal in the 50 freestyle finishing 4th in a time of 32.64secs. Rachel Evans swimming in the girls 13-year-old age group also had two steady swims in the 200 backstroke and 200 freestyle finishing.
Sunday also proved to be a highly successful day for the young Lakelanders. Caitlin Love had a great swim in the girls 12 years 200 backstroke breaking the three minute barrier in a time of 2mins 57.25secs coming 5th overall in her age group.
Caitlin Martin had her first swim of the meet in the 200 backstroke and achieved a time of 3mins 05.06secs in the girls 13 age group despite illness on the run up to the meet. In the 15-year-old age group Natasha Love once again proved what a versatile she is winning gold in a time of 2mins 32.57secs.
In the 100m breaststroke Oisin McCaffery-McManus continued to add to his medal haul with a gutsy bronze in a time of 1min 42.04secs. Dara McGandy also swimming in the 100m breaststroke added another bronze to the one he won yesterday in a personal best time of 1min 31.01secs. In the next event there was six Lakelanders competing in the 100m freestyle. Caitlin Love in the 12 age group finished in a time of 1min 15.10secs, Three girls competed in the 13 age group with Rachel Evans storming home in a time of 1min 13.05secs, Sorcha Lavelle in a time of 1min 13.97secs and Caitlin Martin in a time of 1min 17.98secs. Natasha Love swimming in the 15 age group in this event finished in a time of 1mim 08secs.
In the final session four Lakelanders competed in the 400 womens freestyle. Caitlin Love finished fifth overall in her age group in a time of 5mins 37.18secs taking 11 secs of her previous best time.
Sorcha Lavelle finished 4th overall in a time of 5mins 25.34secs and amazing 22 secs of her previous best!
Caitlin Martin finished 11th overall in a time of 5mins 57.36. Caitlin a great effort despite being unwell leading up to the gala. Natasha Love finished 4th overall in a time of 5mins 11.46 dropping 23 secs of her previous time! Oisin McCaffery McManus rounded of a fantastic for him winning more medals in his last two events. In the 200 freestyle Oisin took bronze in a time of 2mins 42.58secs and in his final event took silver in the 100m backstroke in a time of 1min 24.37secs.
In her final event Sorcha Lavelle had a great swim in the 200m breaststroke in a time of 3mins 15.58secs, just missing out on the medals.