The top girl and boy in each age group, from left, Ellie McCartney, Annie Fowler, Sorcha Lavelle, Isobel Lannon, Niamh O’Kane, Nial Bruce, Oisin McCaffrey McManus, Jamie Lannon, Dara McGandy, Eve Barrett, Ben Lynch, Kealan McShea, and Caitlin O’Hare.
LAST Sunday saw 74 members of the Enniskillen Lakelanders Swim Club compete at the Lakelanders End of Season Gala at the Lakeland Forum.
For many of the younger swimmers this gala was their first taste of competitive swimming and allowed them and their parents to see the progress they have made over the last year.
It was also an opportunity for the Lakelanders senior squad to show off their prowess in the pool and inspire the younger competitors. In many of the senior heats all six starting blocks were filled with Irish Age Group Division 1 and 2 swimmers for the first time in the Lakelanders history.
After two hours of swimming which included the much anticipated parents swim where five parents took on the 50 metre freestyle challenge, all competitors received refreshments and the medals were awarded.
Girl age group winners were Aine Fowler (7), Eve Barrett (8), Isabel Lannon (9), Ellie McCartney (10), Caitlin O’Hare (11), Niamh O’Kane (12) and Sorcha Lavelle (13)
In the boys section we had Jamie Lannon (7), Niall Bruce (8), Jake Cadden (9), Ben Lynch (11), Oisin McCaffrey McManus and Kealan McShea (12) and Dara McGandy (13).
Special mention must go to the following swimmers who made the podium in their first season swimming; 8 and Under – Anna McDaid, Brogan Breen, Annie Fowler, Annabell Morrison, Eve Barrett, Abagail Boyd and Rory Keogh. 9 year old – Leah Irwin. 11 year old – Carla Ryan and Gabrielle Balgutyte
The coaches got together behind closed doors a couple of weeks ago and decided the swimmers who most deserved the overall age group cups based on their dedication, attitude, timekeeping and progress over the previous year. Overall group winners were Group A – Ellie McCartney and Jake Cadden; Group B – Niamh O’Kane and Oisin McCaffrey McManus; Group C – Sorcha Lavelle and Lewis McCartney while Group D winners were Natasha Love and Dara McGandy. Two further trophies were awarded. One went to the winner of the Parents 50 metre freestyle swim and that was Ian Winters who swam an outstanding time of 31.81s.
The Coaches Trophy was awarded to the individual swimmer who coaches felt showed most dedication, best attitude, timekeeping and progress over the previous year. That award went to Sorcha Lavelle. Sorcha is a role model for the younger swimmers within the club.
The club wish her and all the Division 1 and 2 swimmers competing over the next few weeks at the Irish Age Group championships every success.
The club look forward to seeing all the younger swimmers back in September.
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