Enniskillen’s Anna Gillespie competing in the butterfly at Armagh.
Enniskillen Lakelanders Provincial Towns League team travelled to the Orchard Leisure Centre for their first away fixture of the year.
The team had many changes due to a larger than usual number of non-available swimmers but they travelled to Armagh confident following two victories at home.
The gala began with the medley relays with the Lakelanders winning seven out of eight to take a 24 point lead.
The girls showed big improvements in the 50m backstroke with Isobel Lannon, Ella O’Donnell, Sarah Harte, Anna Gillespie and Amy O’Reilly all recording PBs. The Love sisters claimed first place in their respective age groups.
The boys also faired well with wins for Jake Cadden, Oisin McCaffrey Manus and the Lakelanders Head Coach, Justin Langford. Lewis McCartney also recorded a PB as the Fermanagh team moved 32 points ahead.
Next up was breaststroke with 15 out of 23 swimmers achieving PBs. Sarah Harte, Anna Gillespie, Orla Murphy, Caitlin Love, Rhiannon Dolan, Molly Flynn, Natasha Love, Brett McLean, Lewis McCartney, Owen Smyth, Ciaran Flanagan and Paul Carron. Louie Burns and Sorcha Lavelle claimed first place with new PBs, while top spot also went to Ellie McCartney, Oisin McCaffrey McManus, and Justin Langford to send the visitors 46 points ahead.
The PBs kept coming in the butterfly with Isobel Lannon, Sophia Williams, Sarah Harte, Amy O’Reilly, Annie Flynn, Patrick Williams, Jason Man, Ben Lynch, Dara Flanagan, Kealan McShea, Owen Smyth and Paul Carron all improving their times. Niamh O’Kane and Natasha Love used their new PB to reach 1st place and Ellie McCartney, Sorcha Lavelle, Jake Cadden and Justin Langford also triumphed creating a 60 point cushion.
In the 50m freestyle Ellie McCartney, Sorcha Lavelle, Natasha Love, Jake Cadden and Justin Langford won their event with PBs by Ciosa McConnell, Anna Gillespie, Niamh O’Kane, Amy O’Reilly, Dara Flanagan, Lewis McCartney, Dara McGandy and Rory Morris. Now the Lakelanders were in an unassailable 82 point lead.
The final individual event was the 100m IM with seven wins from the eight events and another ten personal bests from 22 swimmers; Sinead Barrett, Isobel Lannon, Sophia Williams, Sarah Harte, Caitlin Martin, Patrick Williams, Connor McLean, Paul Carron and Ciaran Flanagan. There were wins for Ellie McCartney, Sorcha Lavelle, Natasha Love, Jake Cadden, Oisin McCaffrey and Justin Langford. Niamh O’Kane won her event with a PB.
The last event was the freestyle relay and Enniskillen won seven out of eight to leave the final score Armagh 504 Enniskillen 630.
Special mention must go to Ellie McCartney, Jake Cadden, Sorcha Lavelle and Justin Langford who remained were at the gala.
Another fantastic performance from a relatively inexperienced Enniskillen Lakelanders team, but with many new PBs and lots of first place finishes it shows that the coaching team are building for the future success of the club.
The next PTL fixtures is against Mid-Ulster on Saturday 23rd January in Magherafelt. A win should secure promotion to the next division.
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