Busy start to season despite bad weather
The bad weather played havocwith swimming events over theholiday period. Plans to bringswimmers to the NationalAquatic Centre in Dublin fortraining in the 50m pool and a bitof fun in the Aquazone had to beabandoned because of thedangerous driving conditions. It’splanned to reschedule that dayout now for the Easter Holidays.
Much to the amazement ofmany club members, theConnacht Senior Schools galawent ahead in Leisure land inGalway amid the worst of theweather in early January. Withall schools closed on the directionof the Minister for Educationand despite protestations frommany club members to theorganisers, the event in whichswimmers represent theirsecondary school and not theirclub, was not cancelled.
Just three families undertookthe journey and the sixswimmers involved performedvery well with Peter Mooneytaking first place in the 100mbreaststroke and third in the100m fly, his brother Joseph camethird in 100m freestyle and fourthin 100m backstroke while theirsister Niamh came second in the100m breaststroke and fifth in the100m butterfly. Keith Mullencame third in both the 100mbutterfly and 100m backstrokeand brothers Ciaran and DaireMcCloskey were well placed intheir events, Ciaran in the back,breast and butterfly strokes andDaire in the 200m IndividualMedley.
For the majority of swimmerswhose families decided not toundertake the hazardous journeyto Galway, the organisers alloweda special time trial to take placein Sligo after the event andanyone achieving set qualifyingtimes can go on to compete in theAll-Ireland for secondary schools.However, those swimmers werestill deprived of the opportunityto win a Connacht title and theynow have another decision tomake - the All-Ireland final isbeing held in Cork this year – aconsiderable journey for thosewho opt to travel.
A bit closer to home, a numberof swimmers travelled to Tuamfor a gala run by the local club atthe end of January. Gold medalswere brought home by EavanMcLoughlin and Shona Keaveneywith Eavan also taking a silver amedal in the tough 400m freestyleevent and Shona doing likewisein her age group. RonanAnderson won two bronzemedals in the 100m back andbreast stroke events and CiaranMcCloskey took bronze in the100m backstroke in his age groupwith his brother Daireunfortunate not to be among themedal winners in his verycompetitive race. Kate Andersonwon bronze in the girls under 11100m breaststroke and DeirbhleMcCloskey, Ellen McCole, LisaGerrity, Laura Keaveney, RachelMcLoughlin, Liam Fitzgerald,Declan Martin, Keith Mullen andEvan Kelly also swam very wellon the day.
