County Sligo swimmers, Eavan McLoughlin, Darragh Taheny and Robert Smith competed with the finest talents on the Island of Ireland, and many of England’s best, in the Irish Senior Youth Open Championships, held at the National Aquatic Centre, Dublin. These three, conscious of the massive successes enjoyed by their younger colleague from County Sligo Swimming Club earlier in the month, were themselves eager to get into action in this, the most prestigious event on the Swimming Calendar.

Eavan McLoughlin, daughter of Ray and Martina McLoughlin, Strandhill Road, was the first to swim in the Women’s Long Course 50mts Breaststroke, where she gave an extraordinary performance, just missing a place in the Final. Her next event, the Women’s 100mts Long Course Freestyle was another ‘feather in her cap’, with a new PB realised. Then came, the 100mts Breaststroke, where the Sligo ‘star’ finished fourth place overall, in a nerve biting final, being extremely unlucky not to have taken a medal.

Her next race, the 200mts Individual Medley, saw the Ursuline College student, give another ‘eye opening performance, showing her unique ability in all the four disciplines. After the success of the previous four swims, Eavan was now geared for her last event, the 200mts LC Breaststroke, her favourite. The Sligo supporters, at the Championships, and most at home, were checking the Gala’s Website’ Actual Timing’ on their computers, eager for this race to start, with all knowing that this event would be the defining one, for the Sligo girl and her Club. In the Preliminaries, Eavan finished fourth fastest, just doing enough to win a place in the final and keeping the opposition guessing, which she did comfortably.

It was now’ make or break time’ for this ‘true professional’, who has trained diligently over the years for ‘a day like this’ to compete in a national final containing the cream of Irish and British swimming. As the starter’s whistle sounded and the final began, the Sligo youngster was on top of her game, holding her position over the four lengths of this 50 metre pool, at massive speed, ‘breaking out’ with the leaders, in a battle to the finish, where she fulfilled a lifelong wish, winning the Irish National Bronze medal and taking five seconds of her previous time for this event. This is a truly amazing feat for Eavan, winning Sligo’s first medal at this, the Irish Senior Youth Championships, another swimmer who has successfully put her home County on the map! This young star will be in action again shortly in the National Community Games Swimming finals, she has also been picked to represent Ireland at the British Schools Games in Sunderland this September.

Freestyle ‘Supremo’ Darragh Taheny , the fastest Sligo swimmers over 100metres , who has broken the minute in this discipline, some years back, was extremely unfortunate to be plagued with injury over the last few months, after putting down a year’s training for this event. This fantastic competitor, who has had many successes at the National Schools and Club events earlier in the year, took his present condition in his stride and competed in three events at the Championships. Darragh’s first race, the 200mts Freestyle, saw the Sligo hero give a great account of himself. He was equally fantastic in the 100mts Long Course Freestyle, where he clocked 56.88 secs, recording an amazing swim, which nearly gained him a place in the final.

He had another great swim in his last event of the championship, the 100mts Butterfly. This youngster is a great example to all his peers at County Sligo Swimming Club, the fact that these present injuries didn’t deter him from competing, is a true mark of his courage and sportsmanship, a credit to his proud parents, Derry and Bernie Taheny. No doubt, when back to his through form, he will take his rightful place on the National winning podium!

Sligo’s final swimmer who qualified for the Irish Senior Youth Championships, Robert Smith, from Ballincar, son of David and Irene, had a tremendous meet. His first race the Mens 16 yrs 200mts Freestyle, was a great opening swim for the Sligo lad, who was to give a glimpse of his massive potential in this game over the weekend’s Championships. His next event, the 100mts Backstroke, saw him finish 12th place overall; while he was sixth place overall, in the final of the 400mts Long Course Individual Medley. He then went on to record great swims in the 50mts and 100mts Butterfly. In the 200mts Long Course Backstroke, he secured 10th place in the final. Robert had another great swim in the 200 Mts Individual Medley, showing his true amazing ability. This was a superb Championship for Robert , winning his well deserved place in two finals and being extremely unlucky now to have taken a medal home, he also had the distinction of achieving ‘Personal Bests’ times in all his events at the NAC. This youngster is another Sligo swimmer destined for National and International fame.