The Ulster Secondary Schools Championships proved another big success for local swimmers with Sorcha Lavelle claiming two Ulster titles and Caitlin Love also tasted Ulster glory. And there was also three silver medals and a host of PBs for the local competitors at the major schools’ event.
The Championships took place in Ballymena on February 5-6, with pupils from over 50 Ulster Schools competing for top places and selection for Ulster School’s Tenerife Training Camp in October 2016. Four Enniskillen schools were very well represented by nine pupils.
Competing in the Junior Section was Sorcha Lavelle (14) representing Mount Lourdes Grammar School. Sorcha won double gold in the 100m Breaststroke and 200m IM. 
Her first race was the Breaststroke and she cruised through to the final with a PB before securing gold by beating her nearest opponent in the final by 10 metres. In the 200m IM she again put in a storming performance to claim gold with a new PB. These performances have led to her selection to train with the Ulster Schools Squad in Tenerife.
Swimming in the Senior section, 16 year old Natasha Love was in action representing Mount Lourdes Grammar. In a change to the normal format the senior events were run as heat declared winners, with the pressure on to produce great performances from the start. Natasha did just that and in both her 100m Backstroke and 200m Individual Medley had great swims to see her win two silver medals, just pipped in both events by tenths of a second by the current British Lifesaving Champion, Emma Henderson.
Day two of the competition saw younger sister 13 year old Caitlin Love, also representing MLE, take to the blocks. Caitlin had a great swim in the 100m Backstroke finishing seventh, while in the 100m Butterfly she achieved a new PB to make the final in third position. And in the final a thrilling final 25 metres saw Caitlin come from behind to get the touch for gold, and another new PB. This gold sees Caitlin once again selected for the Ulster Schools Squad to go to Tenerife.
Rachel Evans (14) swam to eighth place in her 100m Breaststroke heat but just missed out on the Final. She then qualified fourth in the 100m Freestyle before a brilliant swim in the final saw her claim silver for Devenish College with a PB. Rachel has also qualified for the Ulster Schools Tenerife trip.
Amy O’Reilly (13), representing MLE, put in two great swims in the 100m Backstroke and 100m Butterfly. Amy will look forward to competing in this age group again next year.
Lewis McCartney swam two great races at the event and just missed out on a top 10 finish in the 100m Freestyle. In the 100m Breaststroke the 13 year old Portoran achieved a new PB and finished ninth overall.
13 year old Kealan McShea also representing Portora swam to a new PB in the 100m Backstroke. A second great swim in the 200m IM saw him drop eight seconds of his previous best time.
Devenish College Year 8 pupil, Brett McLean gained a new PB in the 100m backstroke. Brett also swam the 100m Breaststroke coming in second in both heats.
Oisin McCaffery McManus (12) representing St. Michael’s College, competing in the 200m IM beat his previous time with a new PB for fourth overall and in the 100m Backstroke he finished 11th with another PB. Oisin has another two years in this same age category (11-14) and will look forward to some excellent future results. Amy and the four boys can swim in the junior group next year again which means they can be very happy with their performances.