A league title, promotion and lots of medals was the order of the day as the Provincial Towns League drew to a close in Ballymena.
After an absence of many years, four league wins in Division Four against Strule Dolphins, Alliance, Armagh and mid-Ulster meant that the Enniskillen Lakelanders were sitting in pole position awaiting confirmation of promotion to Division Three.
On top of this, eleven Lakelanders had qualified for the finals where all the divisions came together to compete against each other on an individual basis.
In the youngest Group, A, Ellie McCartney and Jake Cadden came away with four gold medals. Jake had a new personal best in 50m backstroke and finished with gold. Ellie dominated the girls’ section and finished with gold in 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 100m Individual Medley.
In group B, Oisin McManus also excelled in his section with gold in 50m backcrawl, 50m butterfly and 100m IM. Ben Lynch finished the day with two fourth places. Niamh O’Kane swam fantastically to leave with three medals; one silver and two bronze. Tara McKenzie finished in fourth position in the 50m breaststroke.
Group C saw Sorcha Lavelle, Caitlin Love and Kealan McShea finish with five medals between them. Sorcha won the 50m Butterfly and 100m I M and finished secondin the 50m breaststroke. Kealan swam to silver in the 50m backstroke and Caitlin to bronze in the 50m fly. Rachel Evans finished fourth in the freestyle and breaststroke.
The Lakelanders had only one swimmer in Group D, Natasha Love, and the PTL Captain led from the front winning two gold medals and a silver medal. Gold in the Individual Medley and backstroke was followed by silver in 50m fly.
Ellie, Niamh, Rachel and Natasha were part of the eight women relay team that were narrowly beaten on the night by the other girls’ team.
The Lakelanders received the Division Four trophy at the end of the evening as well as group trophies for all ages – five in total as well as promotion to Division Three. There were many cheers and lots of applause as the local team made a very successful return to the PTL and look forward to competing in Division Three next year.