The first Swim Ulster qualifying meet of the season took place recently in short course format at the Lagan Valley Leisureplex in Lisburn with a dozen Enniskillen Lakelanders participants looking to improve their technique and seasonal bests.
Ellie McCartney had another outstanding meet taking home seven gold medals and one silver. 
The 11-year-old achieved three new PBs as well as an additional three short course bests. The golds came in 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 50m and 100m free, 50m butterfly and 100m individual medley. 
The silver medal was achieved in the 50m backcrawl. 
Even with this success Ellie knows that the hard work continues if she is to continue her incredible feats at the Irish Age Groups again in 2017.
Ben Lynch competed in seven events over the three days achieving six new PBs and five medals. 
In the 1500m freestyle Ben had a massive new PB of 32 secs and won gold. He got silvers in the 400m freestyle and 400IM with another massive PB of 29 secs in his 400IM. Ben also picked up bronzes in the 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke.
Rachel Evans had a successful weekend with several PBs and collecting a gold in 50m breaststroke, silver in 50m backcrawl and bronze in both 50m and 100m freestyle.
Caitlin Love won the 400m and 800m freestyle and a bronze medal in the 200m individual medley.
Oisin McManus kicked off his competition with a gold medal in the 1500m with a time of 18:13.11, a new personal best by some 11.78 seconds. Oisin took silver in the 200m individual medley with a time improvement of 6.50 seconds – 2:31.56. 
In the 100m freestyle Oisin finished just outside the medals in a time of 1:03.49. Oisin swam the 400M freestyle, where he took the silver medal with a time of 4:41.27 minutes. He rounded off a very successful gala with a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke, with a time of 1:20.71mins, a new PB by some 8.36 seconds.
Kealan McShea (14) competed in the 200m backstroke with a strong swim taking bronze in a time of 2.28.84, a PB of 6.46 sec and within IAG division 1 qualifying times. He followed this up with a PB of 1.38 secs in the 100m freestyle and in his final race of day one finished the 50m backstroke in first place to take gold. On day two Kealan swam his first competitive 100m breaststroke ending seventh with a very credible 1.22.82.
Sorcha Lavelle, 15, competed in three events at the Winter Meet, 800m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and100m butterfly, coming away with two silvers and a bronze and used this gala in preparation for the upcoming Ulster Short Course championships next month.
Over the last year Lewis McCartney, 14, has made massive strides in his swimming following his success at the Irish Division 2 Championships. Over the weekend he swam to new PBs in each event. Lewis’ quest to break the minute barrier for 100m free is getting closer with a 101.03 on Saturday. A 7.5 second PB in the 400m freestyle followed in the afternoon. More times crashed with the 50m and 200m freestyle along with the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke culminating with a bronze medal in the latter event. These would have developed into five Irish Age Group Times but for the new qualification period changes to January 1, 2017.
Caitlin Martin swam two new distances, 800m freestyle, achieving an Ulster Age Group qualifying time and 400m freestyle. She was happy with her swims and is looking forward to improving her times next year.
Tara McKenzie took part in 100m breaststroke. Tara was delighted to have got a new PB (1.29.23), receiving a silver and qualifying for UAGs. Niamh O’Kane took time away from her studies to win bronze in the 50m fly and come seventh in the 100m fly. She also completed the 200m freestyle in just over two and a half minutes.
Jake Cadden competed in the 100m fly and 100m breaststroke finishing well inside the top 10 in each.
Another successful weekend for the Enniskillen Lakelanders who have to thank their volunteer coaches for their help over the last number of months. The club are looking forward to the future with the advertisement for a new Head Coach. This will help ensure success for the swimmers who have invested heavily in the club and given their full support.