The Ulster Grammar Schools Gala took place at the Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena on Saturday past, with over fifty Ulster Schools competing for school titles fifteen local pupils represented their Schools with pride. 
Seven pupils from Mount Lourdes, six from Enniskillen Royal and two from St. Michaels College made the four hour round trip, returning with three Ulster titles, 15 medals and a succession of new PBs. 
Ellie McCartney (12) from Enniskillen Royal Grammar retained her Ulster Schools titles in both the 50m Breaststroke and 100m Individual Medley in the Age12-14 Junior section. She swam a great new personal best time in the 100m IM along with being the fastest female breaststroke competitor in the pool at any age. 
Also for ERGS, in the Intermediate sections, (15-16) Kealan McShea also swam to an Ulster title in the 50m Freestyle - finishing the fastest intermediate in the pool - with a superb swim of 26.59 seconds. 
In the 50m Backcrawl Kealan won a silver medal for his second place in the final. 
Fellow ERGS student, Lewis McCartney chose the harder butterfly event to compete in and was rewarded with a bronze medal in the 50m fly, breaking 30 seconds for the first time. He also won a silver medal in the 100m IM with a new PB 1:08.41. 
Molly Johnston (12) and Jason Man (13) also achieved new PBs in their events at the gala. 
Josh Man smashed his breaststroke PB to finish 10th overall producing another PB in the 50m breaststroke.
In the Intermediate session, the Mount Lourdes relay team of Sorcha Lavelle, Caitlin Love, Leah Keown and Caoimhe Gilligan chose to compete in both the 200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley relay. 
They produced top class swims  to win the silver medal in both disciplines securing PBs as well.
In the individual events, Sorcha Lavelle, Caitlin Love and Caoimhe Gilligan competed in the 50m butterfly and 100m Individual Medley with Caitlin winning silver in the butterfly and Sorcha winning silver in the Individual Medley Both girls finished fourth in their other races. 
Caoimhe Gilligan also swam well in her individual events and rounded off a good day with some new PBs.
For sisters Meabh and Caitlin Gilligan and Eibhlis Treacy this was also their first time to compete at this gala representing Mount Lourdes. 
They produced excellent debut performances to secure some great experience and new PBs in the process. 
Ben Lynch and Luke Aiken both aged 13 represented St. Michael’s College. 
This this was Luke’s first schools gala and he was happy to come away with new PBs in both the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle. 
Ben swam in the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle, making finals in both events and winning a bronze in the backstroke and fourth in the freestyle. 
All in all, then, an excellent day in the pool for all the local swimmers and their schools.