The Minor Schools Centralised Swimming Championships took place in Ballymena last Saturday. The cream of Ulster swimmers came together at the Seven Towers Leisure Centre to represent their respective schools. All the swims were 50 metre except for the Individual Melody were the swimmer swims four length of each stroke.

Seven swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelander’s took part representing their respective schools in the morning event - year 8 under 12 section. Caitlin Love representing Mount Lourdes qualified for the 50m butterfly in a time of 42.46 secs, and Caitlin went on to finish sixth in the final in a time of 42.25 secs, a great achievement for this up and coming swimmer. In the 50m backstroke Caitlin finished 14th overall. Dara McGandy, representing St. Michael’s College, just missed out on the final of the breaststroke in a time of 42.22 secs, achieving a qualifying time for the Irish Schools as he finished seventh overall. In the 50m Freestyle, Dara finished ninth overall, achieving a personal best time of 34.86 secs, achieving another qualifying time.

Peter Dolan, also representing St. Michael’s College, had a great swim finishing 13th overall in a time of 35.28 secs just outside the Irish qualifying time of 35.00 secs!

Peter also showed his versatility swimming in the IM and recorded a time of 1min 34.13 secs, finishing ninth overall.

Rachel Evans, representing Devenish College, had a very impressive swim, winning her heat easily in a time of 35.69 secs which was inside the Irish schools qualifying time. In the IM, Rachel also had a good swim ending of a good meet for this young girl.

There was also a great swim by Laura McCaffery, representing Mount Lourdes, in the 50m backstroke as she finished 15th overall in a personal best, and qualifying time of 42.59secs. Laura also won her heat in the 50m freestyle in a personal best time of 36.79 secs just outside the qualifying time of 36.00 dead!

In the 50m backstroke Laura finished 25th overall in a time of 42.59 secs.

Also doing her school proud was Caitlin Martin who was representing Erne Intergrated. She finished 12th overall in a personal best time of 40.85 secs and also a qualifying time. In the 50m freestyle Caitlin finished 22nd overall in a personal best time of 38.01secs. and also a qualifying time for the Irish schools.

Reagan Breen, also representing Erne Intergrated, had a great Gala finishing 17th overall in the 50m backstroke in a personal best time and Irish schools qualifying time of 42.8 secs. Reagan finished 24th overall in the 50m freestyle in a personal best time of 38.09 secs. Watch out for these two girls over the coming year as they are improving with every gala they enter.

In the afternoon session two swimmers from Enniskillen represented their respective schools in the year 9 - under 14 section. Annie Flynn representing St. Fancheas College had a brilliant meet coming eighth overall second reserve for the final in the 50m backstroke in a personal best time of 38.19secs. In the 50m breaststroke Annie finished 14th overall in another personal best time of 44 secs. Ciaran Flanagan representing St. Michael’s College also rose to the challenge when he came seventh overall in the 50m breaststroke, achieving first reserve for the final in a personal best time of 43.02 secs. In the 50m freestyle Ciaran also had another great swim when he achieved another personal best time of 32.09 secs. Also competing at the championships was Caoimhe Leonard who was representing Mount Lourdes. Caoimhe, who swims for Slieve Beagh, swam the 50m backstroke in a time of 39.74 and the Individual Melody in a time of 1min 26.29secs coming 9th overall in both events, achieving two qualifying times and just missing the finals.

All these young swimmers did their schools proud in what was a very competitive Championship coming very early in the swimming season with all of the Lakelanders not long back in training in what should be the start of a very exciting season for them all.