The Swim Ulster Autumn meet proved fruitful for the Enniskillen Lakelanders as they returned home with a big haul of medals including six medals for Oisin McCaffrey McManus and three for Natasha Love. The meet, which took place at Lisburn Leisure Centre, began on Saturday when the star of the show was the youngest swimmer representing the Lakelanders, Oisin McCaffery McManus. In his first event, he won gold in the 11 year old boys 200m backstroke in a time of 2mins 56.47secs. He then went on to win silver in the 400m freestyle in a magnificent time of 5mins 38.22secs. Oisin rounded of a great day by winning bronze in the boys 11 year old 200m breaststroke in a time of 3mins 33.53secs.

Natasha Love also had a fruitful first day winning silver in the girls 15 year old 100m breaststroke and later took a magnificent gold in the 100m backstroke in a time of 1min 10.61secs. Her younger sister Caitlin also impressed, finishing fourth in the girls 12 year old 100m butterfly in a time of 1min 23.79secs. In the 50m butterfly Caitlin had a tremendous swim to take silver in a time of 36.10secs! She also had great swims in the 200m freestyle and the 100m backstroke finishing 11th overall in both events.

Dara McGandy had a great first day finishing fifth overall in the boys 12 year old 100m freestyle in a personal best time of 1min 12.39secs. He then finished sixth overall in the 400m freestyle but left the best to last when he won bronze in the 50m breaststroke in a time of 40.82secs.

Sorcha Lavelle, a swimmer who burst on the scene last year, had a great swim in the 100m girls 13 year old 100m butterfly finishing seventh overall in a time of 1min 21.38secs. Sorcha followed this up with 12th place overall in the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1min 33,37secs and finished 18th overall in the 200m freestyle. Molly Flynn had a steady first day, finishing 10th overall in the highly competitive girls 14 year old 200m backstroke in a time of 1min 34.96secs. Molly also had a good swim in the 200m freestyle and only just missed out in a medal in the 50 freestyle finishing fourth in a time of 32.64secs. Rachel Evans swimming in the girls 13 year old age group also had two steady swims in the 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle finishing.

Sunday also proved to be a highly successful day for the young Lakelanders. Caitlin Love had a great swim in the girls 12 years 200m backstroke breaking the 3 minute barrier in a time of 2mins 57.25secs coming fifth overall in her age group. Caitlin Martin had her first swim of the meet in the 200m backstroke and achieved a time of 3mins 05.06secs in the girls 13 age group. This was a great achievement as Caitlin was not well days leading up to the gala and was still not 100 percent but was determined to swim. In the 15 year old age group Natasha Love once again proved what a versatile swimmer she is, winning gold in a time of 2mins 32.57secs.

In the 100m breaststroke Oisin McCaffery McManus continued to add to his medal haul with a gutsy bronze in a time of 1min 42.04secs. Dara McGandy also swimming in the 100m breaststroke added another bronze to the one he won yesterday in a personal best time of 1min 31.01secs. In the next event there was six Lakelanders competing in the 100m freestyle. Caitlin Love in the 12 age group finished in a time of 1min 15.10 secs, Three girls competed in the 13 age group with Rachel Evans storming home in a time of 1min.13.05secs, Sorcha Lavelle in a time of 1min 13.97secs and Caitlin Martin in a time of 1min 17.98secs, nothing between these up and coming swimmers. Natasha Love swimming in the 15 age group in this event finished in a time of 1mim 08secs.

In the final session 4 Lakelanders competed in the 400m girls freestyle. Caitlin Love finished fifth overall in her age group in a time of 5mis 37.18secs taking 11 secs of her previous best time. Sorcha Lavelle finished fourth overall in a time of 5mins25.34secs and amazing 22 secs of her previous best! Caitlin Martin finished 11th overall in a time of 5mins 57.36. Natasha Love finished fourth overall in a time of 5mins 11.46 dropping 23 secs of her previous time!

Oisin McCaffery McManus rounded of a fantastic for him winning more medals in his last two events. In the 200 freestyle Oisin took bronze in a time of 2mins 42.58secs and in his final event took silver in the 100m backstroke in a time of 1min 24.37secs.

In her final event Sorcha Lavelle competed in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 3mins 15.58secs.

Every swimmer competing achieved personal best times and the future looks really good for these young swimmers in the coming swimming year.