Alannah Leonard and Natasha Love both claimed Ulster Schools titles at the Ulster Secondary Schools Championships at the Seven Towers Leisure Centre in Ballymena last weekend.

Leonard, a student at St. Louis Convent in Monaghan, was competing in her final Ulster Schools competition and returned home with three golds while Mount Lourdes student Love secured a gold in the 100m Backstroke.

Over 76 schools across Ulster took part in the event including swimmers from Mount Lourdes, Portora Royal, St. Michael’s College and St. Fanchea’s.

The event was to be a huge success for Leonard who clinched her 13th Ulster Schools title. Alannah, the Ulster Schools Girls captain, secured victories in the 100m Backstroke, 200m Individual Medley and 400m Freestyle to round off a great meet.

Natasha Love swam in the intermediate section and the first event, her favourite, was the 100m Backstroke where she easily qualified for one of the six finalist places. In the Final, Natasha was engaged in a battle with Rachel Lennox from Cullybackey but in the final 25 metres Natasha pulled away to win by a clear three seconds, to become Ulster Champion in the Backstroke. Natasha also came eighth in the 100m Breaststroke.

The Juniors (Years 8-10) were the first up in the morning session. Mount Lourdes Year 8 swimmer, Niamh O’Kane, and Year 9 swimmers, Laura McCaffrey, Rhiannon Dolan, Leah Keown, Sorcha Lavelle and Caitlin Love all participated in this session along with Lewis McCartney and Kealan McShea (Year 8) and Connor and Michael Stewart (Year 10). Year 9 students, Molly Flynn (St Fanchea’s) and Dara McGandy (St Michael’s), also competed in the morning session.

The swimmers faced tough opposition swimming against competitors aged up to 14 years old, and despite many securing personal bests, a top 10 finish by Caitlin Love in the 100m Butterfly was the best achieved in the individual races.

Niamh O’Kane, Laura McCaffrey, Caitlin Love and Kealan McShea all matched times required to reach the next level of swimming competition – either Ulster Qualifying Times or Irish Division 2 times – showing the are ready for the next step in their progression.

Laura McCaffrey, Sorcha Lavelle, Rhiannon Dolan and Caitlin Love also competed in the Individual Medley and Freestyle relays achieving 10th place in the IM and 12th in the freestyle. Portora swimmers, Connor Stewart, Michael Stewart, Lewis McCartney and Kealan McShea had their first Individual Medley relay together finishing a creditable 12th overall.