A number of local schools were represented at the Swim Ulster Schools Cup and Championships which were held in Bangor last weekend.

The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School was represented by six students and they returned with three medals and two Ulster Schools titles.

Ellie McCartney, swimming in the 12-14 age category, became an Ulster Schools Champion in her age group for the fifth consecutive year. The 13 year old was seeded first in both her events and finished with personal bests in both of her events to win gold. The 200m Individual Medley was heat declared winner and the ERGS student finished five seconds ahead of her nearest rival with a fantastic Breaststroke section. Ellie had to swim a heat and then a final in the 100m Breaststroke – which she won by two seconds. These placings qualify her to swim as part of the Ulster Schools Swim team in the Interprovincial competitions in April next year.

16 year old Kealan McShea competed in the 100m Backstroke and the heat declared 200m IM. In the IM Kealan swam a wonderful race to finish on the podium with a bronze with a PB. He also had PBs in 100m Backstroke.

Lewis McCartney, also 16, qualified for two finals with PBs in both the 100m Butterfly and Freestyle. .

Molly Johnston, 13, had another great meet wiping almost five seconds off her 100m Freestyle time and competing well in the 100m Breaststroke.

Nial Bruce and James Mongan swam in the junior section and really enjoyed the experience.

Representing Mount Lourdes Grammar School in the 12-14 Junior section on Sunday morning were Lakelanders Abigail Boyd, Anna McDade, Ciosa McConnell, Isobel Lannon, Emilie Reihill and Niamh Cassidy.

12 year old Isobel Lannon had great swims in the 12-14 year old category.

Representing Mount Lourdes for the first time Isobel achieved a PB in her 100m Backstroke and came in 12th overall in the 200m IM.

Also representing Mount Lourdes for the first time, Anna McDade had two strong swims. Anna swam PBs in the 100m Breaststroke and the 200m IM.

Abigail Boyd was also swimming for Mount Lourdes for the first time was the youngest swimmer from Lakelanders swimming in the 12-14 category. Abigail achieved PBs in the 100m Breaststroke and the100m Freestyle.

Niamh Cassidy swam the 100m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle, recording PBs in both.

Ciosa McConnell swam well in her favourite stroke, the 100m Breaststroke, and followed this with another strong swim in the 100m Freestyle.

Emilie Reihill continued her strong start to the swimming season with PBs in the 100m Freestyle and the 100m Breaststroke.

The Mount Lourdes girls also competed in the Freestyle and Medley Relays, with Anna, Ciosa, Emilie and Isobel producing strong swims in each race and were delighted to secure an eighth place finish in the 200m Medley Relay.

Representing St Michael’s College in the 12-14 Junior section on Sunday morning for the first time was Lakelanders Luke Aiken.

First swim of the morning for Luke was the 100m Butterfly where we had a 22 second PB and placed 16th. He then went on to achieve a 4 second PB in his 100m Freestyle.

Cora Cassidy and Lauren Kearney were in action for St. Fanchea’s with both girls racing in the same events.

Cora was first up in the 100m Breaststroke and following a great start and well structured turns she cruised in with a fantastic six second PB, giving her a Breaststroke time.

Lauren also produced a had a great swim with a superb 10 second PB.

Freestyle was next and it was another strong swim from the pair with Lauren having another 10 second PB and Cora finished well, going very close to her Freestyle time.

In the Primary School section, representing St Mary’s Primary School in Maguiresbridge, Molly Rice had a very successful afternoon in Bangor partaking in the Age 11 category. Molly’s first race was the 50M Breaststroke where she finished second in her heat with a PB. The 50M Butterfly was up next, a stroke that Molly is starting to enjoy more and more and she didn’t disappoint with another PB. Molly is delighted to have qualified in both strokes for the Irish Schools Championship and represent her school in February.

St Mary’s PS Mullymesker had three competitors who made the trip to Bangor.

It was eight year old Beth Buchanan’s first outing to an open gala and she loved the experience. She swam 50m Freestyle, qualifying for the final and finishing in the top 20 out of a large field of competitors. She then swam 50m Backstroke and had a super swim.

Older brother Tom Buchanan had a great day. He had a great swim in the 50m Freestyle, achieving a new PB before then swimming in the 50m Fly, finishing 12th overall and achieving a qualifying time for the National schools final in February.

10 year old Jamie Lannon has a very successful day in his chosen events, achieving PBs and final places in both the 50m Free and 100mIM.

Although Jamie was well seeded to medal in the finals the competition was tough.Two very determined swims saw him achieve additional PBs most notably in the 100m IM.

Jamie was thrilled to win the bronze in the 50m Free and the silver medal in the 100mIM. He is looking forward to the trip to the NAC in February.