Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club held their Spring Junior Gala on Sunday March 5, an event aimed at younger swimmers. Right off the back of their recent Aquasprint victory in Downpatrick last month the junior swimmers were eager to race individually at their home pool. Joining competitors from the local club were 14 visiting clubs from all over Ulster and Leinster. For many of the 8-14 year-old competitors, this would be one their first experiences of individual competition, that all important first step for every sportsperson.

Swim Ireland referee Lars Beheme oversaw more than 1100 entries from over 300 excited swimmers in attendance. Lars was supported by a strong group of over 50 parents and older swimmers volunteering from the Lakelanders club which helped ensure that the busy gala ran smoothly. It was a very successful event for the Lakelanders, raising much needed club funds and giving swimmers the chance to put their training into practise and show off their talents with a large haul of medals and an abundance of PBs on the day.

Gold medals were achieved by Joseph McKenna in 50m Breaststroke and 50mm Freestyle , Ava Neal in 50m Breaststroke, Erin Salcedo in 100m Breaststroke, Sarah Speer in 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly and 50m Breaststroke, Daire Burke 100m Breaststroke, Sophie Hanna 50m Backstroke and Niamh Howell in 50m Breaststroke.

The medals continued to flow with silvers awarded to Molly Kate Brewster in 50m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke, Jakub Mikievicz Lumayad won silvers in 50m Breaststroke and Backstroke, Ava Neal and Sarah Speer also won silver in 100m Breaststroke while Erin Salcedo picked up silver in 50m Breaststroke.

There were also bronze medals for Keira Salcedo and Emma Speer in 100m Breaststroke, a bronze for Madeline Curran in 50m Breaststroke, Lorcan Doherty won two bronze in his 50 and 100m Breaststroke and Martha McCreesh won two silvers in her 50 and 100m Backstroke.

Chairperson Aideen Speer expressed her thanks to a wide range of people who all came together to make the Junior Gala a success - praising all club members for their help and support, events like these can only run with the help and hard work of the volunteers. Thanks are also expressed to the staff at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum for facilitating our event. The club are indebted to the generous sponsorship provided by local businesses (Cassidy and McCreesh Orthodontic Practice, MTL Marine, SCH Construction, Cossum Swim School, Office Repair Centre, Nathan Carter, Lough Erne Resort, Mullen Domestic, Lisdergan Butchery, Burke Accountants, Cormac McCaffrey Transport, Thomas Hanna & Co Ltd, Elliott York Partnership, Gibson Solicitors and McLaughlins). We are also very grateful to all parents who donated and sourced a large number of wonderful raffle prizes and donations to our gala cafe.

Aideen praised Michelle Reihill, gala secretary, for her trojan work behind the scenes ensuring the smooth running of the gala. She also thanked all the coaching team led by Ben Wiffen and Claire Morris for their commitment to all the swimmers. The support of the coaching team ensured we had a competitive event which was also an enjoyable learning experience for all. We now look forward with renewed confidence to the rest of the season ahead.

The Senior swimmers are in action in two weeks time with the two-day Aspiring Champions meet in Bangor, good luck to all our competitors.

 

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