The Swim Ulster Schools Cup & Championships 2024 took place on Friday, February 9 at Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex, Bangor.

Over 1,000 swimmers from more than 120 schools across the province of Ulster took part in the one-day event.

Seven Fermanagh schools were part of the action with 29 local swimmers taking part, nine of whom were swimmers from Enniskillen Royal Grammar School.

Holly Barkley (12) secured a four-second PB in the 100m Breaststroke and another five-second PB in the 100m Freestyle event.

Kiril Chursin (17) swam to a tight finish to place 7th in the 100m Breaststroke, securing a qualifying time for the Summer Nationals in Dublin. Another strong swim ranked him 6th in his age group in the 100m Freestyle.

Ellie Dunlop (15), swimming in the 15-16 age category, became an Ulster Schools’ Champion in her age group in the 100m Breaststroke with a personal best in the event to win gold.

Ellie also competed in the 200m Individual Medley, finishing in 6th place. In both events, Ellie achieved her Irish Summer National qualification times.

The ranking in the 100m Breaststroke also qualifies Ellie to swim as part of the Ulster Schools Interprovincial Team, in the National Aquatic Centre, Dublin in March.

Holly McCabe (12) shaved five seconds off her 100m Backstroke PB, following up with another PB of four seconds in the 100m Freestyle race.

Russell Mikievicz Lumayad (14) picked up a new PB in the 100m Freestyle and produced another strong performance in the 100m Backstroke.

James Mongan (17) hit the wall in 6th place in the 100m Backstroke race and ranked 13th in the 100m Breaststroke event.

Younger brother Ryan Mongan (14) secured a five-second PB in the 100m Freestyle and followed up with another strong swim in the 100m Breaststroke race.

Maeve Rolston McAuliffe (13) claimed new PBs in both the 100m Butterfly and the 200m Individual Medley events.

Erin Salcedo (13) finished 7th in her age group in the 100m Freestyle with a four-second PB. She followed up with another top ten ranking and PB in the 200m Individual Medley.

Holly Barkley, Holly McCabe, Maeve Rolston McAuliffe and Erin Salcedo also represented ERGS in the Medley Relay and Freestyle Relay races.

Devenish College's Emma Speer (13) had an excellent day’s swimming. In her 100m Breaststroke, she finished 10th fastest 13-year-old. Her two-second PB secured her qualification for Summer Nationals in Limerick in July.

A whopping 10-second PB in the 200m Individual Medley brought her to the wall in 10th place, ensuring her place in this event at the Summer Nationals also.

Mount Lourdes Grammar School student Rebecca Curran (12) swam a great first attempt at 100m Breaststroke and secured a new PB in the 100m Freestyle race.

Sophie Hanna (12) claimed new PBs in both 100m Backstroke and 100m Breaststroke events.

Izzy Lannon (17) came 4th place in both the 100m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley.

Myleene Leonard (12) took three seconds off her 100m Backstroke PB and followed up with another great swim in the 100m Freestyle event.

Hannah Lynch (15) finished the 400m Freestyle race as the 2nd fastest in her age group. She followed up with more strong performances in the 100m Backstroke and 100m Freestyle events.

Kate McDade (15) was thrilled to win a bronze medal in the closely fought and very tight 100m Breaststroke event. She also showed improved form in her 100m Freestyle, jumping up the initial ranking to finish in the top 10.

Older sister Anna McDade (18) was delighted to finish in the top 10 in the 100m Freestyle and 5th in the 200m Individual Medley, a notable achievement after having taken a break from competitive swimming.

Fianna Mohan (13) swam a great first attempt at the 100m Breaststroke and 100m Butterfly in a 50m pool.

Ava Neal (14) hit the wall 6th fastest in her age group in the 100m Breaststroke, followed by another strong performance and top 10 finish in the 100m Freestyle.

The Junior girls competed in the 200m Medley Relay race with Fianna, Sophie, Ava and Myleene producing great swims.

Anna, Hannah, Kate and Izzy just missed a podium place by the narrowest of margins in the Senior Freestyle Relay race, hitting coming 4th.

Shannon Brennan (12)  from St. Aidan’s High School, Derrylin secured new PBs in the 100m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle events.

St. Fanchea’s College, Enniskillen student Anna May Hill (12) claimed a new PB in the 100m Freestyle race while Erin Quigley (12) shaved six seconds off her PB in the 100m Backstroke event.

For St. Michael’s College, Enniskillen Josh Cassidy (13) secured a new PB in the 100m Freestyle and followed up with another strong swim in the 100m Breaststroke event.

Darragh Collins (13) shaved an impressive five seconds off both his 100m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle PBs.

Emmett Coyle (12) was delighted to see he had taken 10 seconds off his 100m Breaststroke PB and almost five seconds off his 100m Freestyle time.

Jamie Lannon (16) hit the wall in 4th place in the 100m Freestyle race. He went on to clock a super 100m Breaststroke time of 1:09.25, faster than the National Squad time for his age group, winning a gold medal along with qualification for the Interprovincial Schools’ Championships held in Dublin in March.

Younger brother Luke Lannon (13) secured PBs and top-five finishes in 100m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke, also gaining a qualification time for the Irish Summer Nationals in his favoured event, 100m Backstroke.

Anton Neal (13) claimed new PBs in both the 100m Breaststroke and the 100m Freestyle races.

Darragh, Anton, Luke and Josh produced a strong performance in the 200m Medley Relay, while the final event of the day saw Luke, Emmett, Josh and Darragh compete in the 200m Freestyle Relay clocking a super time of 2.33.56 seconds.

Tattygar Primary School, Lisbellaw pupil Crea Mullen (12) picked up a new PB in the 100m Freestyle, following up with another great swim in her first attempt at the 100m Butterfly in a 50m pool.