A group of young swimmers are making waves in national competition.
Seven competitors from Enniskillen Lakelanders Swimming Club took part in the Ian Wright Memorial Gala at the Aurora Leisure Complex in Bangor.
The team delivered a series of strong performances, recording personal bests, earning top placings, and achieving qualification times for national championships.
Their results reflect the club’s dedication and progress as the summer championship season approaches.
Fifteen-year-old Holly Barkley delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend.
She won her heat in the 100m breaststroke with a five-second personal best and went on to take 25 seconds off her previous record in the 200m breaststroke.
Barkley also showed consistency across the 50m and 100m freestyle events.
Fellow 15-year-old Darragh Collins also impressed with a personal best in the 50m freestyle, finishing as the second-fastest swimmer in his age category.
He went on to record a 52-second improvement in the 400m freestyle, demonstrating outstanding endurance and determination.
Sophie Hanna, 14, delivered strong performances in both the 100m and 200m backstroke, achieving personal bests and sixth-place finishes in her age group.
She also earned qualifying times for the Irish National Championships in July through her freestyle swims, marking her as a swimmer to watch in the coming months.
Anna May Hill, also 15, set a new personal best in the 50m freestyle and matched her seed time in the 100m freestyle, holding her own in a highly competitive field.
Sixteen-year-old Ryan Mongan finished third in the 200m breaststroke among his age group and achieved personal bests in the 50m and 100m freestyle events.
He also secured a top-ten finish in the 100m breaststroke.
Anton Neal, 15, set new personal bests in all three breaststroke distances—50m, 100m, and 200m—and finished in the top ten in the 200m breaststroke.
He competed in the 50m backstroke for the first time, gaining valuable experience.
Younger teammate Ella Neal, 14, recorded personal bests in the 100m and 200m freestyle and backstroke events.
She also made her debut in the 100m butterfly, expanding her competitive experience.
The gala was described as a “highly successful outing” for Enniskillen Lakelanders, with numerous personal bests, strong placings and national qualification standards achieved throughout the weekend.
With national championships on the horizon, the results provide a confidence boost for the team.
The swimmers will continue training in Omagh under coaches Fionna Orr and Chelsey Weir.
With summer competitions fast approaching, the team remains focused on maintaining their form and reaching new milestones.
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