Lisburn City Swimming Club

Whilst for many it was ‘Hearts and Roses’ over the weekend of 12^th – 14^th February, that was not the case for the young folk from the ULSTER Region of swimming who spent their weekend ‘splashing and dashing’ with Mums, Dads, Granny’s and Granddad’s all postponing their plans to support the children.

A full weekend of swimming took place at Lisburn Leisureplex which was the setting for the ULSTER Valentines Graded 4 Gala. The ULSTER meet consists of three competitions in one under the new format; Potential Olympian Series, Age Group Superstars and Stroke Development Galas where children get the opportunity to compete, register times, achieve new personal bests, make qualifying times for larger competitions and collect some medals along the way.

The Lisburn City Swimming Club got the chance to do just that….. A strong team arrived on masse to compete over the three days on home territory. Some of the children were only swimming part of the weekend, and for others it was a full weekend of competition to set down markers for the rest of the season. Strong racing  took place, healthy competition was in abundance and super performances along the way…..Personal bests were added to, qualifying times for ULSTER and  IRISH competitions were achieved and a tally of medals collected.

Friday night saw the Distance swimming, racing for the ‘Brave Hearts’…..Two events took place, 800 & 1500 Metre Freestyle, no easy task for any swimmer, but our young folk were up for the challenge. Rachel Smyth recovering from injury was on fine form in the 800 Freestyle and broke the 10 minute barrier with a time of 9.57.71, a new personal best for this young lady and securing a 1^st place. Her team mates Jemma Bingham(15) and Katie Reid(16) also secured 1^st places with superb performances. 16 year old David Thompson who returned last weekend from the Dave McCullagh Memorial Long Course Gala in Limerick  having had a good mid season performance  took on the 1500M and lifted 1st place in a new time of 17.26.45. 16 year old Ben Carey got 2^nd in 1500 Free with a new time of 18.09.24. In the 12 year old girls 800M event it was a 1, 2, 3 for Lisburn with Chloe Richards, Natasha Pollock and Hannah Watson. The 12 year old Lisburn boys not to be outdone by the girls continued with a 1, 2 3, Cameron McAteer, Callum Taylor and Alex Walker all registering times of just over 21 minutes. A special mention also goes to Alexandra Hunter, Zoe Smyth, Hannah Taylor, Peter Sands, Matthew Walker, and Nathan Jones who went the distance………all getting  a 1^st,  2^nd  or  3^rd    placing,  and to Lauren Gourley, Rachel McMurray, Paige McKeown and Lucy Scott who had strong swims with personal bests achieved.

Saturday morning, Day 2 of the competition, and our youngest swimmers within the Club hit the starting blocks. Rachel Bethel, Andrew Edgar, Rhiannon Coulter, Nikhita Dowie, Rosie Henderson, Namona Teggart, Rosie Collins, Rebecca Clarke, Amee Doak, Keelan Logan,Conor Monteith and  Brodie Seymour –  a great weekend for our ‘tots’. The kids performed superbly, registering super Pb’s showing form for the future and  collecting Medals. One of the Club’s youngest swimmers, 9 year old Rachel Bethel was on form and went home with 4 x Gold medals, a great day of competition…..

The Senior squad showed how to do it…..swimming only a few of the events on Saturday, but nevertheless setting high targets for those around them. Katie Reid, Club Captain got a 1^st in 50 Free, 50 Back and 200 Free,  Lee Galloway(17) 1^st 100Free, 100 Back &  50 Fly and  2nd 50 Free. Younger brother Nicky Galloway(14) 1^st in 100 Free, 200 Breast, 2^nd 400 Free & 50 Fly, 3^rd in 50 Free. David Thompson(16) 1st in the 100 & 400 Free.  Jemma Bingham(15) 1^st in 50 Free, 50 Back & 200 Free, Rachel Smyth(14)1^st in 50 Free, 50 Back,  200 Free, 400 Free and 200IM, Sarah O’Callaghan(16)2^nd 800 Free and  Ben Carey(16)1^st 50 Fly &  50 Free, 2^nd 100 Free, 3rd 400 Free & 200 Breast . Swim Academy Gold Squad were not to be outdone and competed on Saturday and Sunday. Jonny Stewart, Kristopher Law, Ben Thompson, Rowena Walker, Daniel Coulter, Gareth Hill, Neil Saulters, Keelan Logan, James Edgar, Jamie Dowie,Nicole Pollock, Kyle Mawhinney, Hannah Telford, Nicole West and Alexander Haskins all had fine performances with  many podium finishes. In the 12 year old category it was a 1, 2 3 for the Lisburn boys, Kristopher Law, Ben Thompson and Daniel Coulter in the 50 Backstroke. .Jonny Stewart picked up 1^st in 400 IM and 2^nd in 50 Backstroke. Neil Saulters lifted a 1^st in 50 Back, 3rd 400IM & 400 Free.  Age Group Squad set down some strong markers over the weekend showing fine form, most competing in 9 events. Matthew Walker(13) almost had a clean sweep lifting 8 Gold medals and having to settle for silver in the 400 Freestyle,  what an achievement for this young man. Hannah Taylor(13) 1^st 400IM, 100 Breast, 100 Free, 200IM,  2^nd 200Fly & 400 Free and  3rd 200 Free, 100Fly, great swimming by this young lady. Lucy Scott competing in the 14 year old category had  a strong weekend and finished in the top 6 in all her events. Robert Allison(14) continues to dominate the Backcrawl and got a 1^st place in the 200 Backstroke adding it to his personal bests, Robert also got 1^st in the 400IM,  2^nd 200IM & 100Fly, 3^rd 100 & 200Free. Chloe Richards claimed  4 first places getting gold in  100 & 200 Back events which she dominated, 1^st 200IM & 100 Free, two 2^nd and one 3^rd place. Natasha Pollock(12) had a great weekend of swimming. In her events she secured gold in three events, 2^nd place in 5 events and 3^rd place in the 400IM. In her 400 Free where she got Gold she had an amazing swim in a super fast time of 5.08.36. Hannah Watson(12) secured top 6 positions in all her races and had a good weekend of competition even though she was carrying an injury. Alex Walker(12)  got 4 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze in a variety of events and categories. Cameron McAteer added to the medal haul by lifting Gold in 100 Back & 50 Free, 2^nd  in 200 Free in a superb time of 2.28.55,  2^nd in 400IM,  3^rd in 200 Breast & 3^rd in 400 Free again with  super swim 5.18.14 and a new pb.  Zoe Smyth who was blighted with injury last season is coming back strong and laid down some markers getting 1^st in 400IM, 2^nd in 400 Free & 3rd in 200Free. Training partner Alexandra Hunter  1^st 200 Free & 400 Free,2^nd 200 Breast, & 100 Free and 3^rd 200 Back. Callum Taylor had a great weekend with strong swimming and some super personal  bests. Strong performances were also shown by Nathan Jones, Lauren Gourley, Paige McKeown and Rachel McMurray over the weekend of competition.

A special mention goes to two young men who achieved something very personal over the Meet weekend – Nicky Galloway(14), Senior Squad member did what every young swimmer wants to achieve; he broke the 1 minute barrier in the 100M Freestyle…with a time of 59.98 a super swim.   11 year old Jonny Stewart,  Swim Academy Gold entered for the first time the 50M Breaststroke skins event and during his heat had a great race clocking a new pb of 41.89. He  made the final  which was the fastest 8 swimmers who go head to head on a knockout basis. What an amazing achievement… During the 1^st heat of the finals  he went one better and clocked a new time of 40.43, he was not put off by the much bigger participants on those starting blocks and finished a respectable 6th!        Well done Boys……..