Coleraine swimmers compete in Irish finals

Two members of Coleraine Swimming Club recently travelled to Limerick for the Irish Division 2 swimming finals.
Shannon Baird, Molly Curry and Finn McEwanShannon Baird, Molly Curry and Finn McEwan
Shannon Baird, Molly Curry and Finn McEwan

Niamh McGarry and Paul Richmond had to qualify for this all Ireland event via Ulster competitions all season.

Only top swimmers will have the necessary qualifying times and Niamh and Paul trained hard to season to earn the right to travel to Limerick in early July.

Niamh was entered in four races – 100m and 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle. Although not making the final 8 in any of her events Niamh improved her previous personal best times and manged to take a very commendable 7.17secs off her 200m breaststroke time to come 10th overall in her age category (11-12yrs).

Niamh McGarry and Paul Richmond.Niamh McGarry and Paul Richmond.
Niamh McGarry and Paul Richmond.

Paul was entered in the 100m breaststroke and had an amazing weekend competing at this high level of competition.

This is the first time for both Niamh and Paul to swim an at Irish level competition and hopefully next year they can maintain this high standard and either quality of the Irish Division 2s or go one step better and qualify for the Division 1s.

This week three swimmers from Coleraine Swimming Club will travel to Dublin to the 50m National Aquatic Centre pool to compete in the highest level Age Group competition in Ireland.

Shannon Baird, Molly Curry and Finn McEwan are all entered 100m and 200m breaststroke races.

Niamh McGarry and Paul Richmond.Niamh McGarry and Paul Richmond.
Niamh McGarry and Paul Richmond.

Only the very best swimmers in Ireland (and some from overseas) will have the necessary qualification times to enter this competition.

The Club training season finished at the end of May and it takes a lot of dedication on behalf of these swimmers to continue their training over their school summer holidays.

Coleraine Swimming Club would like to wish them all good luck in their chosen events and hope that they can make some finals.

At the end of June and early July Molly Curry (14yrs) from Coleraine Swimming Club represented Swim Ulster at the Scottish Nationals in Glasgow.

Molly travelled with 21 other Ulster Performance Squad members to Glasgow for 6 days of competition at the highest level.

This event was well attended by many British and International Rio Olympic swimmers as they are getting times and competition experience before the Olympics in August.

This competition is open age group so Molly was competing against all ages. Molly was entered the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events and also an Ulster medley relay team.

Although not making any finals Molly came home with a new personal best in the 200m, a season PB in the 100m and invaluable experience in being away with the Ulster team for the third time now representing her country.

Thanks goes to Coleraine Grammar School (of which Molly is a pupil) for allowing her to use the school pool in preparation for this event due to the Coleraine Leisure Centre Pool being closed for repairs since the start of June this year.