Impressive home win for Banbridge’s PTL swimmers against Templemore

The gala began with the medley relays and the group A girls took to the water with a fury, achieving the first win of the night. These swimmers were Lauren Armstrong, Jessica Robinson, Julia Knox and Caitlin Kearney. The group A boys did not disappoint either with a fine performance from Patrick Doyle, Luke Milligan, James Whan and Dawson Patterson.

A strong team consisting of Emma McElderry, Ellie Purdy, Olivia Knox and Kate Allenby tried hard to outswim their opponents but had to settle for 2nd in the group B girls medley relay event. The group B boys did succeed however to overpower Templemore and Aaron Keegan, William Pinkerton, Harry Farson and Alex Donnelly were the power behind it.

Group C girls, Georgia Davies, Jodi Doyle, and sisters Poppy and Elli Robinson fought hard as did group C boys, Caolan Quinn, Patrick McNiff, Michael Rafferty and Niall Mc Dowell but both lost out to Templemore this time.

Group D girls, Hannah Hubert, Lauren Robinson, Jenny Wilson and Sophie Mount came in second but the group D boys thrashed the opposition by a 14 second margin. This impressive foursome included Nicky Galloway, Daniel Chambers, Cameron McDonald and Michael Mitchel.

The individual events were underway at this stage and the group A girls thundered down the pool with an amazing 1st, 2nd and 3rd from Lauren Armstrong, Julia Knox and Caitlin Kearney. The group A boys were not to be outshone and James Whan, Patrick Doyle and Dawson Patterson produced another powerful hat trick. They showed great strength in backstroke.

Group B girls pulled in an admirable 2nd, 3rd and 5th from Olivia Knox, Kate Allenby and Emma McElderry while group B boys stepped it up a notch with a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th from Aaron Keegan, Alex Donnelly and Aaron Brown.

Group C girls tried hard in backstroke and Poppy Robinson, Elli Robinson and Georgia Davies managed to secure a 2nd, 4th and 5th place. Patrick McNiff, Caolan Quinn and Niall McDowell pushed hard also and came in 3rd, 4th and 5th against a tough C group.

The backstroke events finished off with the Group D girls, Jenny Wilson and Lauren Robinson swimming an impressive 1st and 3rd position. Group D boys were indeed the force within the team and Nicky Galloway, Cameron McDonald and Daniel Chambers completed the backstroke with a wonderful performance achieving 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Next, came the breaststroke event. Group A girls and Group A boys both brought in 1st, 2nd and 4th place points for their team. The girls were Rebecca Pinkerton, Jessica Robinson and Julia Knox. The boys were Patrick Doyle, Luke Milligan and James Whan.

Group B girls, Ellie Purdy, Kate Allenby and Emma McElderry swam an excellent 1st, 3rd and 5th position and their team mates William Pinkerton, Eunan Quinn and Ryan Porter followed suit with the same positions and lots more points for their team.

Group C girls, Poppy Robinson, Jodi Doyle and Elli Robinson swam a great race with a 1st, 3rd and 6th. Group C boys, Patrick McNiff, Michael Rafferty and Harry Dougan swimming up an age group, performed well with a 2nd ,4th and 6th.

Group D girls, Jenny Wilson, Natalie Kane and Lauren Robinson piled up the points for their team with an excellent 1st, 2nd and 6th. The group D boys , Daniel Chambers, Cameron McDonald and Scott Donnelly swam a superb race and produced 1st, 2nd and 4th.

Next up was the butterfly. Julia Knox, Caitlin Kearney and Lauren Armstrong were in fabulous form and achieved 1st, 2nd and 4th place for the group A girls. The group A boys had similar energy and James Whan, Declan McGeown and Patrick Doyle entertained us with a fine display coming in 1st, 2nd and 5th.

Group B girls, Olivia Knox, Ellie Purdy and Sophie Mount helped increase the point score with a 2nd, 3rd and 6th place in butterfly. Group B boys, Harry Farson, Alex Donnelly and Eunan Quinn put on a fine display and achieved 2nd, 4th and 5th.

Group C girls, Poppy Robinson, Elli Robinson and Jodi Doyle were in good form and were rewarded with a 1st, 5th and 6th. Group C boys, Michael Rafferty, Caolan Quinn and Patrick McNiff swam very close times and their wonderful team work produced a 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

Group D girls, Jenny Wilson and Lauren Robinson, together, were successful in bringing home 1st and 4th. Group D boys, Nicky Galloway, Graham Stevenson and Cameron McDonald, thundered through the water and their fantastic display achieved a 1st, 2nd and 3rd. No surprise there.

Group A girls, Lauren Armstrong, Rebecca Pinkerton and Jessica Robinson were invincible and obtained 1st, 2nd and 3rd with ease. Their counterparts, group A boys, didn’t lose face and also produced a hat trick. Patrick Doyle came in 1st, James Whan 2nd and the mighty Dawson Patterson, a fine 3rd.

Group B girls and boys were up against a strong Templemore age group but that didn’t deter them. It drove them on harder. Kate Allenby, Ellie Purdy and Olivia Knox secured 1st, 3rd and 5th place for their team and Alex Donnelly, Aaron Keegan and Harry Farson achieved 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Group C girls, Poppy Robinson, Jodi Doyle and Georgia Davies, were strong with a 2nd, 3rd and 6th. Group C boys, Niall McDowell, Caolan Quinn and Michael Rafferty, powered home in 1st, 3rd and 5th position.

Jenny Wilson, Natalie Kane and Lauren Robinson succeeded in obtaining 1st, 2nd and 5th. Group D boys, Nicky Galloway, Graham Stevenson and Mikey Mitchel, rocketed through the water and their times were so fast that they left the other team behind in their wake!

Group A girls took to the blocks and Julia Knox, Caitlin Kearney and Lauren Armstrong didn’t let Banbridge down with a fine result, 1st, 3rd and 4th. Patrick Doyle, Declan McGeown and Dawson Patterson, totally wiped out their opponents with super times and placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Group B girls, Ellie Purdy, Kate Allenby and Olivia Knox put on a fine performance of 3rd, 4th and 6th. The group B boys achieved the same positions and the swimmers were Alex Donnelly, Harry Farson and Eunan Quinn.

Group C girls, Poppy Robinson, Jodi Doyle and Elli Robinson swam hard and come in 2nd, 5th and 6th. Group C boys, Patrick McNiff, Caolan Quinn and Michael Rafferty still have plenty of reserve and come in 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Group D girls consist of Jenny Wilson, who swims a super-fast time and achieves a 1st and Lauren Robinson who comes in 5th. The group D boys, Nicky Galloway, Cameron McDonald and Mikey Mitchel again pulled off a fabulous performance and soared through the pool with much faster times than their opponents.

At this stage of the competition, there were 8 freestyle relay events to swim and Banbridge won 6 out of 8 races and the other 2 races were only one by the opponents by a slim margin. Group A girls to win were, Julia Knox, Rebecca Pinkerton, Caitlin Kearney and Lauren Armstrong. Group A boys to win were, Patrick Doyle, Dawson Patterson, Declan McGeown and James Whan. Well done!

Group B girls swam a very close race. Credit goes to Kate Allenby, Emma McElderry, and Ellie Purdy and a special mention goes to Olivia Knox who skilfully brought the team from 2nd place into 1st in the last seconds of the race! Group B boys weren’t so lucky but nevertheless, Aaron Keegan, Eunan Quinn, Harry Farson and Alex Donnelly still pushed themselves to their limit.

Group C girls also swam a very tight race and Elli Robinson, Georgia Davies, Jodi Doyle and Poppy Robinson deserved an excellent win. Group C boys, led by Caolan Quinn, stormed through the water and Michael Rafferty, Niall McDowell and Patrick McNiff didn’t disappoint and polished off a super performance!

Group D girls, consisted of Sophie Mount, swimming up 2 age groups, Lauren Robinson, Hannah Hubert and Jenny Wilson. Again, it was a very tight race, just missing the win by seconds. Group D boys, swam an impressive freestyle relay and won by 14 seconds! Graham Stevenson, Cameron McDonald, Mikey Mitchel and Nicky Galloway were the force behind this fabulous foursome!

What an end to a very exciting gala!