Swimmers make a splash at short course championships

EVENTS at the 2012 Ulster short course championships began last Friday with the women’s 100m freestyle.

The top four qualifiers would make the A final and the next eight fastest swimmers would qualify for the B final.

Jenny Wilson, Megan McKenna and Poppy Robinson all had great swims, with Jenny making a B final and achieving a PB of 1.01.76 in the final.

In the next event, the men’s 400IM, Cameron McDonald finished in first place, achieving a PB and his first Ulster squad time of 4.49.00. Alex Donnelly (6.14.60) and Harry Farson(6.14.13) also had good swims in this gruelling event.

In the women’s 100 breaststroke, both Allyce Nixon and Poppy Robinson made the B final, having achieved PB’s in the heats. The girls finished sixth and seventh in their final.

In the men’s 200 back, Nicky Galloway reached the A final and finished second, while Michael Mitchell and Graham Stevenson reached the B final finishing first and fifth respectively. Daniel Chambers and Caolan Quinn also had good swims, with Caolan achieving a PB.

Jenny Wilson had a great swim in the heats of the 50 fly, and finished second in the B final.

In the 100 breast, Daniel Chambers made a B final and raced to a PB of 1.15.86, finishing fifth.

Olivia Knox, Ellie Purdy, Emma McElderry, Jodi Doyle and Elli Robinson swam in the 200 back, with Olivia, Ellie and Emma achieving PB’s. In the men’s 200 free, Nicky Galloway and Cameron McDonald reached the B final, with Nicky coming second and Cameron gaining his second Ulster squad time.

Michael Mitchell, Daniel Chambers and Graham Stevenson also swam well with Graham achieving a PB. Jenny Wilson and Poppy Robinson both made the B final of the women’s 100IM, with both girls gaining PB’s.

The girls representing Banbridge in the 400 free relay finished 7th, while the boys were the fastest juniors in the 400 medley relay, taking home four gold medals.

On Saturday, Jenny Wilson made the final of the 200IM and achieved a PB of 2.33.25. Jodi Doyle, Olivia Knox and Hannah Beattie also swam well in this event. Michael Mitchell gained his well-deserved place on the Ulster Squad with his time of 55.10 in the 100 free.

Graham Stevenson also swam a good PB in this event. In the 50m free, Jenny Wilson made a B final after swimming a PB of 28.51. In the male 50m back, Nicky and Lee Galloway both made the A final, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Allyce Nixon set a new PB in the 50 breast and made the B final. Jodi Doyle also swam a good PB in this event. In the men’s 100 fly, Lee and Nicky Galloway made the A final, with both swimming PB’s.

Lee finished second and Nicky came fourth. Cameron McDonald made the B final and finished second. Jenny Wilson and Hannah Beattie had good swims in the 100 back and 400 free respectively.

In the men’s 400 free relay, Graham Stevenson, Michael Mitchell, Cameron McDonald and Nicky Galloway were the top juniors.

Sunday’s events began with the men’s 200IM, with Nicky and Lee Galloway finishing 3rd and 4th in the A final. Cameron McDonald finished in 3rd place in the B final, achieving a PB. Patrick McNiff, Michael Rafferty, Caolon Quinn and Joel Milligan also had good swims in this event, with Michael and Caolon swimming PB’s.

In the female 400IM, Jenny Wilson, Poppy Robinson and Elli Robinson all achieved PB’s. Graham Stevenson set a PB in the 400 free, with Patrick McNiff also having an impressive swim in this event. Nicky and Lee Galloway made the A final of the 100 back, finishing well in second and fourth. Michael Mitchell and Daniel Chambers also had good swims and made the B final.

Megan McKenna and Jenny Wilson took part in the 100 fly, Jenny made the B final and finished fourth. Daniel Chambers had a great swim in the 50 breast, smashing his PB and making the B final.

Ellie Purdy also swam a great PB in the 200 breast and made the B final. Lee Galloway finished 3rd overall in the 200 fly, swimming a two-second PB.

Jenny Wilson, Megan McKenna and Hannah Beattie had good swims in the 200 free, and Graham Stevenson set a PB in the men’s 50 free. In the last event of the championships, the 800 free relay, the Banbridge team of Graham Stevenson, Cameron McDonald, Michael Mitchell and Nicky Galloway finished third overall.

A massive thank you has to be said to all of the coaches who were present over the weekend. Thanks also to all of the volunteers from Banbridge ASC who took part in the competition and helped it run so smoothly.

Well done to the swimmers who represented the club so well at such an important competition.