Leeside swimmers show their class in relay events at UL

THERE was a very positive reaction from Munster athletes and coaches to the three-day format for this year’s Munster Short Course Championships, held recently at UL. 

The change allowed for sufficient rest between heats and finals and the athletes responded with significant PBs across a range of events and across both genders. A total of six Munster Records were set in the Relay events.

The ladies’ quarter from SWSC, Eva Harrington, Ellen Lee, Izzy McGrath & Isabel Kidney placed their names in the record books for two new Munster Records, 4x50m Senior Girls Freestyle 1:48.16 and Medley 1:59.78.

The Junior boys’ team from Dolphin, Sasha Lychuk, Ricky Fane, Aidan McGrath and Noah Switzer set a new record in the 4x50m freestyle 1:41.62 only to see it reset some five minutes later by the team from Limerick, Conor Fitzgerald, Denis O’Brien, Cian Houlihan & Darragh Horgan 1:38.12. 

The Dolphin medley team, which saw a change of personnel with James McIlroy replacing Aidan McGrath also set a new Munster Record 1:52.88 only to see it also reset five minutes later, by the narrowest of margins, this time by the team from SWSC, Sean Bugler, Balint Szatmari, Michael O’Driscoll & Marc Galland 1:51.51.

Dmytro Cherkasov, Dolphin, was impressive in the breaststroke events. Nine of the ten finalists in the 200m breaststroke final on day 1, were all from Cork clubs. Cherkasov was the comfortable victor 2:17.45 with Senan Harvey, Mallow in 2nd 2:27.24 and Ricky Fane, Dolphin in 3rd 2:28.30. The same three featured on the 100m podium, Cherkasov on 1:04.85, Harvey on 1:06.11 and Fane on 1:08.50. Cherkasov also topped the 50m podium with 27.75 with Harvey in third on that occasion on 30.20. Both Cherkasov and Harvey swam their way to the final of the Exhibition Medley Skins on day 2 with Cherkasov emerging the victor.

Sean Bugler was impressive in the distance events, with 2nd at 800m freestyle 8:45.60 and third at 1,500m 16:40.53. He also collected bronze at 100m butterfly 58.65. Fane added double bronze in the IM events. He was in a tight battle for 2nd place with club mate Noah Switzer over 200m, but it was Switzer who clinched 2nd on 2:13.48 with Fane in 3rd on 2:13.76. At 400m IM on the final day, he posted 4:50.80 to claim bronze. Switzer added bronze at 100m freestyle 52.36.

Aoibhe Moroney, Dolphin was first home for the ladies in the 1,500m freestyle 18:57.22. She was followed by Fiorna O’Keeffe, Mallow, in 2nd on 18:59.58. O’Keeffe placed 2nd in the ‘B’ final at 200m freestyle 2:17.26 with Dolphin’s Abigeal Logan hot on her heels with 2:17.74 for 3rd. Daisy O’Toole, Mallow placed 3rd in the ‘B’ final at 100m backstroke.

Michelle O’Shea, Dolphin won silver at 400m IM on the final day 5:13.55. She also placed 2nd in the ‘B’ final at 100m IM and at 100m backstroke.

Amy Hawe flew the flag for Fermoy SC when she claimed silver at 200m butterfly 2:39.80. She also placed 2nd in the ‘B’ final over the shorter 50m distance31.43 with SWSC’s Aoife Gardiner in 3rd on 31.65. Margaret Verling, Fermoy, placed 2nd in the ‘B’ final at 200mn backstroke 2:35.70 with Dolphin’s Elin Manson in 3rd on 2:36.00.

Alex Barrett, Blackrock, placed 2nd in the ‘B’ final at 50m freestyle.

IMPRESSIVE

Others to feature in the top three at ‘B’ finals included: Dolphin’s Shauna Murphy, 100m IM & 100m freestyle; Ricky Fane, 100m backstroke; Ruby Swinburne 50m freestyle; Shonagh Ferriss 200m IM; Sasha Lychuk 200m IM & 50m butterfly; Elin Manson 100m butterfly; Orna Higgins 100m butterfly; Ewan Fane 50m &100 m butterfly and 100m IM; Tadgh O’Brien 200m freestyle and Jamie Murphy at 50m breaststroke.

Top three ‘B’ finalists from SWSC included Caoilinn O’Connor 100m IM; Faye Carroll 200m breaststroke; Balint Szatmari 50m backstroke, Marc Galland 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke & 50m freestyle; Jenna McArdle 50m freestyle and Josh O’Neill 50m breaststroke.

The Exhibition Medley Skins event on Day 2 was a great spectacle of racing. In the women’s event, three of the last four all hailed from SWSC. Caoilinn O’Connor and Heather Fane, Dolphin were eliminated in the penultimate round, leaving Isabel Kidney and Izzy McGrath to battle it out. Freestyle was drawn for the final stroke and both girls delivered a fitting conclusion to this event, with Kidney clinching the victory.