Cork Swimming: Nick Emerson and Christopher King set Irish records at Sunday's Well Gala

SUNDAY'S Well Swimming Club is gearing up for a momentous milestone as they celebrate their centenary in 2024. 

The first event to kickstart this year of celebration was the SWSC Masters Gala, held at the Gus Healy Pool. A favourite on the Masters Calendar, the event attracts a large entry from across Cork and nationwide.

Several records were broken during the meet. Star of those was Nick Emerson, Cork Masters. Swimming in the 75-79 age group, he swam an impressive 49.94 to set a new Irish Masters Record at 50m backstroke. Emersen doubled up on backstroke gold when he also won the 100m back. 

Christopher King, Swan Leisure Masters, also set a new Irish Record at 200m freestyle. Anne Marie Nolan, SWSC set a new Munster Record at 200m breaststroke. Other Munster Records were set by Rob Lamb, SWSC, at 200m freestyle and Erin McNulty, Kingdom Masters, at 50m butterfly.

Awards are given across five-year age bands. Star of the meet was Judith Barrett, Cork Masters, with four victories in 100m & 50m freestyle, 100m IM and 50m breaststroke. She was joined on the 50m podium by Sarah Hyde and Alison McKinley of SWSC. It was an all, Cork Masters affair when she was joined by Nicola Murphy and Manon Van der Zee at 100m IM. Jane O’Toole, SWSC and Wendy O’Leary, Cork Tri Club joined her at 100m freestyle and McKinley placed 2nd at 50m breast.

For the hosts, Gill Lee and Edel Kelleher collected three gold each in their respective age groups. Kelleher topped an all-SWSC podium at 50m freestyle when she was joined by Anne Fitzgibbon and Pauline McAree. Kelleher & McAree placed 1st & 2nd at 100m freesstyle. Her third victory came at 50m breaststroke. Lee’s victories came at 100m & 50m freestyle and at 50m backstroke. In a family affair, husband Tommy Lee claimed gold at 50m freestyle with Ryan Vaughan, Blackrock in second. Lee placed second at 50m butterfly. Ryan competing in his first competitive gala claimed a further three silver medals, at 100m & 200m freestyle and at 50m breaststroke.

Gala organiser, Ann Toebes collected gold at 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke while husband Arjan shared the podium at 200m freestyle with teammates, Brian Walsh, gold and Alan McGuinness in 3rd. Ray McArdle, SWSC topped the 50m freestyle podium with McGuinness in 2nd and Toebes in 3rd. McArdle, Toebes and Walsh topped the 50m breaststroke podium. McGuinness was the victor at 100m freestyle while Walsh claimed the 100m backstroke gold.

IMPRESSIVE

Sarah McCarthy, SWSC impressed at the freestyle events with victory at 200m. She placed second at both the 400m and 100m and also collected gold at 50m breaststroke. Siobhan McDermott, Cork Tri Club, claimed treble gold at 400m, 100m and 50m freestyle.

Rob Lamb, SWSC topped the 200m freestyle podium ahead of Ronan Garvey, Mallow Masters. He also won the 100m backstroke. Garvey also placed 2nd at 100m freestyle but topped the podium at 100m IM. Lamb was also the brainchild behind a ‘Novelty Baton Relay’ to mark the centenary celebrations. 

This was a 4 x 25m fun relay with all competitors starting in the water. Just before the start, all competitors were informed that the ‘baton’ was a T-Shirt which they had to place over their head and arms before they could start their leg of the relay. 

The event was received with great enthusiasm with the hosts emerging victorious in a very close finish with the team from Cork Masters.

Mykta Krokmalov was the star for Mallow Masters with three victories at 100m IM, 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke. Rod Hoare, Blackrock topped the podium, in his age group at 100m IM followed by Michael McIlroy, SWSC and John Cotter, Mallow.

Giovanni Baldisinnii, Mallow was victorious at 100m freestyle. He also placed 2nd at 400m freestyle and 100m IM.

James Mintern, Jenny Laffan and Chris Kelleher also contributed two victories each to the Cork Masters tally. Mintern at 400m & 100m freestyle. He was joined on the 100m free podium by Anthony Creed, Cork Tri Club. Jenny Laffan won the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly. She was joined on the 50m free podium by Hannah Riley, Blackrock in 3rd and on the 50m butterfly podium by Fernanda Pffiffer Camera, SWSC in 2nd. Kelleher won the 200m & 50m breaststroke.