Dolphin Swim Team make a splash at Irish Summer Nationals

The Irish National Youth and Senior Championships, the final event on the season’s calendar, concluded at the NAC recently with exhilarating performances from swimmers across the nation and from visiting nations. 

The standout Cork performer at this year’s championships was Tadgh O’Brien, Dolphin, who recently ‘made waves’ on the international stage at the European Junior Open Water Championships in Vienna. 

Returning from his international debut, O’Brien delivered a stellar performance, securing five gold and two silver medals. 

His achievement not only highlighted his exceptional skill and dedication but also underscored his potential as a rising star in Irish swimming.

A specialist in the distance events, O’Brien produced a 15-second PB to claim the National Title at 800m freestyle 8:38.41. He had an equally impressive swim over the 1,500m distance to win on 16:48.47. Swimming in the 15-year-old category, he was first home at 200m freestyle 1:57.70 ahead of Phelim Hanley, Blackrock on 1:59.28. 

He had a double victory in the backstroke, posting 2:12.42 over 200m and 1:01.17 at 100m. The 100m freestyle final was a classic, with the top three all posing sub 55-second swims. The event was won by Hanley on 54.68 with O’Brien in 2nd on 54.72 and Dawid Stachera, Trojan completing the podium on 54.85. O’Brien also placed 2nd at the sprint 50m freestyle 25.37.

Phelim Hanley added a second National Title when he reached the wall first at 100m butterfly 58.54 with Thomas Bugler, SWSC claiming silver on 59.21. Bugler claimed a National Title of his own when he produced a 3.72 second PB to win 200m butterfly 2:12.22. He also won the ‘B’ final of 100m freestyle with 55.59, a time which would have placed him 5th in the ‘A’ final.

Heather Fane, one of three siblings competing in the championships was in excellent form. Competing in the 18&over age group and representing Dolphin, she won two National Titles, at 100m butterfly and 200m backstroke. She touched on 1:05.35 at 100m fly and 2:26.96 at 200m back. She also won silver, touching on 2:26.65 at 200m IM and added two bronze at 50m & 100m backstroke, touching on 30.66 and 1:07.20 respectively. Younger brother Ricky also won a National Title. His came at 200m backstroke 2:13.95 with clubmate Ben Merrigan joining him on the podium with bronze 2:16.66. 

Neddie Irwin won bronze in the Super Final 2:06.12. Ricky was second in the ‘B’ final over the shorter 100m backstroke 1:03.51 while Irwin improved to the silver position in the Super Final. In an exciting B final at 100m butterfly, nothing separated Fane and Michael O’Driscoll, SWSC with both stopping the clock on 1:00.68 for joint 2nd place. Ewan Fane was the silver medallist at 200m breaststroke and the bronze medallist at 200m IM.

Andrew Feenan, SWSC won the Super Final at 200m breaststroke 2:16.11 and was silver medallist at 100m breaststroke 1:03.83.

Lexi Dunne, Dolphin was another in excellent form. She won the 200m freestyle on the first day 2:09.73 and the 200m IM on the second day, 2:27.00. She was the silver medallist at 100m & 50m freestyle, posting 59.60 and 27.30 respectively. She had to settle for bronze at the 400m freestyle 4:43.26.

Sean Bugler, SWSC won the National Titles at both 800m & 1,500m freestyle. He touched on 8:42.82 for 800 and had an impressive 8.42 second PB to touch on 16:33.08 at 1,500m. Ellen Lee, SWSC won two silver medals at 200m & 400m freestyle. Caoilinn O’Connor was the victor in the 15-year-old 200m backstroke final 2:24.09. Margaret Verling, Fermoy and Elin Manson placed 1st & 2nd in the ‘B’ final posting 2:35.68 and 2:36.74 respectively. O’Connor placed 3rd at the 100m backstroke 1:07.49.

Daisy O’Toole was the star for Mallow when she won bronze in the ‘B’ final at 200m backstroke 2:31.00. O’Toole was unfortunate not to claim a second bronze on the final day. She had a very strong swim in the 400m IM ‘B’ final but agonisingly was caught on the finish line by Louise Hartnett, Laois Marlins who touched on 5:30.28 with O’Toole just behind on 5:30.98.

The cumulative performances by the Dolphin team members resulted in the club being the best performing club at the Summer Youth & Senior Nationals.