Sport

Impressive display by Irish swimmers in London

Deirdre Cassidy
Deirdre Cassidy Deirdre Cassidy

IRISH swimmers returned from the European Masters Championships in London with an impressive haul of 24 medals and 31National records.

For many of the one hundred and forty strong Irish contingent it was a first taste of international competition and with a massive entry of more than ten thousand, the organisers were stretched to the limit to get the programme completed.

Alison White from Belfast Masters broke the record in the women's 25+ 200M Breaststroke in a time of 2:52.05.

Ireland water polo Physical Therapist Cara Mulcahy who flies out next week to Prague with the Ireland women's team picked up a couple of bronze medals as a member of the Aer Lingus relay squads.

St. Dominic's P.E. Teacher Deirdre Cassidy captains the Ireland team that takes part in the ten team EU tournament in the Czech capital.She is joined by Brugha club colleague Orla Monaghan in a group with Czech Republic,Israel,Wales and Switzerland.The other group is Slovakia,South Africa,Austria,England and Scotland.

The rest of the team is: Izzy Banks,Maeve Masterson(Glenalbyn),Mairiad Baker,Laura,Rachel and Jennifer Murphy,Elizabeth Kelly,Irene Walsh and Maeve O'Connor(all St.Vincents),Eleanor O'Byrne,Carmel Heary and Aisling Dempsey(Tribes).

Declan McKerr and Declan Neeson(both Setanta) are head and deputy head coaches respectively.Elaine Alexander(Donegall Diamonds) is administration manager and Denver Kirk(Clonard) is the travelling referee.

The Lough Erne Swim Championship celebrates its silver jubilee this year with 17 and 25k open water races on 29th July.

Many people associated with the event over the years are returning to take part including Irish record holder for the English Channel crossing Conor Gunn and his sister Grainne who was a multiple winner of the event in the 1990s.

Ireland Water Polo still has vacancies for the posts of Secretary,Treasurer and Munster delegate for which nominations will be accepted up until 20th June.

In the interim Swim Ireland will assume all responsibilities for the implementation of the development plan.

A welcome addition to the administration is Setanta's Ronan McClean who has taken on the role of Ulster delegate.