ONE of the largest and most popular events on the swimming calendar goes ahead this weekend when well over 1,000 children from more than 200 schools take part in the Swim Ulster Schools Cup and Championships for 2015/16.
Teams from throughout Ulster will converge on the splendid facility at the Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex in Bangor for two days of competition from raw beginners to established internationals like Youth Commonwealth gold medallist Conor Ferguson from BRA.
Among the many who are making their first ever competitive swim is St Ita’s pupil Oisín McGurk (10) who goes in the 50m freestyle and the relay. Oisín is something of an all-rounder, playing football and hurling for Carryduff, rugby and cricket with Instonians and water polo at Cathal Brugha. He admits to being a little bit nervous but is looking forward to enjoying the occasion.
The event starts at 9am on Saturday with all of the U12/U11/U10/U9 heats and finals being run off in the 44-discipline programme.
It is the turn of the older competitors on Sunday in age groups up to U19.
A feature this year will be the presentation of new trophies which recognise the achievements of recent Ulster Olympians and Paralympians from Bejing and London. They include Andrew Bree, Sycerika McMahon, Melanie Nocher, Laurence McGivern, Johnny Cummings, Hannah Clarke, Bethany Firth and Stephen Campbell.
THE water polo season hasn’t got off to the smooth start that was hoped for with problems with pool bookings, games being called off and even the clocks at the NAC acting up and not working properly.
Hopefully everything will go to plan this weekend with a series of top games scheduled including a repeat of last season’s Irish Senior Cup finals gala, when Cathal Brugha lost the women’s final to St Vincent’s but won the men’s title also against St Vincent’s.
Clonard have their first outing of the season when they meet the St Vincent’s second string in the Premier League, while Setanta have a difficult return to the top flight when they play Sandycove.
Donegall Diamonds will be looking to restore their confidence when they play Guinness in the Women’s Premier League after having shipped a heavy defeat to holders St Vincents in their opening game.
Diamonds youth team complete the programme with a game against Drogheda in Division Two.
