Swim Ireland’s Irish Open Swimming Championships ended at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre today with several swimmers adding to medal hauls. Across the five days, two Irish Senior and two Irish Junior Records were broken as well as five Championship Records.
Danielle Hill has impressed all week and closed out the Championships with a sixth title in the 50m Backstroke, adding to 50m and 200m Backstroke, 50m and 100m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly titles. Ireland’s fastest ever female swimmer, already selected for the European Championships and Commonwealth Games this Summer, touched in 28.66 ahead of Swim Belfast’s Lottie Cullen (29.04) and UCD’s Jena Macdougald (29.74).
National Centre Dublin’s Niamh Coyne followed in Corby’s footsteps winning the Breaststroke triple. Having won the 50m and 100m titles earlier in the week, Coyne dominated from start to finish touching in 2:27.40 and earned a second consideration time for the European Championships in Rome in August.
Victoria Catterson, who had won 100m Freestyle silver on Wednesday, cruised to gold in the 200m Freestyle Final. Catterson clocked 2:01.13 ahead of National Centre Limerick’s Maria Godden (2:05.35) and Banbridge’s Julia Knox (2:06.04).
Commenting on the Championships, Swim Ireland National Performance Director Jon Rudd said, "The five days of competition here in Dublin have provided us with a great return to the business end of our sport with some strong and highly promising racing noted in every session. Following the Olympic Games, we had nine athletes pre-selected to our National Teams for the summer benchmark meets this season and for many, training into the summer rather than competing at this time was their preferred option. Alongside those pre-selected, we have an additional eleven athletes that have put themselves into a position where they can be nominated for selection for individual events for one or more of our National Teams in July and August, alongside a further group of athletes who can be considered for Irish relays. Congratulations and a huge thanks to all of the coaches and teams that have prepared their athletes for this event, and we wish you all success for the summer ahead - whether that be on an Irish National Team or into the Irish Summer National Championships."
National teams for this summer will be announced in May.
Day 5 Results
Women 200m Freestyle Final: 1st V Catterson National Centre Ulster 2:01.13 2nd M Godden National Centre Limerick 2:05.35 3rd J Knox Banbridge 2:06.04
Men 200m IM Finals: 1st E Corby National Centre Limerick 2:03.56 2nd C McCarthy National Centre Limerick 2:06.59 3rd E Bailey New Ross 2:06.72
Women 200m Breaststroke Final: 1st N Coyne National Centre Dublin 2:27.40 2nd M Mayne Templeogue 2:29.50 3rd E McCartney National Centre Ulster 2:31.54
Men 50m Freestyle Final: 1st T Fannon National Centre Dublin 22.32 (commemorative) 1st M McCusker Dolphin 22.59 2nd C Bain Cookstown 22.63 3rd D Sutton National Centre Limerick 22.97
Women 50m Backstroke Final: 1st D Hill Larne 28.66 2nd L Cullen Swim Belfast 29.04 3rd J Macdougald UCD 29.74
Men 1500m Freestyle Final: 1st L Custer Sundays Well 15:41.17 2nd J Cummings-Candal Ards 16:41.01 3rd R Fahey Trojan 16:44.15
