Last Sunday, March 18th, nineteen swimmers set off to do battle in Mallow Swimming Pool at the Munster Grade 3 Gala.
Molly O’Brien in her first ever gala, swam brilliantly managing to get her Grade 2 times in the strokes needed to become a Munster Grade 2 swimmer … incredible. Molly also won silver in her 50m Breaststroke and bronze in her 100m Free.
Molly O’Brien pictured with her bronze medal in the 100m freestyle at the Munster Grade 3 Gala in Mallow last Saturday. Congratulations to Molloy on achieving her times to become a Grade 2 swimmer.
Keeping the boys side up, Zach Daniels-Howard also achieved his Munster Grade 2 qualifications winning gold in the 100m IM and silver in the 50m Fly and 50m Free.
Zach Daniels-Howard with his silver medal in the 50m butterfly at last Saturday’s Munster Grade 3 Gala in Mallow. Zach also won silver in 50m freestyle and gold in 100m IM and has achieved his times to now become a Grade 2 swimmer.
Well done to Molly and Zach on this fantastic achievement.
Ben Terry attained his Grade 2 time in the 100m IM winning gold and also won silver in the 50m Backstroke. Naoise Hegarty swam a great PB in the 50m Breaststroke gaining her Grade 2 time and beating our own Molly to win the gold medal.
Ben Terry with his silver medal for 50m backstroke at last Saturday’s Munster Grade 3 in Mallow. On the day, Ben also took gold in the 14 & Over 100m IM.
Darren Counihan swam a great 100m IM taking off a massive 7.34 seconds to get his Grade 2 time. Bartosz Lipinski swam his first 50m Fly and got his Grade 2 time with 2.5 seconds to spare. Nefelia Pyrovolaki swam a great 50m Backstroke to gain her Grade 2 time in this event.
Rory Gill took a mighty 5.87 seconds off his 100m Free time. Not to be outdone, Sam O’Brien took 4.72 secs off his time for this stroke and 3.11 secs off his Backstroke. Pierce Riordan took a great 3.41 off his 100m Free.
Melina Pyrovolaki showed the boys what the girls could do by taking off an amazing 7.5 secs off her 100m Free and Sophie Baker took off a very respectable 2.46, Clodagh Whelan 2.06 and Claire Linehan 1.87 and then went on to take off 3.46 off her 50m Breaststroke.
Peter Verling waited until the 50m Backstroke to show his improvement of -1.51. Emily Darrer-Dalton was in flying form taking off 6.80 seconds in the 50m Free – yes, that’s 3.4 seconds a length and 5.16 secs off her 50m Backstroke.
Ruairi Counihan swam in his first 50m Backstroke. Patrick Kenny also swam in the 100m Free and Gearoid Carey swam in the 100m Free 50m Back and Fly.
Pictured at the Munster Grade 3 gala in Mallow were Clodagh Whelan, Zach Daniels-Howard, Naoise Hegarty, Darren Counihan, Pierce Riordan, Ben Terry, Patrick Kenny, Bartosz Lipinski, Gearoid Carey, Peter Verling, Sophie Baker and coach Paula Finn.
The Gala’s stroke judge was exceptionally harsh so there were a few disqualifications, but lads, that’s how you learn not to make the same mistake again!
Thanks to all the parents who travelled and helped the swimmers by partaking in the various jobs, whether it was time keeper or team manager, without you we could not give the support the swimmers need.
Thanks also go to the 2 wonderful coaches who attend on the day Paula Finn and Warren Terry, you did a great job.
