On Saturday 19 and Sunday, January 20 we travelled to UL for the Gerry Ryan Memorial Gala and we were well represented over the 2 days with 28 swimmers competing and some for the first time over the long course distance.
The girls started off the proceedings for us on Saturday so no better place to start with this. Sophie Baker swam the 200m IM, 200m breaststroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 100m breaststroke over the weekend and had great swims for the first long course gala of the year coming home 4th in the 50m breaststroke and 6th in the 200m breaststroke and getting her Division 2 times along the way, well done Sophie keep it up.
Nefelia Pyrovolaki also swam the 200m IM as well as the 100m backstroke where she just missed out on her Grade 2 time by 1sec, I have no doubt that if you keep up the training Nefelia that you will achieve the time the next day out.
Eabha Burke swam the 200m IM, 50m freestyle and 50m fly and again it was Eabha’s first time competing over the long course distance and swam brilliantly throughout the gala and is already looking forward to the next one I have no doubt.
Next up for the girls were the seasoned pros and they didn’t disappoint. Jodie Baker swam in the 200m IM, 200m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and finally the 200m freestyle to complete a busy weekend and she took it all in her stride as she always does taking silver in the 200m IM with a PB of 6sec, taking gold in the 200m breaststroke with a 5.5sec PB, silver again in the 50m freestyle with another PB, another silver in the 100m freestyle with a 1.5sec PB, gold in the 100m breaststroke with a massive 15sec PB and finally a silver in the 200m freestyle with a 2sec PB! Unbelievable swimming over the weekend by Jodie were she also achieved her Division 1 times.
Zoe Daniels-Howard was next up and swam in the 200m IM, 200m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 50m breaststroke and 200m freestyle over the 2 days. Zoe swam a great 200m IM, an event she hasn’t swam in a while and knocked over 1sec off her time. Zoe swam the 200m breaststroke next and although the time wasn’t what she was looking for she still achieved her Division 1 time and claimed a silver medal in the process. Zoe claimed gold in the 50m breaststroke with a 1.5sec PB and silver in the 100m breaststroke. A few though swims for Zoe over the weekend but I have no doubt this will drive her in over the next few weeks and she will come back stronger.
Fiona Miao also swam in the 200m IM, 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 50m fly and 50m backstroke where she had a few tough swims but came back strong and claimed silver in the 50m backstroke and a PB by half a second.
Naoise Hegarty swam the 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle and 100m breaststroke where she claimed a silver medal in a great race. Amy Hawe was also swimming at the long course venue for the first time and didn’t disappoint as she swam in the 100m backstroke, 50m fly, 100m freestyle and 100m breaststroke where she had a slow start but didn’t let that affect her and finished very strong.
Melina Pyrovolaki alongside her sister swam in the 100m backstroke and swam great to be less than 1 sec off her Grade A time. In the Sunday events Emily Gorey, Alexandra and Ionela Ohrim swam with Emily competing in the 50m freestyle and PB’d to be within 1 sec of her A time. The Ohrim sisters took to the water in the 50m fly and both had great swims with Alexandra knocking 4sec off her time.
Annelies Kouwenberg swam in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and the 200m freestyle with a 3sec PB in the 100m freestyle, over 1sec PB in the 50m freestyle and a 2.5sec PB in the 200m freestyle to round off a great gala for her. Mary O’Donnell only had 1 swim in the 200m backstroke and was achieved a huge PB of over 8sec and achieve her Division 2 time which I know just how hard she worked for, great swim Mary.
Our Torps squad had another long course training session in UL last Sunday, under the watchful eye of Coach Warren. Well done everyone.
Moving onto the boys and Luca Salvatori swam the 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 100m breaststroke where he won gold in the 50m breaststroke and brilliant in the other races. Peter Verling swam the 100m backstroke and swam great splits over the long course.
Zach Daniels-Howard had a busy day on the Saturday as he swam the 100m backstroke, 50m backstroke followed by the 400m IM and 100m fly which were directly after one another so he didn’t have much time to rest up! Zach PB’d in the 100m backstroke ensuring his Division 2 time, and he followed that up with a huge 15sec PB on the 400m IM in a brilliant paced race that had everyone tired from just watching it, so well done Zach.
William Verling swam both days in 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 200m backstroke where he knocked 3sec off his 100m backstroke and over 4sec off his 100m freestyle. Sean Slattery was another swimmer with a very busy 2 days as he swam in the 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 50m fly and the 400m freestyle where he achieved his Division 2 times in the 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle and the 400m freestyle to ensure he will be back in UL later this summer, great swimming Sean.
Jack Duggan swam a great Gala also as he was swimming in the 200m freestyle, 50m freestyle, 50m fly and 100m freestyle and achieved his Div. 2 times in all his events which is brilliant and I know he was going home hungry to work hard to achieve his Div. 1 times until an unfortunate accident has put those plans on hold for now as Jack broke his wrist a few days later and will be in a cast for 6 weeks. No doubt he will be in for kick sets! Get well soon Jack.
Ryan Ates swam all his events on Sunday and again it was the first time he was competing in a long course gala. Ryan swam in the 100m breaststroke, 200m IM and the 100m freestyle where he also achieved his Div. 2 times in the 200m IM and the 100m breaststroke which is a great achievement for Ryan.
Sam O’Brien was competing over the long course also for the first and swam in the 100m freestyle and 100m breaststroke where he PB’d and swam brilliantly and I can’t wait to see him at his next gala. Luke O’Shea and Louis Gorey swam in the 50m freestyle where both PB’d.
Bartosz Lipinski swam the 200m IM, 50m fly and 50m freestyle where again he achieved the qualifying standard for Division 2 on his 50m freestyle.
Oisin Finn swam two events over the weekend – one on each day – 50m freestyle and 50m fly where he PB’d in both which was brilliant considering he just about made it on time for the 50m freestyle but didn’t let that bother him and swam a great race in the 50m fly the following day, well done Oisin.
Adam Duggan always has a big act to follow with his brother but never lets it faze him and just keeps knocking time off and winning medals which is what it’s all about. Adam swam the 200m freestyle, 100m breaststroke where he achieved his Grade 1 time as well as a silver medal in the process. Great swimming Adam, keep up the great work.
All in All, it was a great gala with some great results and medals for Fermoy Swimming Club. The number of Divisional times achieved also over the weekend was great to see and no doubt we will have some more at the next long course Gala in February. Thank you to all the parents who helped and supported over the weekend as it was greatly appreciated by all, and a huge thank you to Coach Warren for giving up his weekend to help the swimmers.
