The new look 2023 Irish Youth and Senior Summer Championships got underway today in Dublin. 1125 swimmers from nearly 120 clubs will come through the National Aquatic Centre doors over the five days of competition. Maria Godden and Nathan Wiffen had the standout swims of the day with both securing consideration times for the World Aquatics Championships in Doha in February and the European Short Course Championships in December.
Maria Godden did not waste any time on the opening morning of the competition as she stormed through the Women’s 200 Backstroke Heat posting consideration times for both the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha and the 2023 European Short Course Championships in Bucharest. The National Centre (Limerick) swimmer clocked 2:12.19 in the morning heat returned this evening to win a national gold with 2:12.42. The silver was claimed by recent Irish European Junior swimmer, Cora Rooney (2:22.69) of Enniskillen, while bronze went to Shannon Byrne (Bangor) in 2:23.54.
While Daniel Wiffen was lighting up the Fukuoka stage, his twin brother Nathan was doing the same in Dublin, in the Men’s 800 Freestyle. Wiffen went sub eight minutes, clocking 7:57.79 this afternoon, Wiffen is now only the second Irish man to break the eight minute mark behind Daniel, a time not only worthy of a national gold. but also a consideration time for the World Aquatics Championships in February and European Short Course Championships in December.
Back to the 200m Backstroke and Holly McInerney (Templeogue) clocked 2:27.89 to take the 15 yrs national gold back across Dublin, Mia Mulholland of Banbridge came in at 2:30.02 to take silver, while Shauna Murphy (2:30.02) was just .19 behind in third. In the 16 yrs, Antonina Sech (Sunday Wells) came first to claim the 16 yrs gold with 2:25.81, Eva Bailey (New Ross) clocked 2:27.27 to take silver and Sharks Katie Kelly was in third (2:27.67). The winner of the 17 yrs was Aoife Doran of Aer Lingus, touching in 2:21.37 to claim gold, silver went to Leagh Bailey (New Ross) in 2:26.59 and Abigail Minto (Templeogue) finished third in 2:28.48.
In the 800m Freestyle 15 yrs, Paddy Cuddihy (Kilkenny) came in at 8:50.87 to take top spot on the podium, Liam O’Connor (KGD) claimed the national silver in 9:08.86, while third went to Trojan’s Kjell Laudon (9:13.72). Omar Khedr (Hamilton) was awarded a commemorative silver for his time of 9:07.96. Daragh Horgan came out on top in the 16 yrs, the Limerick man clocking 9:00.44. Sligo’s Kyle Kelly was next in to take the national silver home with a time of 9:12.51 while the bronze wasn’t going far as Tony Cascante of Coolmine was next in with 9:14.51. Sean Bugler of Sunday Wells put on a dominant display to win the 17 yrs gold in a time of 8:52.54, his closest competitor, Tristan Egan (Aer Lingus) clocked 9:23.17, who was closely followed by another Sunday Wells swimmer, Michael O’Driscoll (9:26.79).
The crowd were treated to exciting relay races on the opening morning with Sunday Wells’ Isabel Kidney, Ellen Lee, Beth Nolan and Sharon Semichiy (4:03.18) coming first in the Women’s 400 Freestyle Relay, the silver wasn’t going far as Beth Gardiner, Kelly-Ann Brown, Lizaveta Kotsikava and Ciara Williams of NAC Swim Club claimed it with a combined 4:05.51, finishing third with a combined 4:06.00 was Trojan’s Rebekah Friel, Alice Ledgerwood, Abril Allende and Sofia O’Neill.
A Limerick team of Conor Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Sutton, Eoin Corby and Finn McGeever clocked a combined 3:30.22 to finish first in the Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay. There was a battle for silver between two Dublin 15 clubs as NAC and Coolmine went head to head, Coolmine (Ali Ryan, Danny Morgan, Darragh Morgan, Killian O’Loughlin Brophy) edged it with 3:31.56, the NAC team of Matthew Walsh Hussey, Isaac Fitzmaurice, Oisin Tebite and Fionn Byrne touched in a combined 3:31.78.
The Men’s 400 Medley was next on the order of events, with the 15 yrs first up. The national gold was won by Ben Wilson of Ards, clocking 5:01.06 to take top spot on the podium, he was joined by his teammate, Mathias Pickett (5:02.09), while Ballymena’s Cody Lau came home in third with 5:06.70. In the 16 yrs, Dominic Hilton (Trojan) came home first in a time of 4:47.46 to take gold, Limerick’s Daragh Horgan claimed silver in 4:50.74, while Blackrock’s Alex Barrett was in third (5:00.13). In the 17-18 yrs, Ronan Kilcoyne of National Centre Limerick was home first in a time of 4:34.08 to take top podium position. Glenalbyn’s Cormac Donnellan with 4:41.34, followed by Ronan Fahey (4:43.01) of Trojan.
The last race of this event was the 19 yrs and over, Jack Cassin of National Centre Limerick led the way from the get-go and remained in pole position for the duration of the race, clocking 4:23.60 to touch first. His nearest competitor was Adam Wilson (Banbridge) who clocked 4:33.68 while Eoin Walsh of Swim Belfast claimed the national bronze in 5:04.81. Czech visitor, Danylo Chobanian won a commemorative medal with a time of 4:34.63.
With a change of events the Women’s 200 Freestyle was up next with the 15 yrs taking to the National Aquatic Centre blocks first. Holly McInerney of Templeogue was first to touch in 2:10.54, Ava Rock (New Ross) followed next in 2:12.30 while third went to Sofia O’Neill of Trojan in 2:12.30.
Clara Doherty (Sligo) was the 16 yrs national champion in a time of 2:10.92 with Olivia Miskelly (Ards) next in with 2:13.35, Eva Bayley (New Ross) picked up another medal, this time bronze with 2:12.80. There was a closely contested battle in the 17 yrs with Rebekah Friel (Trojan) touching first in 2:08.69 to claim gold, Leagh Bailey (New Ross), on the outside line, was next in with 2:09.11 while the bronze went to Limerick’s Leanna Liddane in 2:09.56.
The 18 and over age group followed in similar fashion as there was a mere .05 between Mollie McAlorum (National Centre Limerick) and Naomi Trait (UCD) going into the last 50m, it would be the National Centre Ulster swimmer who touched first in 2:06.47, with Trait just .41 behind in second. Danielle Farrell of National Centre Limerick touched next in third place with 2:08.02.
Sticking with the 200 Freestyle, the boys were next to the blocks with Ashley Weafer (Longford) claiming the national gold in 2:00.55, Paddy Cuddihy of Kilkenny claimed another national medal, this time silver (2:02.08), while Templeogue’s Andrew Mulley claimed bronze in 2:02.79. A commemorative gold went to Hussein Shawky of Hamilton (1:57.99). There was another exciting spectacle, this time it was the 16 yrs as Noah Switzer of Dolphin clocked 1:58.33 to take the national gold. There was a tie for silver as Donnacha McCarthy (New Ross) and Daniel Harvey (Ards) both touched in 2:00.43.
In the 18 yrs, the top two podium places went to two swimmers who all recently represented Ireland at the European Junior Championships in Belgrade, Evan Bailey (New Ross) was first to touch in 1:53.11, with Adam Colgan of Lisburn finishing second (1:56.31), Charlie Cassidy of Dolphin was next to touch in 1:57.14. Conor Fitzgerald (National Centre Limerick) claimed the 17 yrs gold in a time of 1:54.91, there a Coolmine double for silver and bronze with Darragh Morgan (1:57.15) first ahead of Killian O’Loughlin Brophy (1:57.58).
The 19 yrs and over national gold was won in excellent fashion as Longford’s Gerry Quinn led the way from the start and could be caught, clocking 1:51.90. Tokyo Olympian, Finn McGeever touched next in 1:53.94, while Jack Fleming (Lisburn) came in at 1:54.91.
In the Women’s 100 Breaststroke the 15 yrs national title went to Trojan’s Abril Allende in 1:15.53, Jane Ryan (Athlone) touched the wall next with a time of 1:17.65, while third and bronze was claimed by Jordan Winterbach (Titan) in 1:19.32. Keira Aiken (Ards) was national champion in the 16-17 yrs with a time of 1:13.65, Sunday Wells’ Isabel Kidney claimed silver (1:13.65) with bronze going to Cara Maher of Terenure (1:14.48). A commemorative medal was awarded to Hamilton’s Jade Qursha (1:12.43).
There was a National Centre battle as Niamh Coyne (NCD) and Eimear Doyle (NCL) went stroke for stroke in the 18 yrs and over event, Coyne pipped the top spot in 1:09.77 with Doyle closely behind in 1:10.27, also closely behind was Olwyn Cooke (1:10.98) of Limerick.
The last event of the evening was the Men’s 100 Breaststroke, Alan Karchenko (Banbridge) was home first in 1:10.94 to take gold in the 15 yrs, Sligo’s Jamie Lannon was next in (1:12.43) with third place claimed by Aaron Haire (1:13.46) of Bangor. The 16 yrs gold went to Trojan’s Dominic Hilton (1:08.72), silver to Ryan McDowell (1:10.16) of Ards and bronze claimed by Ricky Fane (Dolphin) in 1:10.43. In the Cillian 18 yrs, another recent Irish Junior international was top of the podium, this time it was Liam O’Connor (Terenure) in a time of 1:03.55, the silver went to John Mulhall of Trojan in a time of 1:06.10, Matthew Hand of National Centre Ulster claimed a national bronze in 1:06.12. Cillian Murphy (Swilly Seals) touched first in 1:07.87 to claim the 17 yrs gold, Ards’ Benji Cummings was next in (1:07.98) with Senan Harvey touching next (1:08.92).
The 19 yrs concluded the opening day with National Centre Limerick’s Eoin Corby and Uiseann Cooke of Tuam going stroke for stroke, the Limerick man was home first in 1:02.17 to take the national title, Cooke would settle for silver just .67 behind Corby. Morgan Berryman of Larne touched in third place to claim bronze in 1:03.91.
