Day 2 Report - Irish Youth and Senior Championships

The second day of the 2023 Irish Youth and Senior Summer Nationals took place today in a busy Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre.

The Mixed 400 Medley Relay was the first opportunity for medals this morning, Naeve Pountney, Benji Cummings, Charlie Eatwell and Olivia Miskelly of Ards finished first to claim gold in a time of 4:12.06, Larne (Louisa Humphries, Morgan Berryman, Éle Donegan, Thomas Leggett) clocked a combined 4:12.74 to finish second and in third was a New Ross team of Emmet Cousins, Eva Bayley and siblings, Evan Bailey and Leagh Bailey (4:14.81).

There was another opportunity for medals this afternoon as the gruelling Women’s 1500 Freestyle took place, Ava Rock of New Ross was first home to claim the 15 yrs gold in 18:15.83, dropping a stunning 28.84 seconds on her seed time, Jessica Purcell (Aer Lingus) was next in with 18:26.30 and in third was Emilie Edgar (19:07.00), who also has a massive drop of 52.51 seconds on her seed time. Katie Prunty of Slaney Sharks was first home in the 16 yrs (18:44.44), in second was Katie Kelly (Shark) in 18:51.96, and third was Breanna Chamberlain (18:58.89) of Cookstown.

Lara King (Swim Belfast) picked up the 17 yrs gold in a time of 18:45.83, Aimee Dawson (Lisburn) was next on the podium with 18:49.73 and third went to Ava Nolan (19:29.55) of Lisburn. The final age group on the blocks this afternoon was the 18 and over with Ella Carroll of Limerick taking the gold home in a time of 17:51.32, Hazel Bentley of Glenalbyn claimed silver (18:44.32) in third was Aimee Russell (19:35.10) of Ballymena.

The Men’s 200 Backstroke got proceedings underway this evening with Paddy Cuddihy (Kilkenny) taking home the 15 yrs gold in a time of 2:12.95, Andrew Mullen of Templeogue was next to touch in a time of 2:17.88, third place was claimed by Cillian Bramham (2:18.51) of Swim Belfast. The 16 yrs gold went to Alexander Newman of Bangor in a time of 2:13.20, Mark Cormican of Bluefin went 2:13.27 to claim silver with Bangor swimmer Cormac Farren next in with 2:17.26.

The 17 yrs gold went to Emmett Cousins of New Ross in a time of 2:08.25, Robert Mullen (Templeogue) bagged the national silver (2:17.06) with bronze going to Ray O’Shea (2:17.56) of ESB. Charlie Cassidy won the 18 yrs gold with 2:10.34, Daniel Edgar (Lisburn) clocked 2:10.98 to take silver while Cormac Donnellan of Glenalbyn (2:11.03) bagged bronze.

The final race of this event was the 19 yrs and over with the gold going back to the National Centre Limerick with Neddie Irwin (2:06.13), next to touch was Jericho Balgos (Larne) in 2:21.10 and third went to Andrew Harris of Ballymoney with a time of 2:24.17. A commemorative medal went to Mehmet Zeren of Brompton Swimming Club (2:09.64)

It was a case of blink, and you miss it as we moved onto the Women’s 50 Freestyle, Sofia O’Neill of Trojan clocked 28.18 to take the 15 yrs gold, Abby Yelverton (Limerick) was next to touch in 28.31, followed by Jane Ryan (28.55) of Athlone. The 16 yrs gold went to Rosie Whitten of Swim Belfast in a time of 27.18, City of Derry swimmer, Maeve McClean was next to touch (28.20) to take silver, with third going to Isla Henry (27.95).

The 17 yrs gold went to Leanna Liddane (27.27) of Limerick, Asgard swimmer, Amy Noble was next to touch with 27.39 while bronze was claimed by Isabel Kidney (27.47) of Sunday Wells. Grace Conroy of Lisburn was first home in the 19 yrs and over with a time of 26.89, Rosalie Phelan (26.99) of Cormorant touched next, just .10 behind Conroy to claim the national silver, Molly Nulty of Swilly Seals won bronze with 27.31.

The Men’s 50 Freestyle was next up, Ian Middleton (25.87) of Glenalbyn was home first to bag the 15 yrs gold, Cillian Bramham and Raiden Pinto both tied for second with 26.01. Commemorative medals were awarded to Hussein Shawky (Hamilton) and Aslan Eler (Chelsea and Westminster).

There was another thrilling battle in the 50 Freestyle, this time it was the 16 yrs battling it out for medals, Daniel Harvey of Ards came out on top with 24.45, Fionn Byrne kept the silver in the NAC with a time of 24.67, while Alfie Shawe of Lisburn clocked 24.75 to take bronze. The 17 yrs national gold was staying close by as Killian Brophy O’Loughlin of Coolmine claimed it in 24.34, while National Centre (Limerick) swimmer, Conor Fitzgerald touched next in 24.47, another Coolmine swimmer was on the podium with Darragh Morgan clocking 25.01 to win bronze.

Oisin Tebite, swimming in his home pool, was first to touch to take the 18 yrs gold in 23.42, his Irish European Junior teammate, Dylan Registe (Lisburn) was next to touch in 23.63, while third place and bronze was claimed by Euan MacLeod (24.43) of ESB.

The 19 yrs and over national gold went to National Centre (Dublin) swimmer Calum Bain in a time of 22.44. Matthew Walsh Hussey, who will feature in the upcoming LEN u23 European Championships, claimed a national silver with a time of 23.81. The crowd were treated to the return of familiar name in Irish swimming, as London 2012 Olympian Barry Murphy made a return to the blocks. Donning a University of Tennessee swim cap, the 38-year-old touched the wall in 23.84 picking up a bronze medal. Two commemorative medals were awarded to Jason Mahmutoglu (23.63) and Ruairi McKinnon (23.70).

The Women’s 100 Butterfly 15 yrs national gold went to Hannah Poynton or Trojan in a time of 1:07.85, Chloe Phillips (Drogheda) was next in with 1:08.18, just .5 separated Phillips and Eva Hand of Bangor 1:08.23) who would settle for bronze. In the 17 yrs, the national gold went back to Cork with Sunday Wells swimmer Izzy McGrath (1:05.52), Eliza Logan (Banbridge) clocked 1:05.70 in second and third went to Eva Bayley (1:05.84) of Ballymena. Hannah Mulloy of Trojan clocked 1:05.62 to take the 16 yrs gold, Rosie Whitten (Swim Belfast) was next to touch in 1:05.72 with third going to Katie Kelly (1:06.81) of Shark.

In the 18 yrs and over, another Sunday Wells swimmer was top of the podium as Sharon Semchiy clocked 1:03.62 to take the national gold. Hannah O’Shea (Dolphin) was next to touch in a time of 1:04.99, in third was Grace Conroy of Lisburn in 1:05.87.

The Men’s 100 Butterfly was the penultimate event of the evening with the 15 yrs to the blocks first, Ryan Griffin of Cookstown touched the wall in 1:01.16, Ben Wilson (Ards) won a national silver in 1:01.98 with bronze going to Sligo with Jamie Lennon (1:03.68). In the 16 yrs, Eoghan Ryan of Trident broke the one-minute mark (59.01) to take the gold, also going sub one minute was Alfie Shawe (59.74) of Lisburn, bronze went to New Ros swimmer Donnacha McCarthy (1:00.12). Fares Ahmed of Hamilton was awarded a commemorative medal with 59.41.

There was another exciting battle, this time in the 18 yrs final with Adam Colgan of Lisburn went 56.64 to take the national gold, National Centre (Limerick) swimmer Ronan Kilcoyne went 56.75 in second and third was claimed by Charlie Eatwell (56.85) of Ards. Conor Fitzgerald (National Centre Limerick) went 58.38 to take the 17 yrs national gold, joining him on the podium was Darragh Morgan of Coolmine (58.88) and David Leggett of Larne (58.99).

Jack Cassin made another trip to the podium, this time in the 100 Butterfly clocking 54.11, joining him was Gerry Quinn of Longford with a time of 55.59, third place and bronze was claimed by another National Centre (Limerick) swimmer, Brogan McAviney (55.72).

The last event of the night was the Women’s 200 Individual Medley, Clare Doherty of Sligo went 2:29.59 to win the 16 yrs gold, Eva Bayley of New Ross claimed silver in 2:30.27 while bronze went New Rosss teammate Laura Csarodai-Nagy (2:30.79).

The 17 yrs national title was won by Aoife Doran (2:25.04) of Aer Lingus, Rebekah Friel of Trojan went 2:25.47 to claim silver with bronze going back to Ards with Keira Aiken (2:25.83).

The last race of the night was the 18 and over group, Danielle Farrell of National Centre Limerick went 2:26.16 to bag gold, Hannah McCabrey finished second in 2:26.46 and in third was Naomi Trait (2:26.89) of UCD.