Day 6 – 50m Breaststroke and 50m Backstroke
Two Silver and One Bronze for Irish Relay Teams on Final Day of Action in Singapore
The 2025 World Aquatics Masters Championships concluded today in Singapore, with Irish relay teams adding three medals to the national tally.
In the Men’s 4x50m Freestyle Relay (240+), an Aer Lingus team consisting of John Cunningham, Peter Conway, Paul O’Neill, and Paul Dennis clocked a combined time of 1:52.38 to win a world silver medal. Aer Lingus (Vladimir Gorkov, John Cunningham, Paul O’Neill, Peter Conway) returned to the podium for another silver medal, this time in the Men’s 4x50m Medley Relay (240+). A Cork Masters (120+) team of Robert Cussen, Chris Kelleher, Paul Laffan, and Alan O’Brien set a new Irish record with a time of 1:49.42.
An Aer Lingus relay team featuring Eoin Foster, Deirdre Perth, John Cunningham, and Charlotte Reid brought the competition to a close in memorable fashion, clocking 2:03.88 to win the World Aquatics Masters bronze medal (200+).
| 4X50 Free Relay | Deidre Perth Patricia Reilly Blanaid Walker Anne Morrissey |
Aer Lingus Masters | 240-279 | 2:16.38 (5th) |
| John Cunningham Peter Conway Paul O’Neill Paul Dennis |
Aer Lingus Masters | 240-279 | 1:52.38 (2nd) | |
| ChrisKelleher RobertCussen AlanO’Brien Paul Laffan | Cork Masters | 120-159 | 1:39.55 (9th) | |
| 4X50 Medley Relay | Deidre Perth Patricia Reilly Blanaid Walker Anne Morrissey |
Aer Lingus Masters | 240-279 | 2:33.12 (4th) |
| Vladimir Gorkov John Cunningham Paul O’Neill Peter Conway |
Aer Lingus Masters | 240-279 | 2:04.93 (2nd) | |
| Robert Cussen Chris Kelleher Paul Laffan Alan O’Brien |
Cork Masters | 120-159 | 1:49.42 (5th) ISR | |
| 4X50 Mixed Free Relay | Bernard Boran Boyd Freeman Bronwyn Cummings Patricia Reilly |
Aer Lingus Masters | 240-279 | 2:10.90 (11th) |
| John Cunningham Eoin Foster Deidre Perth Charlotte Reid |
Aer Lingus Masters | 200-239 | 1:51.03 (4th) | |
| Tim Daly Jenny Laffan Catherine Costigan Gavin O’Brien |
Cork Masters | 120-159 | 1:57.15 (26th) | |
| 4X50 Mixed Medley Relay | Blanaid Walker Patricia Reilly Rob Frize Boyd Freeman |
Aer Lingus Masters | 240-279 | 2:25.48 (12th) |
| Eoin Foster Deidre Perth John Cunningham Charlotte Reid |
Aer Lingus Masters | 200-239 | 2:03.88 (3rd) | |
| Catherine Costigan Tim Daly Jenny Laffan Gavin O’Brien |
Cork Masters | 120-159 | 2:10.73 (26th) |
Day 6 – 50m Breaststroke and 50m Backstroke
Two New Irish Records Set on Penultimate Day in the Pool
The focus of day 6 in Singapore was on sprint events for our Masters Swimmers.
In the 50m Backstroke, Mark Laffan (30-34) from Cork Masters lowered the 50m backstroke Irish record in his age group, finishing in 14th position, in a time of 28.70. Aer Lingus Master’s Vladamir Gorkov (65-69) came agonisingly close to claiming a third medal for fourth in the 65-69 age group in a time of 34.38.
In the 50m Breaststroke, double Masters World Champion John Cunningham (55-59) finished 4th setting a new Irish record in a time of 32.15 while fellow club swimmer Deirdre Perth (Aer Lingus Masters) was the best of the women finishing 4th in the 55-59 age group.
Full Irish Results for Wednesday are below.
Thursday is the final day of swimming, with Irish clubs competing in 4 x 50 Freestyle and Medley Relays.
| 50 Back | Catherine Costigan | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 37.81 (37th) |
| Kate Morris | Glenalbyn Masters | 25-29 | 34.76 (29th) | |
| Vladamir Gorkov | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 34.38 (4th) | |
| Eoin Foster | Aer Lingus Masters | 45-49 | 31.13 (14th) | |
| Paul Laffan | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 28.70(14th) | |
| Cian Wallnutt | Aer Lingus Masters | 25-29 | 31.29 (27th) | |
| 50 Breast | Patricia Reilly | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 45.68 (10th) |
| Tracey Hull | Lisburn City Swimming Club | 60-64 | 44.60 (16th) | |
| Deidre Perth | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 36.87 (4th) | |
| Charlotte Reid | Aer Lingus Masters | 45-49 | 38.43 (10th) | |
| John Cunningham | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 32.15 (4th) | |
| Chris Kelleher | Cork Masters | 40-44 | 32.07 (21st) | |
| Tim Daly | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 37.30 (54th) | |
| Alan O’Brien | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 32.05 (25th) | |
| Chistopher Graham | Alliance Swimming Club | 30-34 | 32.69 (28th) | |
| Damian O’Hagan | Dungannon ASC | 25-29 | 34.46 (54th) |
Day 5 – 200m Breaststroke, 100m Backstroke and 200m Butterfly
Gorkov Claims Bronze on Day Five of World Aquatics Masters Championships
Irish swimmers were back in action in Singapore today, with Aer Lingus Master’s Vladamir Gorkov (65-69) claiming a bronze medal in the 100m Backstroke. Gorkov finished in 1:14.45, adding the bronze to a silver medal in the 200m Backstroke.
Fellow Aer Lingus Master’s swimmers Deirdre Perth (55-59) was the best of the women, lowering the 200m Breaststroke record by four seconds to 3:08.80 and finishing in 5th place in her age group.
Additionally, there were top ten placings for Charlotte Reid (45-49) who was 7th in the 200m Breaststroke in 3:05.93, Blanaid Walker (60-64) was 10th in the 100m Backstroke in 1:30.45 and Jenny Laffan (30-34) was ninth in the 200m Butterfly in 2:45.49
Full Irish Results for Tuesday are below.
Wednesday’s events include 50m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke and 400m Freestyle.
| Tuesday | 12-Aug | 200 Breast | Anne Morrissey | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 3:44.62 (11th) |
| Patricia Reilly | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 4:00.30 (16th) | |||
| Tracey Hull | Lisburn City Swimming Club | 60-64 | 3:39.99 (14th) | |||
| Deidre Perth | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 3:08.80 (5th) | |||
| Charlotte Reid | Aer Lingus Masters | 45-49 | 3:05.93 (7th) | |||
| Bernard Boran | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 3:29.41 (15th) |
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| Chris Kelleher | Cork Masters | 40-44 | 2:42.15 (11th) | |||
| Tuesday | 12-Aug | 100 Back | Blanaid Walker | Aer Lingus Masters | 60-64 | 1:30.45 (10th) |
| Catherine Costigan | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 1:23.95 (31st) | |||
| Kate Morris | Glenalbyn Masters | 25-29 | 1:15.51 (23rd) | |||
| Vladamir Gorkov | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 1:14.45 (3rd) | |||
| Eoin Foster | Aer Lingus Masters | 45-49 | 1:09.98 (19th) | |||
| Tuesday | 12-Aug | 200 Fly | Anne Morrissey | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 4:32.07 (16th) |
| Jenny Laffan | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 2:45.69 (9th) | |||
| Rob Frize | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 3:10.55 (15th) | |||
| Ruairi Kelly | Dungannon ASC | 25-29 | 2:39.71 (26th) |
Day 4 – 50m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, 200m IM
Cunningham continues to Conquer in Singapore
Aer Lingus Masters swimmer John Cunningham remained in top form on day four of the Masters World Championships in Singapore, claiming another Gold medal in the men’s 100m Butterfly (55-59 years), while also setting a new Championship Record and lowering his Irish record to 1:01.04, taking over two seconds off the time set in Limerick this March. John had won gold and set an Irish and Championship record in Sunday’s 50m Butterfly also.
There were five additional new Irish Records set on the fourth day of racing including two from Leander’s Brogan O’Hara in the 50m Freestyle (28.48) and 100m Butterfly (1:08.07) where she finished 20th and 12th respectively.
Cork’s Paul Laffan (30-34) finished 6th in the 100m Butterfly breaking a 21-year-old record in 57.55.
In the 50m Freestyle Aer Lingus Masters team-mates Deirdre Perth (55-59) and Patricia Reilly (65-69) both broke their own Irish Records. Deirdre lowered hers from 30.56 to 30.30 and Patricia from 36.82 to 36.37
Full Irish Results for Monday are below.
Tuesday’s events include 200m Breaststroke, 100m Backstroke and 200m Butterfly.
| Monday | 11-Aug | 50 Free | Patricia Reilly | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 36.37 (12th) |
| Tracey Hull | Lisburn City Swimming Club | 60-64 | 38.87 (36th) | |||
| Deidre Perth | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 30.30 (6th) | |||
| Bronwyn Cummings | Aer Lingus Masters | 45-49 | 34.48 (45th) | |||
| Charlotte Reid | Aer Lingus Masters | 45-49 | 30.07 (10th) | |||
| Zara Flynn | Templeogue Swimming Club | 40-44 | 30.59 (22nd) | |||
| Jenny Laffan | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 29.27 (26th) | |||
| Mary Coffey | Cork Masters | 25-29 | 30.09 (52nd) | |||
| Kate Morris | Glenalbyn Masters | 25-29 | 29.44 (39th) | |||
| Brogan O’Hara | Leander ASC | 25-29 | 28.48 (20th) | |||
| Bernard Boran | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 31.95 (23rd) | |||
| Paul Dennis | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 30.76 (13th) | |||
| David Glassey | Templeogue Swimming Club | 65-69 | 34.10 (44th) | |||
| Niall Kavanagh | Laois Marlins | 60-64 | 36.33 (97th) | |||
| Peter Conway | Aer Lingus Masters | 60-64 | 28.30 (15th) | |||
| Chris Kelleher | Cork Masters | 40-44 | 26.60 (28th) | |||
| Gavin O’Brien | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 26.90 (84th) | |||
| Robert Cussens | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 25.93 (59th) | |||
| Paul Laffan | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 24.05 (14th) | |||
| Ruairi Kelly | Dungannon ASC | 25-29 | 27.92 (96th) | |||
| Cian Wallnutt | Aer Lingus Masters | 25-29 | 26.23 (59th) | |||
| Monday | 11-Aug | 200 IM | Blanaid Walker | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 3:32.05 (17th) |
| Alan O’Brien | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 2:23.28 (18th) | |||
| Monday | 11-Aug | 100 Fly | Jenny Laffan | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 1:09.69 (11th) |
| Brogan O’Hara | Leander ASC | 25-29 | 1:08.07 (12th) | |||
| John Cunningham | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 1:01.04 (1st) | |||
| Rob Frize | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 1:15.35 (19th) | |||
| Paul O’Neill | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 1:15.31 (18th) | |||
| Robert Cussens | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 1:03.93 (36th) | |||
| Tim Daly | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 1:08.27 (51st) | |||
| Paul Laffan | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 57.55 (6th) |
Day 3 – 50m Butterfly, 200m Freestyle, 400m IM
John Cunningham Claims World Masters Gold
Following a day of celebrations on Saturday in Singapore, the Irish Masters swimmers were back in action at the World Aquatics Masters Championships on Sunday.
Aer Lingus Masters John Cunningham starred on the third day of competition being crowned World Masters Champion in the 50m Butterfly 55-59 Age Group. As well as being an Irish Record, John’s swim was also a Championship Record in 26.72 seconds. John broke his own Irish Record of 27.19 set at the Irish Masters Championships in March.
A second Irish Record came on Sunday courtesy of Leander’s Brogan O’Hara, also in the 50m Butterfly, in the 25 – 29 Age Group. Brogan bettered the record of 31.03 from 2003 in 30.08.
Five additional swims placed in the top ten on Sunday –
Deirdre Perth had a brilliant 5th place finish in the 50m Butterfly (55-59) clocking 32.20 while Eoin Foster (45-49) was 10th in 26.08.
In the 200m Freestyle, Brogan O’Hora was 8th in 2:15.32 and Charlotte Reid (45-49) was 10th in 2:24.77.
Aer Lingus Masters Anne Morrissey (65-69), Ireland’s sole competitor in the 400m Individual Medley was 9th in 7:51.61.
Full Irish Results are below.
Monday will see Irish swimmers compete in the 50m Freestyle, 200m Individual Medley and 100m Butterfly.
| 400IM | Anne Morrissey | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 7:51.61 (9th) |
| 200 Free | Bronwyn Cummings | Aer Lingus Masters | 45-49 | 2:52.34 (40th) |
| Charlotte Reid | Aer Lingus Masters | 45-49 | 2:24.77 (10th) | |
| Brogan O’Hara | Leander ASC | 25-29 | 2:15.32 (8th) | |
| Mary Coffey | Cork Masters | 25-29 | 2:32.45 (38th) | |
| David Glassey | Templeogue Swimming Club | 65-69 | 2:58.62 (29th) | |
| Rob Frize | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 2:26.68 (20th) | |
| Gavin O’Brien | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 2:11.82 (29th) | |
| Alan O’Brien | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 2:08.20 (22nd) | |
| 50 Fly | Deidre Perth | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 32.20 (5th) |
| Jenny Laffan | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 31.35 (19th) | |
| Brogan O’Hara | Leander ASC | 25-29 | 30.08 (23rd) | |
| Bernard Boran | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 36.16 (33rd) | |
| Paul Dennis | Aer Lingus Masters | 65-69 | 33.51 (21st) | |
| John Cunningham | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 26.72 (1st) | |
| Rob Frize | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 32.17 (35th) | |
| Paul O’Neill | Aer Lingus Masters | 55-59 | 30.29 (20th) | |
| Eoin Foster | Aer Lingus Masters | 45-49 | 27.59 (10th) | |
| Robert Cussens | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 27.52 (54th) | |
| Tim Daly | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 30.74 (104th) | |
| Paul Laffan | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 25.81 (14th) | |
| Gavin O’Brien | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 29.30 (87th) | |
| Alan O’Brien | Cork Masters | 30-34 | 27.28 (48th) | |
| Cian Wallnutt | Aer Lingus Masters | 25-29 | 29.68 (83rd) | |
| Ruairi Kelly | Dungannon ASC | 25-29 | 29.20 (76th) |
Day 2 – 200m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle, 200m Breaststroke
Another Medal and 4 Irish Records on Day Two of the World Aquatics Masters Championships
Aer Lingus swimmer Vladamir Gorkov topped the results today winning silver medal in 200m Backstroke (65-69) in a time of 2:42.44. In the same event, Blanaid Walker of Aer Lingus Masters finished 11th (60-64 age group) and Catherine Costigan of Cork Masters finished 22nd (30-34 age group).
In the 100m Freestyle events, Patricia Riley and John Cunningham of Aer Lingus Masters set new Irish Records. Patricia (65-69) touched home in 9th place with a time of 1:22.06 and John (55-59) finished in 5th place with 58.43. Other results in the 100m Freestyle included:
Bronwyn Cummings, Aer Lingus Masters (45-49) 44th 1:18.03
Zara Flynn, Templeogue SC (40-44) 19th 1:10.15
Brogan O’Hara, Leander ASC (25-29) 13th 1:02.11
Mary Coffey, Cork Masters ( 25-29) – 34th 1:06.51
Kate Morris, Glenalbyn Masters (25-29) 36th 1:06.86
Paul Dennis, Aer Lingus Masters (65-69) 15th 1:10.72
David Glassey, Templeogue SC (65-69) 30th 1:18.11
Peter Conway, Aer Lingus Masters (60-64) 25th 1:06.63
Rob Frize, Aer Lingus Masters (55-59) 28th 1:05.98
Paul Laffan, Cork Masters (30-34) 5th 53.24
Robert Cussens, Cork Masters (30-34) 38th 56.90
Alan O’Brien, Cork Masters (30-34) 45th 57.90
Gavin O’Brien, Cork Masters (30-34) 50th 58.45
Competing in the 100m Breaststroke, Anne Morrissey of Aer Lingus Masters and Tracey Hull of Lisburn City SC, both set new Irish Records. Anne (65-69) clocked a time of 1:42.50 to finish 12th and Tracey (60-64) finished 16th with 1:38.45. Other results in the 100m Breaststroke included:
Patricia Riley, Aer Lingus Masters (65-69) 14th 1:42.95
Deidre Perth, Aer Lingus Masters (55-59) 4th 1:22.46
Charlotte Reid, Aer Lingus Masters (45-49) 8th 1:22.23
Bernard Boran, Aer Lingus Masters (65-69) 16th 1:33.47
Chris Kelleher, Cork Masters (40-44) 12th 1:12.05
Damian O’Hagan, Dungannon ASC (25-29) 44th 1:21.85
Swimmers will have a rest day in Saturday as Singapore celebrates it’s National Day. Sunday will feature 26 Irish swimmers across the 400m IM, 200m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly
Day1 – 800m Freestyle
Norma Cahill of Ennis Masters has claimed her second silver medal of the 2025 World Aquatic Masters Championships in Singapore. Following her silver medal performance in the 3K Open Water event last week, Norma turned her attention to the pool for the 800m freestyle. Competing in the 60-64 age category, Norma finished in silver medal position setting a new Irish and European record of 10:26.44.
Congratulations also go to Aer Lingus Masters swimmers Anne Morrisey and Bronwyn Cummings who finished 10th and 32nd in their respective age groups.
