Swim Ireland - Hill Claims Fifth National Title in Dublin

 

Danielle Hill continued to add to her medal haul, picking up her fifth National Title, on the penultimate day of racing at the Irish Open Swimming Championships in Dublin. Hill had already won the 50m and 100m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly and 200m Backstroke and added 100m Backstroke gold in 1:00.87, just off her Irish Record of 1:00.18. The Larne swimmer has already been selected for both the Commonwealth Games and European Championships this summer and will go for a sixth title tomorrow in the 50m Backstroke.

Eoin Corby claimed his third national title and completed the Breaststroke triple as he won the 200m Final. The National Centre Limerick swimmer was home in 2:12.81 ahead of Uiseann Cooke (2:13.54) and Darragh Greene (2:15.81).

Rising distance star Grace Hodgins also claimed her third national title this evening. The 17-year-old, already under consideration for European Juniors, claimed 400m and 1500m Freestyle gold earlier in the week. Tonight, the Trojan swimmer cruised to 800m Freestyle gold in 8:56.44, the only swimmer under the 9-minute-mark.

In the women’s 200m Individual Medley Final, Molly Mayne impressed with a time of 2:16.59 for gold ahead of Ards’ Grace Davison in 2:18.88, both swimmers posted consideration times for the European Junior Championships.

Tokyo Olympian Jack McMillan was the clear winner of the Men’s 200m Freestyle Final. The Bangor swimmer lead from start to finish clocking 1:47.93, with his Tokyo team-mate Finn McGeever second in 1:50.43 and National Centre Dublin’s Robbie Powell third in 1:51.63. In fifth place Evan Bailey, already under consideration for European Juniors, claimed another consideration time in 1:53.29.

In the Men’s 100m Backstroke Final National Centre Ulster’s Conor Ferguson lead from the start to take gold in 55.40 seconds ahead of Paddy Johnston (56.26) and Adam Barnes (57.96).

16-year-old Alana Burns-Atkin impressed in the 200m Butterfly. The Banbridge swimmer powered through the final fifty metres to overtake leader Sharon Semchiy of Sunday’s Well. Burns-Atkin finished in a personal best of 2:20.90 for her first national title with Semchiy claiming silver in 2:22.23.

Day 4 Results

Women 200m IM Final: 1st M Mayne Templeogue 2:16.59 2nd G Davison Ards 2:18.88 3rd J Knox Banbridge 2:20.59

Men 200m Freestyle Final: 1st J McMillan Bangor 1:47.93 2nd F McGeever National Centre Limerick 1:50.43 3rd R Powell National Centre Dublin 1:51.63

Women 100m Backstroke Final: 1st D Hill Larne 1:00.87 2nd M Godden National Centre Limerick 1:03.36 3rd L Cullen Swim Belfast 1:03.93

Men 100m Backstroke Final: 1st C Ferguson National Centre Ulster 55.40 2nd P Johnston Ards 56.26 3rd A Barnes Ards 57.96

Women 200m Butterfly Final: 1st A Burns-Atkin Banbridge 2:20.90 2nd S Semchiy Sundays Well 2:22.23 3rd H O’Shea Dolphin 2:22.78

Men 200m Breaststroke Final: 1st E Corby National Centre Limerick 2:12.81 2nd U Cooke Tuam 2:13.54 3rd D Greene National Centre Dublin 2:15.81

Women 1500m Freestyle Final: 1st G Hodgins Trojan 8:56.44 2nd A Kane Ards 9:08.02 3rd E Carroll National centre Limerick 9:14.55