Saturday, April 23, 2022

Swim Ireland - Irish Open Concludes in Dublin; Hill Claims Sixth National Title


 

Swim Ireland’s Irish Open Swimming Championships ended at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre today with several swimmers adding to medal hauls. Across the five days, two Irish Senior and two Irish Junior Records were broken as well as five Championship Records.

Danielle Hill has impressed all week and closed out the Championships with a sixth title in the 50m Backstroke, adding to 50m and 200m Backstroke, 50m and 100m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly titles. Ireland’s fastest ever female swimmer, already selected for the European Championships and Commonwealth Games this Summer, touched in 28.66 ahead of Swim Belfast’s Lottie Cullen (29.04) and UCD’s Jena Macdougald (29.74).

The Men’s 50m Freestyle Final saw Max McCusker take his fourth National Title of the Championships. McCusker had already won the 50m and 100m Butterfly Finals and the 100m Freestyle Final, breaking the Irish record in the 50m Butterfly and achieving a consideration time for the European Championships in the 100m Freestyle. In tonight’s 50m Freestyle the Dolphin swimmer touched in 22.59, behind Tom Fannon in 22.32, who received commemorative gold and set a new Championship record. In 7th place, Larne’s Thomas Leggett was under the consideration time for the European Junior Championships in 23.46.

Eoin Corby claimed a fourth National Title in winning the 200m Individual Medley. Corby, who had won gold in all three breaststroke events, showed his versatility claiming the National Title in 2:03.56 ahead of National Centre Limerick team-mate Cadan McCarthy (2:06.59). In third place, Evan Bailey, who has swum multiple consideration times for European Juniors this week, took Bronze in 2:06.72.

National Centre Dublin’s Niamh Coyne followed in Corby’s footsteps winning the Breaststroke triple. Having won the 50m and 100m titles earlier in the week, Coyne dominated from start to finish touching in 2:27.40 and earned a second consideration time for the European Championships in Rome in August.

Victoria Catterson, who had won 100m Freestyle silver on Wednesday, cruised to gold in the 200m Freestyle Final. Catterson clocked 2:01.13 ahead of National Centre Limerick’s Maria Godden (2:05.35) and Banbridge’s Julia Knox (2:06.04).

Sundays Well swimmer Liam Custer closed the competition by winning the Men’s 1500m Freestyle Final in 15:41.17. Custer has made a real impression this week with three national titles (800m, 1500m Freestyle, 400m IM), two Irish Junior Records (800m Freestyle, 400m IM) and several consideration times for the European Junior Championships.

Commenting on the Championships, Swim Ireland National Performance Director Jon Rudd said, "The five days of competition here in Dublin have provided us with a great return to the business end of our sport with some strong and highly promising racing noted in every session. Following the Olympic Games, we had nine athletes pre-selected to our National Teams for the summer benchmark meets this season and for many, training into the summer rather than competing at this time was their preferred option. Alongside those pre-selected, we have an additional eleven athletes that have put themselves into a position where they can be nominated for selection for individual events for one or more of our National Teams in July and August, alongside a further group of athletes who can be considered for Irish relays. Congratulations and a huge thanks to all of the coaches and teams that have prepared their athletes for this event, and we wish you all success for the summer ahead - whether that be on an Irish National Team or into the Irish Summer National Championships."

National teams for this summer will be announced in May.

 

Day 5 Results

Women 200m Freestyle Final: 1st V Catterson National Centre Ulster 2:01.13 2nd M Godden National Centre Limerick 2:05.35 3rd J Knox Banbridge 2:06.04

Men 200m IM Finals: 1st E Corby National Centre Limerick 2:03.56 2nd C McCarthy National Centre Limerick 2:06.59 3rd E Bailey New Ross 2:06.72

Women 200m Breaststroke Final: 1st N Coyne National Centre Dublin 2:27.40 2nd M Mayne Templeogue 2:29.50 3rd E McCartney National Centre Ulster 2:31.54

Men 50m Freestyle Final: 1st T Fannon National Centre Dublin 22.32 (commemorative) 1st M McCusker Dolphin 22.59 2nd C Bain Cookstown 22.63 3rd D Sutton National Centre Limerick 22.97

Women 50m Backstroke Final: 1st D Hill Larne 28.66 2nd L Cullen Swim Belfast 29.04 3rd J Macdougald UCD 29.74

Men 1500m Freestyle Final: 1st L Custer Sundays Well 15:41.17 2nd J Cummings-Candal Ards 16:41.01 3rd R Fahey Trojan 16:44.15

 

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