On Friday, many Ulster swimmers travelled to Limerick to compete in the Dave McCullagh Memorial Meet.  This was the first Irish Competition since the new Fina Swimsuit Rule came into place and the 1^st long course meet of the season, so most were going down to see what times they could get at this stage of the season, without the suits!

The competition opened with the women’s 800m freestyle and the 1^st Ulster swimmer to dive in was Sycerika McMahon who finished 5^th in a time of 9.09.56.

Conor Donnelly, also from Leander, came 5^th in the men’s 1500 m freestyle, in a time of 16.59.36.  Sycerika got back into the pool to swim the 400m Individual Medley and was awarded the gold medal, finishing in a time of 4.58.78.  Alison Todd from C.o.Belfast finished 3^rd – 5.08.69.  In the men’s 400m IM, Curtis Coulter from Ards came 4^th -4.57.84.

On Saturday, Sycerika won the 200m butterfly, 2.19.55 and Emily Heyburn from C.o.Belfast came 4^th in a time of 2.29.07.

In the men’s 50m breaststroke, Larne club had 2 finalists – Mark Wylie who finished 4^th – 32.21 and Gavin Williamson 7^th in a time of 32.99.

200m freestyle – Sycerika qualified for the Junior European Championships.  Conor Leaney won the gold medal – 1.55.22 and Curtis Coulter came 4^th – 1.59.84

Katie Reid (Lisburn City club) came 4^th in the 100m backstroke – 1.06.69

In the 50m butterfly, Steven McQuillan from Ards won the gold medal in a time of 25.53 and Emily Heyburn was placed 6^th in the women’s event – 30.92

In the 100m breaststroke event, Sycerika won another medal – silver, in a time of 1.11.77 and Mark Wylie came 6^th in a time of 1.11.93.

Ulster swimmers were well represented in the 200m Individual Medley - Sycerika added to her collection of medals when she came 2^nd in the 200m Individual Medley - 2.21.71,  Bethany Carson 4^th – 2.26.72,  Alison Todd 5^th – 2.77.37, Katie Reid -7^th – 2.31.61 and Curtis Coulter finished 4^th in the men’s – 2.14.82

Rebecca Barry from Leander was 6^th in the women’s 1500m freestyle in a time of 18 minutes 50.37 seconds and Donna~Marie O’Prey (Larne) came 7^th – 19.09.37

The 200m backstroke saw Katie Reid back in the pool, finishing 4^th in a time of 2.24.05, and shortly afterwards winning a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke – 31.56

The men’s 100m Butterfly was won by Steven McQuillan – 56.43, while in the women’s C.o.Belfast club had 2 finalists – Alison Todd, 4^th – 1.06.73 and Emily Heyburn 5^th -1.06.99

In the men’s 50m freestyle, Gavin Williamson (Larne) was 1^st – 24.66 and Curtis Coulter 2^nd -24.71.

In the 400m freestyle Conor Leaney was 2^nd and Sycerika came 4^th in the women’s event.

Sycerika McMahon, swimming in yet another final – 200m breaststroke, finished 3^rd – 2.41.85.  Ryan Wray (Leander) was 5^th in the men’s event – 2.27.86 and Mark Wylie finished 7^th – 2.40.29

In the 100m freestyle Sycerika was 2^nd – 58.28 and Bethany Carson finished 4^th – 59.74. 

In the men’s 100m freestyle, Curtis Coulter won the gold medal in a time of 53.65 and Gavin Williamson came 3^rd – 54.65

Larne Club won the men’s relays and Lisburn ladies were 3^rd.

It is great to see Bethany Carson back in the water again after being out for so long with an injury, and she obviously hasn’t lost her touch!!