Double Medal Success for Ireland at Scottish National Swimming Championships
The third day of competition at the 2011 Scottish Gas National Open Championships provided many reasons to be impressed with the state of Irish Swimming. The event, taking place at Tollcross Park Leisure Centre in Glasgow saw Ireland winning two medals and reaching 9 A and B finals.
The highlight of the evening came from Clare Dawson (Bangor SC) who won a silver medal in the Women's 400m Freestyle, finishing in a personal best time of 4:16.16. Dawson, based at Stirling University in Scotland, had qualified for the final comfortably in the morning heats. Setting a new best time is an encouraging result at this stage of the season, as she prepares for the World Championships at the end of the month in Shanghai, China.
Aisling Cooney (ESB SC) also took to the medal podium following the final of the Women's 100m Backstroke. Cooney finished in 3rd place to take bronze in a time of 1:02.66. Cooney will now focus on her preparations for the World University Games in Shenzen, China later this summer. Emma Cassidy (Sunday's Well SC) also featured in the final of the 100m Backstroke, finishing 8th in a time of 1:06.49.
Sunday's Well swimmer Lorna Cummins, who is based at Loughborough University, qualified for the A final of the Women's 200m Butterfly, finishing in 6th Place (2:17.45).
Cian Duffy (Galway SC) and Brendan Hyland (Tallaght SC & HPC-NAC) continued to impress, both setting new personal best times in the morning heats of the Men's 200m Individual Medley, progressing to the finals and again setting new best times in the evening. Duffy swam in the A final, finishing in 9th place (2:10.18), with Hyland finishing 3rd in the B final (2:13.59).
The B final of the Men's 200m Backstroke featured two Irish swimmers, with Cian Duffy (Galway SC) finishing 7th (2:16.49) and Jack Cobain (Portmarnock SC & HPC-NAC) in 10th place (2:18.16).
Grace Branagan (Templeogue SC) swam a great race in the B final of the Women's 100m Backstroke, taking almost a second off her heat swim and finishing in 4th place (1:06.91). Niamh Bryson and Katrin Kychygina, also of Templeogue SC, both swam strongly in their heats this morning and will take to the pool again tomorrow (Sunday) for the final day of competition.
Speaking from Glasgow, Coach Brian Sweeney commented, "It is fantastic to see both Junior and Senior Irish athletes in 'A' finals and competing strongly. Our swimmers have really stepped it up in their finals to outperform heat swims and race tough for some great results. In tough competition, this gives them great confidence in advance of the major meets in the summer."
Full Irish Results - Day 2
- Grace Branagan (Templeogue SC) W100BC 1:07.80 (H) 1:06.91 (F)
- Niamh Bryson (Templeogue SC) W400FC 4:44.38; W50BS 36.44
- Emma Cassidy (Sunday's Well SC) W100BC 1:07.08 (H) 1:06.49 (F)
- Jack Cobain (Portmarnock SC & HPC-NAC) M200BC 2:15.8 (H) 2:18.16 (F)
- Aisling Cooney (ESB) W100BC - Aisling Cooney 1:04.27 (H) 1:02.66 (F)
- Lorna Cummins (Sunday's Well SC) W200BF 2:19.71 (H) 2:17.45 (F)
- Clare Dawson (Stirling) W400FR 4:25.62 (H) 4:16.16 (F) (PB)
- Cian Duffy (Galway SC) M200IM 2:11.89 (H) (PB) 2:10.18 (F) (PB); M200BC 2:16.88 (H) 2:16.49 (F)
- Brendan Hyland (Tallaght SC & HPC-NAC) M200IM 2:15.41 (H) (PB) 2:13.59 (F) (PB)
- Katrin Kychygina (Templeogue SC) W100BC 1:09.58