SWIMMING Murphy Smashes European Swimming Record

Grainne Murphy returned to the pool today at the European Junior Championships in Prague to set a new Junior European and Irish Junior record in the semi-final of the 200m Individual Medley (IM) - 2.14.15. She is now seeded in first position for tomorrow evening's final. Murphy also set a new Irish Junior record in the heats of the 200m IM earlier this morning (2.16.29).

Grainne's coach Ronald Claes commented after the race "the race went really well, we had to go out faster in the fly and finish stronger in the free - than the heat this morning - and that's exactly what we did." "With the support of the Irish Sports Council, Irish swimmers such as Grainne have benefited enormously from the services and facilities provided at the University of Limerick through Swim Ireland's Liemrick High Performance Centre, where Grainne is based full time."

So far the Wexford girl has had a very successful week of competition at the Europeans winning gold in the 400m IM and 800m freestyle and bronze in the 1500m freestyle.

Also at the European Juniors today Michael Dawson clocked 1.04.55 in the heats of the 100m breaststroke and Tara Dunne finished in 1.08.16 in her heat of the 100m backstroke.

Today was the last day in the pool for the Irish team at the World University Games, Belgrade. Barry Murphy swam against a tough field in the 50m freestyle final, finishing in a time of 22.70 and eighth place overall. The men's 4x100 medley team relay recorded a new Irish Senior record time of 3.45.7 however did not advance to the final. Andrew Meegan swam a personal best time in the heats of the 400m IM (4.35.57). Nuala Murphy clocked a time of 4.19.70 in her heat of the 400m freestyle.

Meanwhile at the Irish Age-Group National Swimming Championships at the National Aqautic Centre (NAC) Dublin which are taking place this weekend, over 300 swimmers, with clubs from both Ireland and England have taken to the NAC waters where swimmers in four age categories are competing for National Age-Group titles; under twelves - fifteens. These up and coming stars are hoping to become the next Grainne Murphy of the future.

Multiple medal-winner Sarah Kelly from Comans Swimming Club in Roscommon is having a fantastic competition and so far has won the girls under twelve 400m and 800m freestyle, 100m and 200m butterfly and the 200m IM.

Similarly Conor Turner, Aer Lingus Swimming Club, Dublin won gold in the boys under fifteen 400m freestyle, 200m butterfly and 400m IM, while Alison O'Driscoll, Templeogue Swimming Club also won three gold medals, in the girl's under thirteen 100m and 800m freestyle and 200m IM.

The girls under thirteen 400m freestyle final saw an exciting battle at the finish between Jane Roberts, Kilkenny Swimming Club and Alison O'Driscoll - it was Roberts who got the touch in the end, finishing in 4.53.59 with O'Driscoll second in 4.53.66. Roberts also won gold in the 100m butterfly final (1.10.78).

Catrina Engligh, Aer Lingus Swimming Club had a great swim in the girls under fifteen 200m breaststroke final - 2.38.93, a new personal best time for the Dublin teenager.

Robbie Dougan, Templemore Swimming Club won the boys under thirteen 200m breaststroke final by 7 seconds (2.50.05), second place was James Doggart, Bangor (2.57.52) with the third spot going to Scott Mathews (3.00.29).

The boys under fifteen 200m breaststroke final was won by Limerick's Peter Clarke, in 2.30.05, improving his time by 8 seconds from the heats.

Curtis Coulter put in an impressive performance in the under fifteen boys 100m freestyle final taking the gold in 54.18 and a new personal best time.

For further information contact:

Chantal Gibney, Swim Ireland
Ph: 086 3817933
Email: edo2@swimireland.ie