Breifne Swim Club kicked of the swimming season on Saturday 30 September at the Swim Ulster Development Gala 1 in Omagh Leisure Complex.

Sixteen swimmers from the club attended the gala chasing new Qualifying Times and to gain the IM Certificate.

Overall the swimmers took part in eleven different events and gained 26 Personal Best times out of a possible 38.  

There were four new Qualifying Times achieved.  These were from Alex Prior for 200M IM, Alegra Aylward for 200M IM, Olivia Moore for 200M IM and Maia Smith for 100M Breaststroke.

There were four swimmers on the day who achieved the minimum standard of streamlining their head past the flags on the IM turns, therefore, passing the IM Streamline Assessment.  They were Ella Maguire, Olivia Moore, Charlotte Moore and Alex Prior.

Medal Winners were;

Gold Medals

Alegra Aylward – 200M IM
Olivia Moore – 200M IM
Alex Prior – 100M Breaststroke
Maia Smith – 100M Breaststroke, 100M Freestyle

Silver Medals

Alex Prior – 200M IM
Maia Smith – 200M IM
Ella Maguire – 100M Backstroke

Bronze Medals

Maksimas Aylward – 200M IM
Doireann McNamara – 100M Backstroke
Charlie Gannon – 50M Butterfly

A full list of results can be found here.

All 4 regions within Swim Ireland are delivering a Regional Squad Programme, which will target some of the best athletes within each region.  There will be a Skills Academy for age group swimmers, a Development Squad for youth swimmers and a Pathway Squad for senior swimmers.

The Skills Academy aims to provide female swimmers aged 11 – 12 and male swimmers aged 11 – 13 the opportunity to develop technical areas of competitive swimming and to increase their understanding of the necessary skills and behaviours required to be successful in international swimming. 

The Skills Academy squad size is limited to 40 swimmers and it is determined by annual long course rankings between 1 January and 31 August 2017.

Selection Criteria

Athletes ranked top 6 in the 200M IM per age group in Ulster

• Athletes ranked top 3 per age group in Ulster in a minimum of 2 events (Olympic events only)
• Athletes ranked top 8 per age group Nationally in a minimum of 2 events (Olympic events only)

Swimmers will be expected to give 100% attendance to an Orientation and Skills Testing at the end of September along with 4 Workshop and Skills Clinic throughout the year. 

Breifne Swim Club had 2 swimmers who were chosen to join this elite squad.  They were Louis Maguire and Alegra Aylward.

Swim Ulster are holding their first Qualifying Gala of the season over the weekend of 13 – 15 October 2017.  This gala will be held in the Lagan Valley LeisurePlex in Lisburn.

Breifne Closing Date for this gala is Friday 29 September, but swimmers who are attending the Swim Ulster Development Gala on Saturday 30 September to gain Qualifying Times / IM Cert may send entries to the Gala Secretary on Sunday evening 1 October 2017.

Full Meet Information can be found here.

The first gala of the season is the Swim Ulster Development Gala 1 which takes place in Omagh Leisure Complex, Old Mountfield Road, Omagh, BT79 7EG on Saturday 30 September 2017.

Due to the new age regulations, only swimmers born 2007 and older are eligible to swim in this gala.  From January 2018, swimmers born in 2008 can take part.

Information on the four Development Galas can be found here, but if anyone needs assistance please contact the Gala Secretary.

Breifne Closing Date for entries is Friday 15 September 2017.