With the 2023/2024 swimming season coming to an end, the finale for the competitive swimmers from Enniskillen Lakelanders is the Irish Summer National competitions.

These competitions will take place across two meets in July with the Age Group Championships taking place in Limerick, followed by Irish Summer National Youth & Senior Championships in Dublin. There is great excitement among the 11 local swimmers who have qualified to compete at these events.

Thursday, July 11 sees the start of the four-day Irish National Age Group Championships for swimmers aged 14 and under in the UL Sport Complex at the University of Limerick.

Six Lakelanders have qualified to attend, three of whom are competing at this level for the first time.

All of these swimmers have recently been awarded the FODC Sports Award for their achievements in swimming and they look forward to representing Fermanagh on the National stage this summer. They are proudly sponsored by the Lough Erne Resort.

Sophie Hanna (12) will compete in the 50m Freestyle in Limerick.

Martha McCreesh (13) fresh from captaining this year’s Aquasprint squad, will compete in the 100m Breaststroke, Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly events.

Crea Mullen (12) will race in the 50m and 100m Freestyle and the 100m Backstroke.

Ava Neal (14) will have a busy few days as she competes in the 50m, 100m and 200m Freestyle, 100m and 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley.

Emma Speer (13) will swim in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley events.

The Irish Youth and Senior Summer National Championships 2024 competition follows two weeks later with five Lakelanders achieving the standards required to compete in the National Aquatic Centre, Dublin.

Kiril Chursin (18) is looking forward to racing in the 50m Freestyle and the 100m Breaststroke events.

Ellie Dunlop (15) will represent Fermanagh in the 50m 100m and 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley races.

Hannah Lynch (15) has qualified to race in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle and the 200m Backstroke events.

Kate McDade (16) will represent Fermanagh in the 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle, 100m and 200m Breaststroke and the 200m Individual Medley.

James Mongan (17) will compete in the 200m Backstroke event.

Club Chairperson Aideen Speer commended all the swimmers on their hard work and dedication to their sport and hoped that they would be rewarded with much fruit for their labour.

The Lakelanders Committee would also like to thank the coaching team led by Ben Wiffen for their outstanding work with the swimmers and the Lough Erne Resort for their generous support of the Club throughout the year, culminating in supporting the National Squad with sponsorship of the National Kit.