Lakelanders host Autumn Junior Gala in Enniskillen

With the possibility that this could be their final home gala at the Lakeland Forum, anticipation ran high among the 55 participating Lakelanders swimmers.

They were joined by competitors from six other Ulster clubs, making it a vibrant event. For many of the 8-13-year-old swimmers, this was one of their first individual competitions, marking an essential milestone in their athletic journey.

Swim Ireland referee Lars Beheme oversaw almost 700 entries from the 170 excited swimmers in attendance.

Lars was supported by a strong group of over 50 parents and older swimmers volunteering from the Lakelanders club which helped ensure that the busy gala ran smoothly.

(Image: Trevor Armstrong)

It was a very successful event for the Lakelanders, raising much needed club funds and giving swimmers the chance to put their training into practise and show off their talents with a large haul of medals and an abundance of PBs on the day.

Gold medals were achieved by Molly Kate Brewster in 50m Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle, Butterfly and 100m Individual Medley, Niamh Howell in 50m Backstroke, Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle.

Sophie Hanna in 50m Backstroke and 100m Freestyle and Backstroke, Maeve Rolston McAuliffe in 100m Backstroke, Martha McCreesh in the 50m Freestyle and Emma Speer in the 50m Breaststroke, 100m Freestyle, 100m Individual Medley for the girls.

For the boys, Charlie Brewster took gold in 50m Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle, Butterfly, Jakub Mikievicz Lumayad in 50m Backstroke, Butterfly, Breaststroke, Freestyle and the 100m Individual Medley, Joseph McKenna in 50m Breaststroke, Michael Carron in 100m Freestyle, James Mc Sorley 50m Freestyle and  Darragh Collins in 50m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, Freestyle and 100m Individual Medley.

In total, the Lakelanders picked up 32 Gold Medals.

The medals continued to flow with silvers awarded to Ella Rose Carron in the 50m Breaststroke, Niamh Howell in the 50 Butterfly and 100m IM, Natalie Swidani in the 50m Backstroke, Ella Neal in the 50m Freestyle, Sophie Hanna in 50m Butterfly,  Kiera Salcedo 50m Breaststroke and 100m Individual Medley, Myleene Leonard in 50m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke, Martha McCreesh in the 100m Freestyle and 100m Individual Medley and Holly Barkley in the 100 Breaststroke.  

For the boys silvers were awarded to Andrew McGowan in 50m Backstroke & Freestyle, Patrick Dineen in the 50m Breaststroke, James Mc Sorley in 50m Breaststroke and 100 Freestyle, Michael Carron in 50m Butterfly & 100m IM, Darragh Collins in 50m Butterfly, Haralds Uzulins secured silver in the 50m Breaststroke. A wonderful 22 silver medals for the Lakelanders.  

There were also bronze medals for Imogen Neal in the 50m Breaststroke, Maia Rolston McAuliffe in the 50m Backstroke, Natalie Swidani in the 100m Freestyle and IM, Tori Veitch in the 50m Freestyle, Keira Salcedo in the 100m Breaststroke, Luna Murphy, Maeve Rolston Mc Auliffe in the 50m & 100m Freestyle and Emma Speer in the 50m Butterfly.

For the boys, there were lots of bronze medals too. Andrew Mc Gowan in the 50m Breaststroke, Kealan Rice in the 50m Breaststroke, Charles Armstrong in the 50m Breaststroke, Anton Neal in 100m Breaststroke, Haralds Uzulins in 50m Backstroke and Michael Carron in the 100m Backstroke.

(Image: Trevor Armstrong)

Chairperson Aideen Speer expressed her thanks to a wide range of people who all came together to make the Junior Gala a success, praising all club members for their help and support, events like these can only run with the help and hard work of the volunteers.

Thanks were also directed to the staff at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum for facilitating the event.

The club are indebted to the generous support provided by local businesses Liam Connolly Transport, Harold Graham Building Contractor, Encirc, Lisdergan Butchery,  Brady Insurance, Gibson Solicitors, Menapian House, SCH Construction, Elliott York Partnership, ASM Summer Chartered Accountants, Beechvale,  Lough Erne and Cadco.

The Lakelanders also showed their gratitude to all parents who donated and sourced the raffle prizes and donations to our gala cafe.

Aideen praised Michelle Reihill, gala secretary, for her trojan work behind the scenes ensuring the smooth running of the gala.

She also thanked all the coaching team led by Ben Wiffen and Claire Morris for their commitment to all the swimmers. The support of the coaching team ensured we had a competitive event which was also an enjoyable learning experience for all.

The club now faces a challenging time ahead with the upheaval of moving our training sessions to Omagh.

They ask for continued support so that all the hard work over the years from the committee members, coaching staff and parent to build up the success that the club is today and can continue during these uncertain years ahead.