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The first day of the 2024 Irish Winter Championships (25m) got underway today in the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre. Over 500 swimmers from 80 clubs will battle it out for national honours throughout the three days of racing.

The first medals up for grabs this weekend came in this morning’s relays with Larne claiming top spot on the podium in the Open 200m Freestyle Relay, finishing ahead of Lisburn and NAC. In the female relay, Ards came home first to win gold ahead of Sundays Well and UCD.

In the first open final of the evening, UCD’s David O’Loughlin claimed top spot on the podium on the Open 50m Backstroke, pipping Charlie Cassidy (National Centre Ulster) to the gold. Immediately after, National Centre Limerick swimmer, Maria Godden (27.68) was first home in the female event following a closely contested battle. Paris Olympian, Grace Davison was next to stop the clock and pick up silver.

Denis O’Brien was first home in the Open 800m Freestyle, picking up gold in 8:03.76, following not far behind was Lachey Reed (National Centre Ulster), who came home in 8:08.25. Grace Hodgins was the fastest female, claiming top spot on the podium in 8:50.60, silver going to Skye Austin-Burrows of Larne.

In the 100m Breaststroke event, National Centre Dublin man, Liam O’Connor and Bangor’s Adam Bradley battled it out for open gold, both going under the 60-second mark. It was O’Connor who came home quickest in 58.85. Portmarnock sisters Ava and Megan Jones went stroke for stroke in the female event. It would be the younger sibling Ava (1:08.28) who won this battle by over half of a second. Shark Galway’s Niamh Connery claimed the final spot on the podium.

National Centre Dublin duo Calum Bain and Danny Morgan, and Larne’s Thomas Leggett battled went head-to-head in the Open 100m Freestyle event, 28-year-old Bain claimed the gold in 48.36. The Female event was up next with Grace Davison returning to the blocks, the Ards swimmer went 53.56 to win gold. Danielle Farrell (National Centre Limerick) and Paris Olympian Victoria Catterson (National Centre Dublin) were next to touch the wall.

Brogan McAviney (National Centre Limerick) and Sean Donnellan (Glenalbyn) both going under the two-minute barrier in a thrilling race in the Open 200m Butterfly, with McAviney (1:59.36) touching out Donnellan (1:59.84) for gold. National Centre Ulster’s Alana Burns-Atkin dominated the female event, storming home in 2:13.15 to win gold. Eva Bayley (New Ross) and Hannah Poynton (Trojan) were next home to pick up silver and bronze, respectively.

The 200m Individual Medley was the last event of the evening, with both the open and female races offering an exciting end to the opening day of action. Matthew Hand (2:04.04) was first home in the open category, pipping gold ahead of Adam Colgan (2:04.29). While local swimmer Killian O’Loughlin Brophy (Coolmine) was next to stop the clock. Jena Macdougald of UCD topped the podium in the female race, clocking 2:14.86, the national silver went to Lucy O’Brien (National Centre Limerick), while the bronze went to Portmarnock swimmer Megan Jones.

Full results can be found HERE.