National Programme and National Centre athletes had a productive weekend at the Flanders Swim Cup in Belgium, with the team amassing 20 top three finishes from 8 different swimmers, across the three days of racing.
The opening day of competition saw National Centre Limerick’s Evan Bailey (100m Butterfly), Ellie McCartney (200m Breaststroke) and John Shortt (200m Backstroke) all win their respective events, with Maria Godden (400m Freestyle) and Shane Ryan (50m Freestyle) claiming second places. Bailey (50m Freestyle), and Eoin Corby (100m Breaststroke) added third place finishes to close out the day.
Ellie McCartney (100m Breaststroke) and Even Bailey (100m Freestyle) doubled their wins on day two with Cormac Rynn also winning the 400m Freestyle. Shane Ryan made it an Ireland 1-2 in the 100m Freestyle while John Shortt (50m Backstroke) and Eoin Corby (50m Breaststroke) added to day 1 placings with third place finishes.
McCartney and Bailey continued their fine form on the final day of action winning their third A Finals in the 200m IM and 200m Freestyle respectively. There was also a second win for John Shortt in the 100m Backstroke with Shane Ryan taking his first win in the 50m Butterfly. Cormac Rynn was just behind Bailey in the 200m Freestyle for second place while Eoin Corby took his third third place in the 200m Breaststroke. Danielle Farrell claimed her first placing of the meet in the 100m Freestyle with a third-place finish in 56.79.
A number of Irish swimmers will be in action this weekend 14th-16th at the British University Championships ahead of Ireland’s first national domestic meet of the year, the McCullagh International (21st – 23rd February) at Bangor Aurora.
