National Champions Crowned and a New Junior Record on Day Two

Racing continued at the National Aquatic Centre today as day two of the 2024 Irish Winter Championships unfolded, with national titles up for grabs throughout an action-packed day

The Mixed 200m Medley Relay opened the morning session with UCD taking the national gold back across Dublin with a time of 1:47.98. The Mixed 200m Freestyle Relay brought the morning to a close with Ards winning the gold in 1:39.95.

National Centre Limerick’s Maria Godden went under the one-minute barrier to win the Female 100m Backstroke national gold in 59.33. Grace Davison (Ards) was next to stop the clock in 1:00.07, while bronze went to Jena Macdougald of UCD. National Centre Limerick also claimed the Open 100m Backstroke gold as Neddie Irwin (53.89) pipped Brandon Biss (53.92) to the win.

Grace Hodgins (Templeogue) dominated the Female 1500m Freestyle, claiming the national gold in 16:48.07. Her nearest competitor was Skye Austin-Burrows (Larne) who came home in 17:16.25, bronze went to Aer Lingus swimmer Anna Nikishkina. There was a National Centre (Limerick) one-two in the open event as Daragh Horgan and Denis O’Brien went head-to-head, Horgan the eventual winner, pulling away from his teammate to win the national title in 15:33.41.

Emma Coulter (Ards) topped the podium in the Female 50m Butterfly, with silver going to Alana Burns-Atkin. In the same race, an Irish Junior Record went down, as Lucy O’Brien (National Centre Limerick) stamped her name into the books with 27.52, beating Molly Mayne’s time of 27.54, set in 2021. Calum Bain took another trip to the podium this weekend, winning gold in the open category in a time of 23.23. Charlie Eatwell (National Centre Ulster) and Sean Bugler (Sundays Well) claimed silver and bronze, respectively.

Maria Godden continued her impressive week and topped the podium for the second time this evening, this time it was in the Female 200m Freestyle. Her National Centre teammate, Danielle Farrell joined her on the podium in second, with third claimed by Mollie McAlorum (National Centre Ulster). There was another National Centre (Limerick) one-two, this time coming in the open category as Cormac Rynn and Charlie Cassidy finished first and second, respectively, the bronze went to Danny Morgan (National Centre Dublin).

Paris Olympian Grace Davison dominated the Female 200m Breaststroke, topping the podium with 2:27.20, Niamh Connery was next to stop the clock (2:30.04) in second, followed closely by Megan Jones of Portmarnock. Liam O’Connor (National Centre Dublin) and Andrew Feenan (National Centre Limerick) went stroke for stroke in the open category. O’Connor getting his hand on the wall first in 2:11.44, Matthew Hand of Bangor was next home in third.

The 400m Individual Medley closed out day two of competition with the female category on the blocks first. Georgina Walker of Drogheda touched the wall in 4:55.22 to win the national title, Eva Bayley (New Ross) claimed silver, with bronze going to Aer Lingus’ Dziedzic. Adam Wilson (Banbridge) claimed the national gold in the open category in 4:25.35, with Emmet Cousins (New Ross) next to stop the clock, third and bronze went to Cormac Donnellan (UCD).

Results:

Mixed 200m Medley Relay

1. UCD | 1:47.45
2. Dolphin | 1:48.98
3. Ards | 1:50.99

Mixed 200m Freestyle Relay

1. Ards | 1:39.95
2. Larne | 1:40.25
3. Sundays Well | 1:41.23

Female 100m Backstroke

1. Maria Godden (NCL) | 33
2. Grace Davison (Ards) | 1:00.07
3. Jena Macdougald (UCD) | 1:00.78

Open 100m Backstroke

1. Neddie Irwin (NCL) | 53.89
2. Brandon Biss (Swim Belfast) | 53.92
3. David O’Loughlin (UCD) | 54.94

Female 1500m Freestyle

1. Grace Hodgins (Templeogue) | 16:48.07
2. Skye Austin-Burrows (Larne) | 17:16.25
3. Anna Nikishkina (Aer Lingus) 17:30.88

Open 1500m Freestyle

1. Daragh Horgan (NCL) | 15:33.41
2. Denis O’Brien (NCL) | 15:47.09
3. Sean Bugler (Sundays Well) | 16:04.17

Female 50m Butterfly

1. Emma Coulter (Ards) | 26.97
2. Alana Burns-Atkin (NCU) | 27.15
3. Lucy O’Brien (NCL) | 27.52 (IJR)

Open 50m Butterfly

1. Calum Bain (NCD) | 23.23
2. Charlie Eatwell (NCU) | 24.30
3. Dylan O’Brien (Ennis) | 24.56

Female 200m Freestyle

1. Maria Godden (NCL) | 1:57.33
2. Danielle Farrell (NCL) | 2:00.42
3. Mollie McAlorum (NCU) | 2:03.03

Open 200m Freestyle

1. Cormac Rynn (NCL) | 1:46.71
2. Charlie Cassidy (NCL) | 1:48.21
3. Danny Morgan (NCD) | 1:48.84

Female 200m Breaststroke

1. Grace Davison (Ards) | 2:27.20
2. Niamh Connery (Shark Galway) | 2:30.04
3. Megan Jones (Portmarnock) | 2:31.93

Open 200m Breaststroke

1. Liam O’Connor (NCD) | 2:11.44
2. Andrew Feenan (NCL) | 2:11.55
3. Matthew Hand (Bangor) | 2:12.49

Female 400m IM

1. Georgina Walker (Drogheda) | 4:55.22
2. Eva Bayley (New Ross) | 4:59.21
3. Julia Dziedzic (Aer Lingus) | 5:01.98

Open 400m IM

1. Adam Wilson (Banbridge) | 4:25.35
2. Emmet Cousins (New Ross) | 4:28.28
3. Cormac Donnellan (UCD) | 4:31.16

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