McCullagh 2025 Comes to a Close in Bangor

Following three exhilarating days of racing, the 2025 McCullagh International ended at the Bangor Aurora Swimming Complex on Sunday evening.

Team Ireland Olympians Ellen Walshe, Tom Fannon, Danielle Hill and Grace Davison were all victorious on the final day of racing, with New Ross’ Emmet Cousins the fifth Irish gold medallist.

Two-time Olympian Ellen Walshe capped off an impressive meet with a fourth gold medal, this time in the Female 100m Butterfly, Walshe was the only swimmer under one minute in 58 seconds, just .04 of a second off her 2023 Irish Record of 57.96. Jessica Calderbank (City of Manchester) was home for silver just .03 of a second ahead of National Centre Ulster’s Alana Burns-Atkin (NCU) in 1:01.04 and 1:01.07 respectively.

Lewis Fraser caused an upset in the Male & Open 100m Butterfly, winning gold in a time of 53.09 ahead of Duncan Scott (53.70) of Stirling, bronze went to Jamie Ingram of City of Manchester in 53.83. National Centre Limerick’s Jack Cassin was the fastest Irishman for fourth in 54.02.

The Male & Open 50m Freestyle final was a stacked event, including Olympic Semi-Finalist Tom Fannon. It was the National Centre (Dublin) man who got his hand on the wall first in 22.43, followed closely by Evan Bailey (National Centre Limerick) in 22.98 and Thomas Leggett (Larne) in 23.25.

Shortly after there was another Paris semi-finalist on top of the podium as Danielle Hill posted 25.28 to win the female gold in the 50m Freestyle. Lucy Hope of Stirling clocked 25.92 and Drew McKenzie of Edinburgh 26.09 for silver and bronze.

Hometown hero Jack McMillan (Stirling) capped off an impressive weekend of racing bagging a second gold following his time of 3:52.96 in the Male & Open 400m Freestyle Final. Edinburgh’s Luke Hornsey was next to get his hand on the wall in 3:55.64, followed by Cormac Rynn (National Centre Limerick) in 3:59.87.

The Female 400m gold went to University of Stirling’s Michaella Glenister after she posted 4:22.70. Eve Leleux of Swim Belfast was second in 4:25.57 with Manchester’s Mollie Fisher third in 4:31.38.

100m and 200m Gold medallist Eoin Corby (NCL), and Lewis Fraser (Swansea University) battled it out for the gold medal in the Male and Open 50m Breaststroke Final, it was Fraser who got his hand on the wall first in 28.23 with Corby in second (28.55).

Kara Hanlon (Edinburgh) topped the female podium with a time of 31.26 followed by Portmarnock’s Ava Jones in 32.54 and Templeogue’s Abril Allende in 32.76.

The University of Stirling ensured a one-two finish in the Male & Open 200m IM with Duncan Scott (2:00.25) coming home first, followed by teammate John Press (2:06.22), while bronze went to Banbridge man Jacob Armon (2:06.54). The crowd were treated to another Paris Olympian topping this podium as local girl Grace Davison (Ards) posted 2:17.16 to win gold in the Female 200m IM final in 2:17.16.

The 200m Backstroke was the last event of the 2025 McCullagh International with the Male & Open first on the backstroke ledges. Emmet Cousins (New Ross) will take the gold medal back to Wexford with time of 2:05.31. Sophie Shaw (City of Manchester) won the gold in the female event in 2:18.03. Edinburgh’s Anna Green took silver in 2:19.55, while an impressive swim from Aer Lingus’ Julia Dziedzic saw the 15-year-old take bronze in 2:20.36.

On Sunday morning, Dolphin topped the relay podium once again, this time in the Open 4x100m Medley Relay as Neddie Irwin, Sasha Lychuk, Jack Cassin and Ben Merrigan posted 4:01.76 to win the national title. 

Coolmine take the Female 4x100m Medley Relay gold back to Dublin after Tereska Niemirowska, Anna Joyce, Maia O’Loughlin Brophy and Iria Lorenzo Hernandez went 4:42.37 to win the national title. Dolphin once again headed to the podium to collect silver while Limerick took bronze. Ards were awarded a commemorative gold following their time of 4:25.12.

At domestic level attention now turns to the 2025 Irish Open Championships at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre from April 12^th-16^th. The meet will be an opportunity for Irish swimmers to qualify for the summer international meets, including the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.

Ahead of the Irish Open, Ireland’s senior national team will compete at the Edinburgh International from March 14^th – 16^th.

In the USA, Mona McSharry continued her great form on Saturday night adding the 200y Breaststroke Title to the 100y Breaststroke title that she won on Friday, at the SEC Championships in Georgia. It was McSharry’s third year in a row with a Breaststroke sweep at the Championships.

Next up for McSharry will be the NCAA Women’s Swimming Championships from March 19^th – 22^nd in Washington. The Tennessee swimmer is a double silver medallist from the 2024 edition of the event.

 

Full Results

Open 4x100m Medley Relay

1. Dolphin | 4:01.76
2. Longford | 4:03.50
3. Ards | 4:05.42

Female 4x100m Medley Relay

1. Coolmine | 4:42.37
2. Dolphin | 4:42.97
3. Limerick | 4:47.16

(C) Ards | 4:25.12

Male & Open 400m Freestyle

1. Jack McMillan (Stirling) | 3:52.96
2. Luke Hornsey (Edinburgh) | 3:55.64
3. Cormac Rynn (NCL) | 3:59.87

Female 400m Freestyle

1. Michaella Glenister (Stirling) | 4:22.70
2. Eve Leleux (Swim Belfast) | 4:25.57
3. Mollie Fisher (City of Manchester) | 4:31.38

Male & Open 50m Breaststroke

1. Lewis Fraser (Swansea University) | 28.23
2. Eoin Corby (NCL) | 28.55
3. Zach Moyo (Swim Belfast) | 29.22

Female 50m Breaststroke

1. Kara Hanlon (Edinburgh) | 31.26
2. Ava Jones (Portmarnock) | 32.54
3. Abril Allende (Templeogue) | 32.76

Male & Open 50m Freestyle

1. Tom Fannon (NCD) | 22.43
2. Evan Bailey (NCL) | 22.98
3. Thomas Leggett (Larne) | 23.26

Female 50m Freestyle

1. Danielle Hill (Larne) | 25.28
2. Lucy Hope (Stirling) | 25.92
3. Drew McKenzie (Edinburgh) | 26.09

Male & Open 200m IM

1. Duncan Scott (Stirling) | 2:00.25
2. Josh Press (Stirling) | 2:06.22
3. Jacob Armon (Banbridge) | 2:06.54

Female 200m IM

1. Grace Davison (Ards) | 2:17.16
2. Suzie McNair (Stirling) | 2:18.84
3. Georgina Walker (Drogheda) | 2:24.64

Male & Open 100m Butterfly

1. Lewis Fraser (Swansea University) | 53.09
2. Duncan Scott (Stirling) | 53.70
3. Jamie Ingram (City of Manchester) | 53.83

Female 100m Butterfly

1. Ellen Walshe (Templeogue) | 58.00
2. Jessica Calderbank (City of Manchester) | 1:01.04
3. Alana Burns-Atkin (NCU) | 1:01.07

Male & Open 200m Backstroke

1. Emmet Cousins (New Ross) | 2:05.31
2. Jordon McPhail (Edinburgh) | 2:05.58
3. Jack Docherty-Simpson (City of Glasgow) | 2:07.79

Female 200m Backstroke

1. Sophie Shaw (City of Manchester) | 2:18.03
2. Anna Green (Edinburgh) | 2:19.55
3. Julia Dziedzic (Aer Lingus) | 2:20.36

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