Pat Hickey attended the recent Irish Open Aquatic Finals.
Photo: Irish Open finals with Pat Hickey, Sarah Keane and Oliver Dingley (Diver) and Chris Bryan (Open Water – who hopes to qualify on June 12th).
Mona McSharry was the star on the final night of the Irish Open Swimming Championships as she picked up titles in the 200m Individual Medley, 200m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle. McSharry, who trains at Donegal’s Ballyshannon Marlins, had already won the 50m and 100m Breaststroke Irish titles this weekend. The 15 year old was the fastest Irish qualifier out of the 50m Freestyle semi-final, tonight’s first event, then just minutes later she claimed the 200m Individual Medley in 2:19.27. Taking on the 200m Breaststroke, she lead throughout to win in 2:32.74 and she finished the night’s final event, the 50m Freestyle, in 26.56 seconds bringing her championship titles collection to five.
Limerick’s Shona Hickey doubled up on her Irish titles adding the 1500m Freestyle to the 800m event that she won on the opening day of competition. Scotland’s Katie Taylor was first to touch in the event in 17 minutes 45.50 seconds with Hickey clocking 18:00.80 and an impressive performance from 14 year old Charlotte O’Riordan saw her claim silver in 18:01.62. In the men’s 800m final Brendan Gibbons of Athlone held off a late charge from 1500m and 400m gold medallist Andrew Meegan (8:24.33) to take the win in 8:22.75.
Ards’ James Brown was crowned national champion in the men’s 200m Individual Medley. The 19 year old took Gold in 2:05.18 but was beaten to the wall by Luxembourg’s Raphael Stacchiotti who took a commemorative gold in 2:02.26. In the men’s 200m Breaststroke UCD’s Darragh Greene swam 2:15.38 to claim his second title of the weekend.
The women’s 50m Backstroke saw both Danielle Hill (Larne) and Issie Hayes (Sunday’s Well) share the national title as both touched in 29.98 seconds, while in the men’s event Shane Ryan was first home in 25.43 seconds, Alan Corby won his first national title in the event in 26.80 seconds.
Brendan Hyland (54.16) and Shauna O’Brien (1:00.51) were victorious in the 100m Butterfly Finals. The win was Hyland’s third of the weekend adding to the 400m Individual Medley and 200m Butterfly, while it was O’Brien’s second win haven taken the 50m Butterfly title on Friday.
Sunday night’s final event saw the cream of Ireland’s sprinters in action with Ards’ Curtis Coulter emerging as the 50m Freestyle winner in 22.73 seconds, just shy of the European Championships qualification time of 22.70.
Next up for Irish swimmers will be the European Championships which start on May 16th in London. The team for the event currently stands at 13 and this will be the final opportunity for Ireland’s top swimmers to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games.
