SWIMMING

Disappointing start to season for Armagh’s Teletots swimming team

Armagh’s younger swimmers met very strong opposition when they travelled to Newry and Mourne for the first meet of the Belfast Telegraph Teletots league just before Christmas.

The pattern was established in the first event – the Medley Relays – with Armagh winning only one of the eight races – the Group C team of Niamh Quinn, Oisin Young, Ross Finn and Lorcan Oliver.

Armagh won only three of the Backcrawl events: Charlotte Lynch in Group A girls, Lorcan Oliver in Group C boys and Sophie Murray in Group D girls. Points for second places were picked up by Orla Young (A girls) and Lachlan Mackey (A boys). Other points were earned by Patrick McAleavey (A boys), Lois Barden and Leah Brady (B girls), Patrick Comiskey (B boys), Cathal Meredith (C boys), Roisin Meredith (D girls) and Kieran Hennessy (D boys).

The Backcrawl events left Armagh trailing by twelve points and this was increased to sixteen due to the strength of Newry and Mourne in the Breast stroke events. Armagh scored maximum points in only two races – Oisin Young and Niamh Quinn taking first and second places in C girls with Sophie Murray and Arlene McShane repeating this double for D girls. First places were also achieved by Orla Young for A girls and Paul Campbell for D boys. Points for second places were earned by Ciara McGrane (B girls), and Cathal Meredith (C boys). Points for third and fourth places were picked up by Sinead Oliver (A girls), Lachlan Mackey and Peter McGuigan (A boys), Leah Brady (B girls), J J McAnerney and Patrick Comiskey (B boys), Ross Finn (C boys) and Niall Gannon (D boys).

Armagh displayed a weakness by winning only three of the Butterfly events and not scoring maximum points in any, leaving them trailing by twenty six points. The wins were achieved by Lachlan Mackey (A boys), Oisin Young (C girls), and Lorcan Oliver (C boys). Second place points were picked up by Orla Young (A girls), and Sophie Murray (D girls). Points for third and fourth places were earned by Finnola Mallon (A girls), Niamh Young (B girls), J J McAnerney (B boys), Niamh Quinn (C girls), Ross Finn (C boys), Roisin Meredith (D girls) and Conor Oliver and Brian Og Rice (D boys).

In the Frontcrawl events the only wins were by Oisin Young (C girls), Lorcan Oliver (C boys) and Sophie Murray (D girls). Second place points were earned by Charlotte Lynch (A girls) and Lachlan Mackey (A boys). Third and fourth place points were picked up by Sinead Oliver (A girls), Lois Barden and Ciara McGrane (B girls), Patrick Comiskey (B boys), Ethan Moore and Ross Finn (C boys), Roisin Meredith (D girls) and Paul Campbell (D boys).

In the final event, the Freestyle Relay, Armagh were unable to achieve any first places although the D group lost by less than one second. The final result was a disappointing 172 points to Newry’s 228. Well done to all those swimmers who swam of their best – there were some excellent performances even though the overall result was disappointing.

A lot of dedicated training will be required if a better result is to be achieved in the next meet on 14 January against Mid-Ulster. So, swimmers – New Year’s Resolutions to train frequently and hard!!

Happy New Year to all swimmers from Coaches and Committee!