April 08, 2018

Brendan Hyland was once again the star of the show as the Irish Open Swimming Championships concluded in Dublin today. The 22-year-old National Centre Dublin (NCD) and Tallaght swimmer smashed his own 100m Butterfly Irish Record taking .64 off the 2017 standard (53.26), dipping below 53 seconds for the first time in 52.62 to win the Irish Title for the seventh consecutive year. Hyland had broken his 200m Butterfly Record earlier in the week and had secured consideration for the European Championships team.

Also in record breaking form Ellen Walshe and Maria Godden set new junior records in the 100m Butterfly and 200m Backstroke respectively. Walshe, of Templeogue SC broke Emma Reid’s 2016 record by two tenths of a second in 1:00.69 while Godden (Kilkenny SC) broke Danielle Hill’s 2016 standard of 2:16.09 in 2:15.89. Both winning National Titles for their efforts.

Rory McEvoy concluded his week with a four second best to take the Men’s 200m Backstroke Title in 2:01.01. The NCD and Ennis swimmer had won gold in the 50m and silver in the 100m Backstroke earlier in the week.

Jack McMillan added the 200m Freestyle National Title to the 400m crown he had won earlier in the week. The 18-year-old Bangor swimmer was once again under consideration time for both the European Junior Championships and World Youth Olympic Games in a time of 1:50.34.

Niamh Kilgallen won the National Title in a competitive 200m Individual Medley Final, the Claremorris swimmer touching in 2:16.77 just ahead of the 400m IM Champion Orla Adams (2:17.33)

Amelia Kane took her first National Title when she was the first Irish swimmer home in the 1500m Freestyle Final. Kane touched in 17:48.03 with NCSA’s Ashley Strouse the first swimmer home in 16:56.82.

Aer Lingus broke a second relay this week when Caoimhe Quinn, Aisling Haughey, Lucy Thornton and Caitriona Finlay combined for 4:20.51 in the Medley Final breaking Ards’ 2016 record. Aer Lingus’ men also took gold in their final, Cathal Kearney bringing them home on freestyle in 3:52.21.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Irish Open, where 11 new Irish records were set, Swim Ireland National Performance Director Jon Rudd commented "With five excellent days of racing complete in Dublin and with the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast finishing on Tuesday, I am delighted to say that we have had well over 40 performances from our athletes that are inside our tough consideration standards for the European Championships, the World Youth Olympic Games and the European Junior Championships. We provided our athletes and our coaches with a new and pressurized ask - that of a sole Trials operating at the same time at opposite sides of the world. To be on an Irish team this summer, you must be able to stand up on day that counts and deliver - just as we will have to do every summer from now and until the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Many have done that. There are numerous stand out swims and it would be unfair to name particular individuals in that regard. But Irish swimming is shifting - moving and progressing to where we need it to be. And we're all excited to be part of this and are looking forward to seeing our athletes compete later this year - in Morocco, in Helsinki, in Glasgow and in Buenos Aires."

At the Commonwealth Games today Conor Ferguson touched 5^th in the 50m Backstroke Final, his second final of the week. Ferguson, who has qualified for the European Championships in the 100m Backstroke, clocked 25.72. Also in action today, Jamie Graham and James Brown swam in the 50m Breaststroke and 100m Butterfly semi-finals, both bettered their time from their morning swims with Graham finishing 14^th overall in 28.66 and Brown 16^th in 55.13. Competition in Gold Coast continues through to Tuesday.

Teams for European Championships, European Junior Championships and World Youth Olympic Games will be announced on April 16^th.

Full results from all five days available HERE.

Consideration Times Met (selection of athletes for all events will be made at a later date)

April 08, 2018

European Junior Swimming Championships, 4^th – 8^th July 2018, Helsinki, Finland

Niamh Coyne (100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke), Amelia Kane (400m IM), Jack McMillan (100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle), Robbie Powell (100m Freestyle), Julia Knox (200m IM, 400m IM), Ellen Walshe (200m Butterfly), Cadan McCarthy (400m IM), Maria Godden (200m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 200m Backstroke), Rebecca Reid (100m Backstroke), Victoria Catterson (200m Freestyle), Ellen Cassidy (100m Backstroke), Alfie Kelly (1500m Freestyle)

LEN European Swimming Championships, 2^nd – 10^th August 2018, Glasgow, Scotland

Darragh Greene (100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke), Mona McSharry (100m Breaststroke), Shane Ryan (100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke), Conor Ferguson (100m Backstroke), Jordan Sloan (200m Freestyle), Brendan Hyland (100m Butterfly, 200m Butterfly)

World Youth Olympic Games, 6^th – 18^th October 2018, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mona McSharry (100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke), Niamh Coyne (100m Breaststroke), Jack McMillan (100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle), Robbie Powell (100m Freestyle), Maria Godden (100m Backstroke)