News Second Graded Gala Report 2/11/2009 Club records tumble and medals galore! The Halloween holidays began with the second of Swim Ulster’s three day graded galas, this time held in Larne. To qualify and compete in these meets is the first step on the competition ladder, allowing a swimmer to gain qualifying times for the Ulster Age Group Championships in May 2010. Because of the holidays, COB fielded a small but select group of swimmers for this gala, now nicknamed the Fab Five - otherwise known as Alison Todd and Emily Heyburn (Performance Squad), Jenny Drennan (Youth Squad), and Hannah Beattie and Carla Morelli (Junior Squad). The meet began with the 800m Freestyle on the Friday evening with Jenny Drennan from the Youth squad being our only entrant. Jenny got the meet off to a great start winning the Gold in the U12 with a time of 10.02.65 – a 24 second PB! Saturday saw the Fab Five out in force and meaning business! Emily came First in the 50m Butterfly Skins (16 yrs) and Alison came third in the 50m Butterfly Skins (19 and over) events. Emily took Gold in the 400IM (16 yrs) and Alison took Gold in the 400 IM (19 yrs and over). Both Carla Morelli and Hannah Beattie took part in the in the 200m Free with Hannah winning the Bronze in the 10 yr group. Jenny Drennan won the Silver in the 200m Free (12 yrs), Emily won Gold in the 16 yrs 200m Free and Alison won Silver in the 19 yrs and over 200m Free. Facing stiff competition, Hannah came a creditable fifth in the 200m Backstroke for 10 yr olds with yet another PB and despite a difficult race, Carla clocked up another PB in the 11 year old 200m Backstroke. On the Sunday the Fab Five were down to two swimmers– just Jenny and Alison – but it was well worth them both getting out of bed. Jenny took the Gold in the 12 yr 100m free with another PB and later that day won the Gold in the 400m free with another PB. Alison kept the Performance Squad flag flying with yet another Gold, this time in the 200 IM 19 yrs and over. So a fantastic haul of 8 Golds, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals with PBs all round. Jenny Drennan also smashed two long-standing Club Records by setting new record times for her age in the 400m Free and the 800 Free. Special thanks to Peter and Liz who coaxed and cajoled the girls all weekend and who were rewarded for their hard work with such great successes.