News BANGOR AGE GROUP 2 REPORT 5/3/2010 On Sunday 28th February 11 swimmers from City of Belfast competed in the second gala of the Bangor Age Groups. For most, this gala represented the last opportunity to gain qualifying times for the upcoming Ulster Age Group Championships in May. For others it gave them the chance to continue up the competitive ladder towards graded times that will allow them to compete in Ulster’s series of graded meets next season. The first session started at 10am with 100m freestyle, 100m Breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley on the program. Our more inexperienced swimmers from the academy squad got the gala off to a great start with Jessica McCann posting a PB in her 100m freestyle (F/S). Jessica continued onto the 100m Breaststroke (Br/S) and again showed great form in achieving a PB this time taking a massive 11 seconds off her previous best. This is only her second competitive meet and shows great potential for the future. Two other academy squad swimmers were competing in the morning session and both Sarah McCracken and Caitriona O’Loan recorded personal best times in the 200m Individual Medley (I/M) and 100m Br/S respectively. Our Junior squad swimmers were out in force with everyone of the squad taking part and all 8 performed really well recording personal best times. Christina McDowell, Sophie Hunter and Erin Blundell all achieved new times in their 200 I/M. Hannah Beattie and Carla Morelli showed their continued improvement with big PB’s also in the 200 I/M. Also swimming in the morning were Robbie McDowell and Ellen O’Neill, who achieved PB’s in their 100m F/S events. In the morning session CoB swimmers received a bronze and a silver medal coming from Ellen O’Neill in the 100m Br/S and Christina McDowell in the 200m I/M. The Afternoon session finally got under way with 100m Backstroke, 100m Butterfly and 200m Freestyle. Sofie Hunter, Erin Blundell, Hannah Beattie and Carla Morelli got COB off to a great start all recording big PB’s in 100m Backstroke (B/C). Robbie McDowell followed this super start with a further PB in the 100m Butterfly (B/F) and received his first ever Bangor Age Group medal winning the Bronze. The last event of the day was the 200m Freestyle, by this stage most of the swimmers were very tired and the time was ticking on into the late evening . Even so COB swimmers performed some heroic swims with Caitriona O’Loan, Sarah McCracken, Carla Morelli, Sophie Hunter, Erin Blundell and Hannah Beattie all achieving outstanding personal best times with some great races. Special mention to Sophie Hunter who achieved the biggest personal best of the day taking a whopping 32 seconds off her 200m F/S. Congratulations to all the swimmers who performed so well. Thanks to all the parents who turned out to support their swimmers; great to see all the parents and swimmers cheering on all the competitors. Keep an eye on the notice boards for the next meet entries and Teletot galas. DS 3rd March.