News CoB at Division Two Limerick 2010 28/6/2010 Day 1 Today (Friday 25th June) was the start of the year’s championships. Robbie McDowell and Ellen O’Neill attained qualification for this meet and will be competing throughout the weekend in various events. Session 1, Robbie kicked off the meet with a fantastically well paced 400 F/S. He produced a 23 second Personnel Best (PB) and achieved 10th place. The way he swam the race deserves special mention. Robbie went out in 2.40 and came back in a time of 2.41, for an overall swim of 5.21. This really was a very mature performance, although coming 10th in the 13-14 year age group, Robbie was the second 13 year old on the results sheet, (and we will brush over the fact that Robbie got a little over excited about his first swim and actually completed 450m due to a numerical error?). Robbie finished off the day with a fine medal winning swim in the 200 B/F with a time a 2.55, Robbie scored a silver medal and took over 8 seconds off his previous time. A superb swim showing real determination and reaping the reward for the hard yards he has put in this season. Tomorrow Ellen joins the fray with her 200m Br/S and 100m F/S with Robbie taking part in the 400 I/M and 100 B/F, hopefully many more PB’s and medals to follow. DS 23rd June Limerick. Day 2 Saturday (26th June) brought more medals for COB. Robbie McDowell produced a super swim in his 400 I/M looping a huge 13 seconds off his previous best swim for a time of 5.58.14. Robbie secured another silver medal in this event missing gold by only .50. Robbie was next up in the 100 B/F and was feeling his 400 I/M coming home in 15th place with a time of 1.27. Ellen finished off the second days competition swimming the 200 Br/S and 100 F/S, and although attending her school P7 end of year activity week in the Share Centre (Enniskillen) and looking pretty tired, still managed a fine swim in the 100 F/S with a 1.17. Really good second day and tomorrow will hopefully bring more medals. DS 26th June Limerick. Day 3 Limerick The final day began with Robbie competing in his number one event, the 1500m F/S. Although slightly nervous before the race Robbie used his nervous energy and produced the swim of the meet. Robbie needed to average 1.22.7 for every 100 metres swum to qualify for the Irish Age Championships (Division1) held in Dublin in two weeks time. The qualification time needed was 20.41. Robbie’s first half was done in 10.19 and everyone was wondering if he had enough in the tank for the second half. He ended up swimming the second 750m in exactly the same time and produced a time of 20.38.85, besting the qualification standard by over two seconds and securing his place in Dublin. This performance won Robbie a silver medal and shows the progress he has made this season taking over 2 minutes 30 seconds off his 1500 freestyle in less than a year. Robbie’s final event was the 200 F/S and after his exploits in the 1500 his 200 was a little off the boil. Ellen swam in two events on the final day the 100m Br/S and 200m F/S. She had recovered some of her previous form, and for her first time at these champs produced a good time of 1.34 and 16th place in the 11-12 girls 100m Br/S. Ellen finished off her championships with a fine swim in her 200m F/S of 2.52. Ellen hadn’t swum this event since Christmas and so her time was a 46 second PB (the biggest of the weekend). This really was a fantastic effort considering her lack of preparation and sleep over the previous week and is a testament that after three average swims for Ellen’s high standard’s, she was still able a maintain a positive mental attitude and achieve an outstanding personnel best swim. Well done to all and my thanks to the all the parents for looking after their swimmers and me over the three days. DS