Lecale Chairman Paul Naughton spoke highly of the swimmers' achievements
throughout the year, their commitment to training and their performances in swim meets at all levels. Many thanks were given to the team of parents who volunteer to help run the club and to those help out at meets. Sports clubs would flounder if it weren't for the volunteers.
Impressive silver medals, sponsored by Forest Feast, were presented to the
U12 swimmers who took part in the Aquasprints meets. Lecale finished a very close second in the finals and have deservedly retained their Division 3 place.
Lecale also presented PTL medals to all swimmers who were involved in the PTL meets where Lecale finished a worthy 3rd in their division.
The end of season Club Championship Gala took place on the 8th and 15th June. This involved all swimmers competing over four or six events and medals were presented at Prize Night. Some new names made it on to the medals board, full results and photos can be viewed here.
Trophies were presented to individual swimmers who had made significant
improvement in their technique and times throughout the year. These were
presented to U11 Orla Mulholland and Peter Murphy, U13 Ellen Murphy and David Hunt and U15 Beth Magilton and Paddy Erskine.
Lecale looked for something outstanding from its Seniors and found this in
Maire Gaffney and Patrick Black. Both swimmers were presented with salvers in acknowledgement of their commitment to their training, competition and
volunteering at the club.
This year Lecale identified one particular swimmer who been an ambassador for the club throughout the past year, successfully representing Lecale at
province-wide Swim Ulster meets. U13 swimmer Amy Godfrey has competed in 50m, 100m and 200m events focussing on backstroke, fly and IM and has won three golds and two silvers. She also achieved an Irish Division 2 qualifying time in 100m backstroke. Amy has always shown commitment to team spirit and competition with Lecale and has taken her swimming challenges one step further on her own. Along with a small group from Lecale, Amy was also selected to participate in Swim Ulster training camps under the instruction of Ulster Squad coach Andrew Reid.
To round off Prize Night, trophies were presented to the swimmers whose
progress and ability has confirmed them as champions in their age groups. These swimmers have been crucial to Lecale's team successes throughout the year and, although they had tight competition in some age groups, their position as champion has been well and truly earned. The U9 champions are Kate McCauley and Daniel Mulholland. U11 Chloe Galloway and Fionn McConvey. U13 Megan Rodgers and Daniel Molloy. U15 Bethany Williamson and Conor Mahoney. Seniors Helen Smyth and Richard Turley.
One notable absence on the Prize Night was Lecale's head coach Brendan Mulholland. Brendan was in Nice preparing for an Ironman event. Over 2500 competitors completed the two mile open water swim followed by a one
hundred and twelve mile cycle, which included an unrelenting 21km climb up into the Alps. They finished the event by completing a full marathon, thankfully on the flat. Brendan has enjoyed competing in triathlons and Ironman events all his life and encourages all the Lecale swimmers to make the most of their talents and above all enjoy their sport.
Lecale would like to thank all its coaches, committee, swimmers and their
families for another successful year and wish them well for the summer holidays.
Training resumes again on Friday 31st August and trials for new members will take place on Sunday 9th September at 1pm.