Ballymena swimmers challenge Ulster's best.

At the recent Ulster age group championships held in Lisburn leisure centre four of B.A.S.C's junior swimmers competed with distinction against the elite of Ulster junior swimming. Their combined tally of 2 Ulster junior championships bronze medals and thirteen pb's is a terrific achievement in a competition of this calibre. Although all established team swimmers this was the first experience of open gala competition for both Suzanna Brown (10) & Claudia Mc Kernan (11).

The three day event began on May 8th when Oonagh O'Neill competed in the 200m individual medley and finished a commendable fifth with personal best of 3:11:36. She competed again the next day & secured a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke event with another best time of 3:26:77 losing out on a silver medal by a mere three tenths of a second. Her next event was the 100m breaststroke and she followed up her earlier successes with another place in the final and a bronze medal. On the final day of the Ulster championship Oonagh was the 4th fastest qualifier in the 100m freestyle event.
She secured top 6 positions in all of her events narrowly missing further medals.

The Ulster junior championship provided Suzanna Brown with her first opportunity to compete with her peers and in all of her events she competed with distinction marginally missing the chance to challenge in the championship finals. Apart from an early disqualification in the backstroke Suzanna obtained personal best times in all events and displayed an enthusiasm for competing at this level.

Claudia Mc Kernan, like Suzanna, was unfortunate to experience disqualification in her first Ulster championship event. However she overcame this set back admirably and obtained two personal bests in her next two events. Highlights of Claudia's competition include a personal best of 1:20:23 in the 100m freestyle event.

Chloe Kernohan (12) swam in the 100m breast stroke and 100m freestyle events. The standard of competition in this age group was exceptionally high and Chloe swam well and secured two personal best times.

Coach, Stuart Barker, said "All the swimmers should be very proud of their achievements at the Ulster championships and can look forward to further challenges in the future."

Three of the girls Claudia, Suzanna. & Oonagh will be back in action at the forth coming Ards open gala.