Great day out at Templemore for Banbridge swimmers

FEBRUARY 18 was a great gala for the Banbridge squad as they headed off to Templemore in Belfast to compete against a strong team.

First off the blocks were the Group A medley relay team consisting of Caitlin Kearney, Lauren Lyttle, Rebecca Pinkerton and Lauren Armstrong. They swam well but Templemore carried off first place to begin with. The Group B boys however met the challenge and William Pinkerton, Harry Dougan, Daniel Kilpatrick and Harry Farson swam for their lives and secured an excellent first position.

The strong Group B team, led first by the girls, saw an excellent win from Abbie McAnearney, Ellie Robinson, Olivia Knox and Jodie Doyle. The boys kept up the tremendous stamina renowned for their group and Michael Rafferty, Patrick McNiff, Joel Milligan and Caolan Quinn swam a superb first place.

The Group C girls, Poppy Robinson, Allyce Nixon, Megan McKenna and Jenny Wilson kept up the momentum by securing another first place. Group C boys, however, were up against fierce competition and Nicholas Reid, Sam Farson, Keelan McCambridge and Scott Donnelly managed to come in second.

Group D girls, Olivia Loy, Kate Farson, Heather Wilson and Hannah Dunbar did their best but the opposition came in first. Group D boys were more successful and Patrick Morgan, Cameron McDonald, Daniel Chambers and Graham Stevenson swam a wonderful first place.

Next up was the Group A girls backstroke. Templemore was very strong in this group so Banbridge fought hard to achieve third, fifth and sixth. The swimmers were Lauren Armstrong, Lauren Lyttle and Caitlin Kearney. Group A boys, Rory McNiff, Harry Dougan and Harry Farson achieved excellent positions of second, third and sixth.

Group B girls backstroke, saw great positions of first, second and fifth from Abbie McCullagh, Olivia Knox and Emma McElderry. Group B boys - Patrick McNiff, Joel Milligan and Ross Johnston came in third, fourth and fifth place.

Group C girls, Jenny Wilson, Megan McKenna and Poppy Robinson, produced a hat-trick, a fine first, second and third. Group C boys, Keelan McCambridge, Scott Donnelly and Aaron Keegan went on to swim fourth, fifth and sixth.