Irish Open success for Kilkenny swimmers

Kilkenny Swim Club was well represented at the recent Irish Open and Olympic Trials in Dublin.

The cream of Irish swimming was in attendance, as many sought to win national titles and secure Olympic qualification.
Nessa Godden’s stock continued to rise as she claimed junior bronze in the 1,500 and 800 metre freestyle events. She also won senior bronze in the 800m freestyle final.

Godden really impressed in the final of the 1,500m on day two, clocking 18 minutes and 9 seconds - in doing so she knocked a whopping 12 seconds off her personal best (PB) and lowered a long-standing Kilkenny Club record in the 800m.

New to the club for the 2023/24 season is Leonardo Reis. Hailing from Portugal, he has settled right into life by the Nore and early mornings in the Watershed. Leo (to his teammates) showed his abilities across all four strokes by claiming silver in both the 200m and 400m junior individual medleys. In the latter he reduced his PB by 7.11 seconds to 4:44.

Of the club's Limerick-based swimmers Brogan McAviney won bronze in the 100m butterfly. Later in the week he went one better, winning silver in the 200m fly. Maria Godden won three medals, taking silver in both the 200m free and 200m backstroke as well as bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Excellent swims
During the five day event there were excellent swims to set new PBs by Abby Cunningham, Matthew McAviney, Kate Maher, Doug Duffy and Daran Yalnazov. Paddy Cuddihy suffered illness during the week which ruled him out of the competition. Naomi Trait, representing UCD, made the 200 IM and free finals.

Next up for the Kilkenny swimmers is the National Age Group Championships in July. Swimmers under 14 will head to Limerick while the Senior Age Group Championships for older swimmers will be held in the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin in July.