Lots of Irish Open success for Kilkenny swimmers

The focus of Irish swimming was on the National Aquatic Centre in Abbottstown, for the Irish Open.

Kilkenny Swimming Club was well represented by present and past swimmers, all of whom swam excellently, winning medals, setting personal bests and reaching finals across a hectic week.

It was a memorable Irish Open for Callan’s Maria Godden who claimed a double gold in the 100 and 200m backstroke. Not only that, but the new personal best (PB) times also secured Maria’s selection for the European under-23 Championships in Dublin.

Maria trains in the Swim Ireland’s National Centre in Limerick but remains affiliated to Kilkenny Swimming Club. Entering the final 50 metres of the 200 backstroke there was no catching the Callan swimmer who touched the wall in a new PB time of 2.12.61 and had just over five seconds to spare from her nearest competitor.

The 100 backstroke final was a much tighter affair. Maria lined up alongside Danielle Hill, the fastest qualifier and favourite for the gold medal. Buoyed by victory earlier in the season over her rival, Godden was not to be denied. The two swimmers were side by side for almost the entire race, but Maria’s sheer will to win ensured she touched the wall first.

“I’m delighted with the swim and a new PB,” Godden said to David Chapman of Swim Ireland after the event. “I was not happy with my heat swim and in the final I tried to relax my stroke rate and keep Danielle in my peripheral vision in the first 50 and go for it off the turn.”

Brogan McAviney from Gowran enjoyed an excellent gala in both freestyle and butterfly events. He reached three finals in the 100 and 200m setting PB’s in both. He finished fifth in the 100m A final. His best performance was winning bronze in the 200m butterfly A final, where he was only beaten by two Irish international swimmers.

That was not the only success for the family in this event, as younger brother Matthew smashed his 200 fly PB to reach the B final where he finished second. In theory these results mean the two brothers are ranked third and 12th overall in Ireland for 200 butterfly. Matthew is based in Kilkenny SC under the guidance of head coach John Duffy while Brogan trains with Swim Ireland in Limerick.

Later in the week Matthew knocked a further two seconds off his 100 fly time and is edging towards that sub one minute swim.

In each event, there are A and B finals to provide more swimmers with the opportunity and experience of swimming heats in the morning and finals in the evening.

Callan’s Nessa Godden continued her recent fine form in the distance events and reached the B final of the 400 free.

Continuing the club’s success in the 200 backstroke, Paddy Cuddihy from Danesfort, who has been showing excellent form in recent weeks, set a new PB on his way to winning the 200m B final.

In the same event, Daran Yalnazov from Bagenalstown took an incredible five seconds off his own PB and followed up the next day with a two second PB in the 100 backstroke.

Paddy Cuddihy demonstrated his ability freestyle swimming as he swam 200 to 1500m during the gala. The pinnacle of his freestyle events was lowering his 800m free PB by just over five seconds when he swam 9:07 seconds.

Shelby Newsome from Ballyhale will be happy with her performances setting new PBs in the 50 and 100 butterfly. Abby Cunningham from Kilkenny City set a PBs in the 50 breaststroke. Abby swam free across a range of distance from 100 to 800m setting new P’s in each, the highlight of which was a 10 seconds PB in the 800 free.

In breaststroke Brendan Pretorius set a new PB in the 50m distance which gives him confidence going into the second half of the long course season.

Former Kilkenny Swimming Club member Naomi Trait, who now represents UCD, enjoyed an excellent five days across a range of strokes and distances. The highlight of which was the 200m freestyle in which she won a bronze medal.

“It has been a great opportunity for our age group squad to get a taste of swimming at the level,” said Kilkenny SC Head Coach John Duffy, reflecting on the week of aquatic action.

“It’s a step up for most to experience and wonderful to see that most embraced the challenge and did not get overawed,” he added.

“It is a real chance for them to experience some very good quality swimming and raise their own level to meet it.”

Next up for the Kilkenny swimmers will be a series of galas in Leinster as they prepare for the national long course age group championships in Dublin and Limerick in July.