McCullough’s career going swimmingly
CLOGHERHEAD’S Jack McCullough ended his autumn season in fantastic fashion with success in a series of high-profile races.
The Drogheda Triathlon member entered the Belfast Titanic Swim - a 1500m race in the waters of Belfast harbour - which was part of the Global Swim Series and attracted more than a hundred entrants from across the British Isles.
The race was frantic from the start, but Jack was part of a lead group of 10 swimmers from the start and eventually took overr at the front and stormed to victoryory in the Senior Men’s race. The to Groomsport, following week, just Jack outside headed adde Belfast, to participate in thee final event of the H2O Northernn Ireland Swim Series, again over 1500m.
Waters were very choppy on the day and temperatures veryy cold, but again Jack got off to a great start and hit the front in thehe closing stages to win the Seniornior Men’s race with a fantastic sprintrint finish.
At the presentations later in the day, Jack was presented with his winning trophy and was also crowned the H2O Northern Ireland Swim Series Under-18 ‘Junior King’ for the second year in a row.
Jack’s next endeavour was to represent ‘Swim Ireland’ in a World Record attempt at the ‘Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre’ in Blanchardstown. He was picked as part of a 100-person Swim Ireland Team in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the 100 x 50m relay.
The Swim Ireland team consisted of Ireland’s elite swimmers, with many international, Olympic and national squad members, the stipulation being that all those in the team could swim 50 metres (long course) in under 34 seconds. The target to beat was 55min 22.24sec.
Jack who is a former National champion in the pool, completed his leg in 57th position and did his team proud by swimming 28 seconds, and a marvellous collective effort saw the team smash the record with a time of 46min 38.04sec.
The event was recorded, with officials from the Guinness World Record committee in attendance, and the official time and verification is yet to be ratified, but no hitches are expected.
The achievement was greatly appreciated by the large, ecstatic crowd who cheered and clapped each swimming leg, while the participants also raised in excess of €10,000 for the Irish Cancer Society and Northern Ireland Hospice.
After the World Record attempt on the Friday evening, Jack went straight to bed as he got up at 4am the following morning to travel to the Great Fjord Swim in County Mayo.
Jack entered the 3km race, which whic was the final race of the Global Glob Swim Series in the Western European Euro area. This attracted a larlarge crowd from Britain and France, Fran with more than 150 entrants tran on the day.
A As expected the start of the race rac was frantic, and started fast fas and kept a high tempo for the first 1500m until the turn point, po by which stage he lay in second sec position behind Andrew Fields Field from the UK, and that was the wway they finished, with Jack seco second overall and winner in the Und Under-19 age group.
There Th was more good news following f the Great Fjord Swim in that Jack is now leading the World Global Swim Series in the Under-19 section for the Male Wetsuit division and is also ranked seventh in the Senior section.
The Global Swim Series is a collection of independent races from all over the world, with more than 75,000 swimmers participating overall.
It has been a fantastic season for Jack, the reigning Drogheda Independent Coca-Cola Young Sport Star of the Year, with numerous international successes in swimming, triathlon and running, National and regional titles won - and of course his part in that world record.
Jack has been strongly supported by Drogheda Triathlon Club throughout the year through the development and sponsorship they have provided him in individual coaching, club/gym membership, club gear/equipment and international travel support. This support has greatly enhanced his athletic development and has been a massive part of his successful season. The club have renewed this sponsorship for the 2018 season.
For now St Joseph’s CBS pupil Jack will taper back on sporting competition as he prepares for his Leaving Certificate.
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