Choppy conditions for weekly races run by swimming club

WICKLOW Swimming Club held a number of races during the week, starting on Wednesday evening when there was windy conditions but warm temperatures at Wicklow Harbour.

The sea was calm as eight youths took to the water first, swimming a course out of the harbour into the open sea. They competed for the Mystic Celt Cup with Mia Cowdry finishing first, followed by Mia Kristiansen in second and Sadhbh Dolan in third.

Eighty-three seniors took to the water in a sealed handicap competing for the Smith Family Cup which was won by Shaun Carroll. Colm Byrne was second and Ronan Conway third.

Sea conditions were good and the rain stayed away for the Vartry races held on Saturday. Twelve youths were in the water first competing for the Esmonde Cup. Sarah Flood was the winner, with Abby Horner in second place and Robyn Brennan in third.

Sixteen intermediates competed for the Bond Cup. Anya Wilson-Ma was the first swimmer over the finishing line, with Sophie Leonard in second and Saoirse Dolan third.

Wicklow Swimming Club welcomed a number of visiting competitors for the Masters Vartry. The ladies swam for the O’Reilly Cup, with Hazel Behan the winner, followed by Monina Mooney in second place and Emer O’Connell in third. The men competed for the Byrne Cup, which was won by Gerry Cleary. Michael Canavan was second.

One-hundred-and-forty swimmers took to the water to compete on Sunday morning. It was a much cooler, wet morning with very choppy sea conditions at Wicklow Harbour.

The Junior sprints were up first with 30 swimmers competing in the following races; Under 6 Boys – first, Elliott Kinsella; Under 6 Girls – first, Maria O’Dwyer, second, Olivia Guinan, third, Fainche Maher; Under 8 Boys – first, Bill Guinan, second, Tristan McKeever, third, Eoin Treanor; Under 8 Girls – first, Laura Bentley, second, Ruth Connolly; Under 10 Boys – first, Kian Copeland, second, Matthew Mooney, third, Seamus Treanor; Under 10 Girls – first, Mei Wilson-Ma, second, Maddie McKeever, third, Aoife Treanor; Under 12 Boys – first, Eunan Kearney, second, Colm O’Neill, third, Deaglan O’Neill; Under 12 Girls – first, Abi Copeland, second, Neasa McGillycuddy, third, Anya Wilson-Ma; Under 14 Girls – first, Ellie Mae Brennan.

Nineteen juniors were in the water for the Junior Challenge. First was Ruth Connolly followed by Mei Wilson-Ma in second and Seamus Treanor in third place.

Twenty intermediates swam the Mini Harbour Race. First home was Lily Sheehy, second was Hazel Bentley, while Kirsty Dunne was third.

Ten youths competed for the Mick O’Reilly Cup. It was a challenging race in a very choppy sea. Emma Kristiansen was the winner, followed by Robyn Brennan in second place and Sadhbh Dolan in third.

Sixty-one seniors swam for the much-coveted Mick O’Reilly Cup. The race was not for the faint-hearted as conditions were very rough. First across the line was Joan Morton, followed by Patrick O’Keane and Monina Mooney.

The next mid-week races will take place this evening (Wednesday, August 1), starting with the youths at 6.45 p.m. followed by the seniors (racing for the Base to Race Cup) at 7.15 p.m.. On Sunday, races start at 10.15 a.m. with the junior sprints, followed by 10.30 a.m. for the junior challenge ‘The Watson Cup’, 11 a.m. for the Earls Cup, 11.30 a.m. for the Drennan Cup and noon for the seniors’ race for the Borgman Earls Cup.