Post 7
Irish Record For Stephen Campbell To Finish A Successful European Championships For Ireland's Paralympic Swimmers
24th October 2009
Ireland’s Stephen Campbell set a new Irish record tonight on the final evening of competition at the International Paralympic Committee European Swimming Championships in Iceland. Campbell set a new Irish standard of 67.14 to finish 7th in the final of the 100m Freestyle event (S11 Class).
Campbell, overjoyed with his performance, spoke to the assembled press after the race declaring, “A great way to finish the meet for me, a new pb and I have really enjoyed swimming the final tonight”. Campbell started strongly out of the blocks and maintained a strong pace to take .06 seconds off his previous mark.
This morning, teenager Laurence McGivern, set a new personal best in the heats of the 100m Freestyle event (S9 Class). This was a strong swim from which McGivern will reap invaluable experience that will stand to him over the coming years.
For Ireland, it has been an extremely successful European Championship competition with 2 Silver medals, 14 finals and 14 personal best performances. Star of the team was Wexford’s Darragh McDonald with a haul of two European silver medals to add to his silver medal from the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. With over half the team making their major Championship debut with such success and still a very young squad, this has been a tremendous performance for the Irish Paralympic Swimming Team.
For Head of Paralympic Swimming, Dave Malone, at his first championships in the role, the games has been a very rewarding experience. Reflecting on the team’s performance, Malone said, “This has truly been a tremendous championships for the Irish team. The team is young and full of potential with our objective coming over here being to compete against the best athletes in Europe and to learn for the experience. The team delivered on all fronts, competing in finals every night and achieving many new personal best times. To win 2 silver medals has been a fantastic achievement for Darragh McDonald and the whole country should be proud of our team’s performance.
Team manager, Mary McDonnell is overjoyed with the team’s performance. “The trip has been a huge success. The swimmers excelled themselves in some very tough competition here at the championships”. With one of Ireland’s most successful Paralympic competitors at the helm offering invaluable experience, next years World Swimming Championship has the potential to be a very rewarding affair.
The Irish team will arrive into Dublin Airport on Sunday evening (25th October) at 22.05pm.
For further information contact the Paralympic Council of Ireland Press Officer, John Fulham at mobile: 087-2709182 or e-mail: communications@pcireland.ie
Post 6
More Finals And Irish Records For Irish Paralympic Swimmers In Iceland
23rd October 2009
Irish swimmers Stephen Campbell and Gina Lourens both achieved success tonight at the IPC European Swimming Championships in Reykjavik on the second last day of competition.
Vision impaired athlete, Stephen Campbell from Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, was in action in the 100m Backstroke event (S11 Class). Following last nights strong performance in the Butterfly event, Campbell again displayed his talent to finish 5th in a new Irish record time of 1.15.92. Campbell had a very controlled race and was in with a chance for a bronze medal but faded towards the end and narrowly missed out in very exciting finish.
Speaking after the event, Campbell said, “I was looking forward to this race. I’ve been feeling like I have been getting stronger in my swims as the meet has gone on, I wanted to go 1.16 tonight in the final so to dip under the mark has been very exciting for me”.
Ireland’s second finalist tonight, Gina Lourens, finished 7th in the 100m Freestyle event (S8 Class) with a time of 1.19.61 behind eventual gold medal winner, Heather Frederiksen from Britain. Lourens qualified for this evening’s final from the morning’s heats in a new Irish record time of 1.19.10. Today’s performance rounded up a strong European Championship event for Lourens having reached the finals in all her events. Speaking after the event, Lourens said, “I was so pleased to make the final tonight in the 100 m free. I was a little disappointed not to swim faster in the final. But I got a new pb this morning so I can’t complain to much, I have made a final in all my swims at the championships and came away with new pb’s in all my events so I couldn’t be happier tonight”.
Laurence McGivern swam a new personal best this morning in his favourite event, the 100m Backstroke (S9 Class) finishing in a time of 1.14.15. Commenting on his performance, Head of Parlaympic Swimming, Dave Malone, observed, “Laurence delivered a fine performance setting a new pb time. He had a strong first 50 meters and held his stroke on the finish and I couldn’t have asked for a better swim this morning”.
Jonathan McGrath swam in the heats of the 100m Freestyle event (S8 Class) finishing with a time of 1.11.93, outside his personal best time. McGrath has had a very good debut at a major championship, learning a lot form the experience of competing against the best athletes in Europe.
Saturday sees the final day of this European Championship event with two Irish swimmers in competition. Laurence McGivern swims in the 100m Freestyle event (S9 Class) while Stephen Campbell swims in the 100m Freestyle (S11 Class).
For further information, contact the Paralympic Council of Ireland Press Officer, John Fulham at mobile: 087-2709182 or e-mail: communications@pcieland.ie
Post 5
McDonald Takes Second European Silver In 100m Freestyle In Record Irish Time
22nd Octover 2009
Ireland’s Darragh McDonald achieved an amazing double tonight in the Laugardalur Swimming Complex in Reykjavik, winning European silver for the second time this week. The amputee swimmer finished in second place in the 100m Freestyle event with a new Irish Record time of 1.10.50, remarkably destroying the record he had set in qualifying this morning by 0.86 of a second.
After his 400m Freestyle silver medal earlier in the week, McDonald flew off the blocks in this mornings heats to set a new Irish record of 1.11.36 to qualify second fastest for tonight’s final. The final saw the Irish teenager matched against his old rival from Sweden, Anders Olsson who resisted the Irishman’s strong challenge, going on the win the gold.
Speaking after the event, McDonald said, “I couldn’t have asked for a better finish to the European championships, it has been a great competition for me and I’m already focusing my preparations toward the world championships August 2010”
Tyrone resident, Stephen Campbell, was Ireland’s second finalist tonight in the 100m Butterfly event (S11 Class). The vision impaired athlete produced a superb performance to set a new personal best time of 1.13.50, finishing in 5th position overall. In the mixed zone after the race, overjoyed with his performance Campbell declared, “If you put your mind to it you can really achieve anything you set out to do, that swim has given me a lot of confidence in my ability to compete with the very best athletes”
Ireland’s other finalist of the evening, Gina Lourens, was not so fortunate, being disqualified from her 100m Butterfly event (S8 Class) for a technical infringement. Lourens was bitterly disappointed with the result but will be back in the pool tomorrow for the 100m Freestyle event.
Laurence McGivern was also in action today in the heats of the mens 50m Freestyle event (S9 Class). Having started a little high out of the blocks, McGivern finished in 7th position with a time of 29.80 in what was a very competitive qualification round of world class swimmers.
Speaking from the poolside tonight, Head of Paralympic Swimming and former Paralympic medallist, Dave Malone said, “For Darragh, this was a perfect end to a tremendous championships for him, I’m delighted with his progress since Beijing and now have sights firmly set on the world championships next summer. Laurence is a young athlete with great promise and has done exactly what I hoped for at the start of the championships. Stephen was unlucky to miss out on a bronze medal on the last stroke with a very exciting finish, very proud of the efforts of Stephen tonight”
Day 5 of the Championships sees a busy day with yet again, 4 Irish athletes in competition. Stephen Campbell competes in the 100m Backstroke event (S11 Class), Laurence McGivern competes in the 100m Backstroke (S9 Class), Jonathan McGrath swims in the 100m Freestyle event (S8 Class) while Gina Lourens swims in the 100m Freestyle event (S8 Class).
For further information contact the Paralympic Council of Ireland Press Officer, John Fulham on mobile: 087-2709182 or e-mail:communications@pcireland.ie
Post 4
Lourens & McGiverns Set New Personal Bests In A Tough Day Of Competition In Reykjavik
21st October 2009
Ireland’s Gina Lourens set a new personal best of 35.40 seconds tonight in the final of the womens 50m Freestyle event (S8 Class). Lourens, originally from South Africa but now racing for Ireland, shaved .22 of a second off her previous best to finish in 6th position overall. Speaking after her event, Lourens said, “Its always great to get a personal best in the final, I knew I could push harder in the final from this mornings heats and felt strong throughout the 50m”
Ireland had three other swimmers in competition today. Laurence McGivern, a native of Newry, was first into the pool for his 400m Freestyle event (S9 Class). Yet another of the promising batch of young Irish swimmers making their major championship debut at these games, McGivern put in a solid performance to finish in a time of 5.10 which was a new personal best. Commenting afterwards, McGivern said of his debut performance, “It was brilliant to get in for my first swim here at the championships, and I’m pleased to start off with a new long course pb in this event”
Stephen Campbell just missed out on a personal best time in the 50m Freestyle event (S11 Class) finishing with a time of 30.50 seconds. This was not enough to get Campbell through to tonight’s final but he is back in action tomorrow morning in the 100m Butterfly event.
Having made his competition debut yesterday, Killaloe native, Jonathan McGrath swam in the 50m Freestyle event (S8 Class) finishing in a time of 34.5 seconds, which was not enough to get him through to the final. Having come through the Paralympic Council of Irelands Paralions talent identification programme, McGrath is certainly a talent to watch in the future.
Day 5 of the competition sees 4 Irish swimmers in action. Laurence McGivern enters the 50m Freestyle event (S9 Class) while Darragh McDonald swims in the 100m Freestyle event (S6 Class). Gina Lourens and Stephen Campbell take to the pool again in the 100m Butterfly event, (S8Class) and (S11 Class) respectively.
For further information, contact the Paralympic Council of Ireland Press Officer, John Fulham at mobile: 087-2709182 or email:communications@pcireland.ie
Post 3
McDonald Sets New Irish Record On Day 3 Of European Championships In Iceland
20th October 2009
Ireland’s Paralympic Swimming Team continued their successful run today at the IPC European Swimming Championships in Iceland with 4 Irish competitors involved in today’s action.
Darragh McDonald, silver medallist in the 400m Freestyle two days ago, was back in the pool for his 50m Freestyle event (S6 Class). Finishing second in this morning’s heat with an Irish record time of 33.60 seconds, McDonald went into tonight’s final ranked third overall. In a closely fought race, McDonald was lying in third place when, in the final 5 metres he was narrowly beaten for the Bronze medal, finishing in 5th place overall. This is yet another fine performance from the Wexford teenager, shaving .52 seconds off the previous Irish record.
Clare resident, Jonathan McGrath made his major championship debut today in this mornings session competing in the 400m Freestyle (S8 Class) setting a new personal best with a time of 5.19.21 taking over 2 seconds off his previous best. This was enough to take McGrath through to tonight’s final where he finished in 7th place with a time of 5.16.91 in another personal best time. This is a tremendous major championship debut performance and speaking after the event, Jonathan said, “The swim felt really fast compared to the heat! I am thrilled to make a final”.
Gina Lourens began her championship’s today finishing 7th in the final of the 400m Freestyle event (S8 Class) with a time of 5.59.87 which was half a second outside her personal best time.
Stephen Campbell from Cookstown, Co. Tyrone competed in the 400m Freestyle event (S11 Class) finishing 5th in the final with a seasons best time of 5.33.21. This is a strong result, which bodes well for the shorter events to come.
Speaking after the day’s events, Irish Team Manager Mary McDonnell stated: “Team morale is very high, everyone is enjoying themselves and learning a huge amount about major competition. Of eight swims so far we’ve had eight finals and a silver medal. Swimmers and staff are very supportive of each other. Even though we are a small team we have made our presence felt at the pool both in the water and on the balcony!!
Tomorrow sees another busy day for the Irish contingent with four swimmers in action. Newry based Laurence McGivern makes his major championship debut in the 400m Freestyle event (S9 Class) while Jonathan McGrath returns for his 50m Freestyle event (S8 Class). Gina Lourens and Stephen Campbell compete in the 50m Freestyle events (S8 Class) & (S11 Class) respectively.
For further information contact the Paralympic Council of Ireland Press Officer John Fulham @ mobile: 087-2709182, email: communications@pcireland.ie
Post 2
Paralympic Swimmer Ellen Keane finishes 4th in 100m Breaststroke
19th October 2009
Teenage swimmer from Dublin, Ellen Keane, finished with a well-earned fourth place in the 100m Breaststroke (S9 Class) this evening at the IPC European Swimming Championships in Iceland. Ranked fourth going into tonight’s final Keane, who was lying in 5th position with 20m to go, put in a strong final burst to take fourth place in a time of 1.30.80 which was three seconds outside her personal best. Olesya Vladykina of Russia won the race in a world record time of 1.17.60.
This was Keane’s second final of the evening, having earlier finished in 8th position in the 200m Individual Medley (SB8 Class) with a time of 2.53.06. Having qualified for tonight’s final from this morning’s heats with a time of 2.51.88, the field ultimately proved too strong for Keane in what was her third final in two days.
Commenting on tonight’s performance, Head of Paralympic Swimming Dave Malone said, “A hard final tonight for Ellen in a very competitive race, Ellen pulled back the 4th position from lying 5th going into the last 20 meters, working a very good finish. It has been a positive swimming championships for Ellen and I am sure she will have learned a lot from the experience and can take that with her as she develops over the next few years”
With her race this evening, Keane’s participation in this European Championships comes to an end. Speaking after the event Keane demonstrated a maturity beyond her years stating, “It was great to swim back to back finals tonight and I learned a lot from the experience, I was disappointed not to follow on with another personal best time tonight after yesterdays butterfly, but it was good to swim in the final with a new world record being set in the 100m Breaststroke and sets the standard that I’m looking to chase over the next few years”
Day 3 of competition sees Darragh McDonald back in the pool for the 50m Freestyle event (S6 Class) while Stephen Campbell begins his European campaign in the 400m Freestyle event (S11 Class). Gina Lourens and Jonathan McGrath both start the competition in their respective 400m Freestyle events (S8) Class.
For further information contact Paralympic Council of Ireland Press Officer, John Fulham at mob: 087-2709182 or e-mail: communications@pcireland.ie
Post 1
Ireland's Paralympian Darragh McDonald Wins 400m Silver
18th October 2009
Ireland’s Darragh McDonald won a silver medal yesterday at the IPC European Swimming Championships in Iceland in the 400m Freestyle event (Class S6). On day one of the championships, the Silver Medallist from the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games got Ireland off to a flying start, finishing in second place with a time of 5.15.07 behind Anders Olsson who won in a world record time of 4.47.75.
Based in Wexford, this is McDonald’s first major championship outing since his success in Beijing over a year ago. Speaking to assembled press after the event, a delighted McDonald said, “I am delighted with my silver medal tonight and it was once again an honour to represent my country at a major international competition, It was my first appearance at a European championships and I’m thrilled to add this medal to my silver medal for the same event in Beijing last year ”.
Also in this evenings session, teenage swimmer, Ellen Keane improved her time from qualification to finish 7th in the final of the 100m Butterfly event (Class S9) with a time of 1.16.44. Keane, who is from Clontarf in Dublin, went into the final ranking 7th having set a personal best time of 1.16.95 in this mornings qualification. After her final Keane said, “I felt good in the heats this morning and was pleased with my time, so for the final I worked on holding my pace and working hard on my backend speed on the last 25 meters. I was so pleased to again set a new pb time tonight in the final.”
Speaking from Reykjavik, High Performance Director of Paralympic Swimming, Dave Malone said: “Obviously I am delighted with today’s performances. Both performances were great and the medal for Ireland is very exciting. It is a great achievement for Daragh to claim a silver medal in his first appearance at a European championships.”
On Monday Ellen Keane returns to the pool in the 200m Individual Medley and 100m Breaststroke events.
For further information contact Paralympic Council of Ireland Communications Officer John Fulham @ 087-2709182, email: communications@pcireland.ie
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