The 2024 iteration of the Open Water National Championships was held in stunning surroundings in Lough Lene, Co. Westmeath last Sunday.
The event included the National 10km and 5km Championships, along with the introduction of 1.5km and 3km distances for younger age groups. All forming part of the new open water pathway development programme, as Swim Ireland strives grow competitive opportunities for open water swimmers on the island.
National Centre (Limerick) swimmer Denis O’Brien was crowned the male u19 National Open Water 10km champion. O’Brien, who recently represented Ireland in Vienna at the European Open Water Championships, finished the race first to claim gold in a time of 02:23.46. His National Centre teammate, Daragh Horgan, who also featured for Ireland in Vienna, was next to finish in a time of 02:23.50, claiming the national silver. Ben Moran of Aer Lingus was the third male home to pick up bronze following his time of 02:44.26. In the male open category, William Ferguson was first home in 03:19:45.
In the female u19 race, Trojan swimmer Rebekah Friel came through the gruelling 10km of open water swimming in 02:50.58 to win the national title. Coolmine’s Maia O’Loughlin Brophy was next home in second with a time of 02:52:35, with the bronze going to Kilkenny’s Nessa Godden (02:54.08). Clara Svobodova was first home in the female open category in a time of 02:52.08.
The 5km competitors took to the pontoon next for the 5km race with national titles at stake. Sundays Well swimmer Sean Bulger was first to cross the line in the u19s 5km race in a time of 01:16.40. Ferdia Hayes brought the national silver back to Ennis SC after he crossed the line in 01:22.02, bronze went back to Wexford with Luca Power, after the New Ross went 01:26.24.
In the male u16 race, Adam Foley and Tadhg O’Brien battled tight until the end for the national title as they thrashed through the water stroke for stroke. Adam Foley passed the line just ahead of O’Brien to bring the national title back to Limerick, coming home in 01:17:32. Recent European OW Junior swimmer Tadhg O’Brien would take silver after the Dolphin man clocked 01:17.34. Templeogue’s Luca Sanchez-Russell was third across the line in 1:18.58 to pick up bronze.
Kilkenny’s Nyah Vaughan was first to finish in the female u19’s race in a time of 01:29.38 to win the national title. Dolphin’s Gemma Whelan was next to cross the line and pick up the national swimmer following her time of 01:34:49, bronze was won by Sadhbh Moore in a time of 01:58:37.
Aer Lingus’ Jessica Purcell was the first to cross the line in the u16’s race in 01:19:33 to win the national gold medal. Sorcha Ní Riain was next home to take the silver back to Limerick after she clocked a time of 01:22.16, bronze went to Aoibhe Moroney of Dolphin after she clocked 01:26:28.
Daniel Beggs was the first male to cross the line in the open category in a time of 01:22.12 (w), while Annabel Farrington-Knight was the first female in the open category (01:30.27).
Full Results:
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