Ellen Walshe Just Shy of Irish 100 Fly Record In Bangor; Duncan Scott & Lewis Fraser Wrap Up Successful Campaigns
Ellen Walshe was 0.04 off her Irish 100 fly record while Duncan Scott and Lewis Fraser each made two trips to the podium on the final day of the McCullagh International in Bangor, Northern Ireland.
Walshe won the women’s 100 fly in 58secs, a sliver off the national mark of 57.96 she set at the Irish Championships in 2023. The two-time Olympian was more than three seconds ahead of Jessica Calderbank in second who won out in a tight tussle with Alana Burns-Atkin in 1:01.04 to 1:01.07.
It concluded a fine meet for Walshe who won the 50/100 fly double as well as the 200 free and 400IM.
First up for Scott was the 200IM in which he enjoyed a clear victory. The silver medallist at the last two Olympics was almost six seconds clear in 2:00.25 as Josh Press made it a Stirling 1-2 in 2:06.22 with Jacob Armon third in 2:06.54.
Scott returned soon after to take on the 100 fly where Fraser led the way in 53.09 ahead of Scotland’s most-decorated Olympian (53.70) and Jamie Ingram (53.83).
Lewis Fraser: Photo courtesy: Swansea University
It was the second title of the day for Fraser who upgraded silver in the 100br to gold in the 50 in 28.23 with Eoin Corby – winner of the 100/200 double – second in 28.55 and Zach Moyo third (29.22).
Scott heads back to Stirling with golds in the 100 free and 200IM as well as silvers in the 200 free and 100 fly.
Fraser, of Swansea University, had a superb meet with the 50/100 fly double, 50br gold and 100m breaststroke silver.
Jack McMillan made his third trip to the podium with victory in the 400 free in 3:52.96 to add to his 200 title (1:47.58) and second place in the 100 where he lost out to Stirling teammate Duncan Scott by 0.01 in 49.48.
Luke Hornsey of Edinburgh was second in 3:55.64 to add to his 800/1500 distance double with National Centre Limerick swimmer Cormac Rynn third in 3:59.87.
Tom Fannon led the way in the men’s 50 free in 22.43, 0.69 off his Irish record of 21.74 in the semis of Paris 2024 where he missed the final by one place and 0.05. Evan Bailey was second in 22.98 to complete a fine meet following third in the 100 and 200 free with Thomas Leggett third in 23.26.
Irish record-holder Danielle Hill won the women’s 50 free in 25.28 with Lucy Hope second in 25.92 as she claimed her third freestyle medal of the three-day meet following 100 gold and 200 silver. Drew McKenzie was third in 26.09.
Danielle Hill: photo courtesy: ©INPHO/Tom Maher
Grace Davison won the women’s 200IM in 2:17.16 ahead of Suzie McNair (2:18.84) and Georgina Walker (2:24.64).
Michaella Glenister of Stirling added the women’s 400 free to the 800 title in 4:22.70 ahead of Eve Leleux of Swim Belfast (4:25.57) and City of Manchester’s Mollie Fisher (4:31.38).
Kara Hanlon clinched the 50/100 breaststroke double with a dominant victory over one length in 31.26 with the Edinburgh swimmer leaving Bangor with three medals having also come second over 200m. Ava Jones was second in 32.45 with Abril Allende third in 32.76.
Sophie Shaw won the women’s 200 back in 2:18.03 while Emmet Cousins won out in a tight men’s race in 2:05.31.
