Ellen Walshe Twice Lowers Irish 200 Free Record & Ellie McCartney Punches Another Ticket For Singapore
Ellen Walshe lowered the Irish 200 free record twice in one day and Ellie McCartney was inside the 200m breaststroke cut for Singapore worlds on the penultimate day of the Irish Open Swimming Championships in Dublin.
Walshe, who set a national standard of 1:59.31 in the morning heats, became the first Irishwoman under 1:59 as she clocked 1:58.88 in the semis to progress as top seed to Wednesday’s final. The Templeogue swimmer is still to compete in her main event, the 400IM, in which she finished eighth at Paris 2024, on Wednesday.
Ellie McCartney: Photo Courtesy: Swim Ireland
McCartney has enjoyed a fine meet at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre and she continued her streak with a championship record and consideration time for the World Aquatics Championships in the 200 breast semi. The 20-year-old, who came into the meet with a best time of 2:26.07, skipped over 2:25 to clock 2:24.35 and go well under the consideration time of 2:25.91 for the World Championships in Singapore in July. The National Centre Limerick swimmer now has consideration times for the European U23 Championships, World University Games and World Championships and is Ireland’s second fastest ever 100m and 200m female breaststroke swimmer behind Olympic 100 bronze medallist Mona McSharry.
The 20-year-old from Enniskillen said through Swim Ireland: “I’m over the moon, I never imagined to be 2:24, I thought it was going to be a push to make that A standard time but tonight I just wanted to give it my all, anything that was left in the tank from this week, just finish on a high.”
It followed the 100 breaststroke on Monday where she enjoyed a stroke for stroke battle with McSharry who won in 1:06.87 to 1:06.97. That was McCartney’s maiden voyage inside 1:07 and she spoke of the impact and inspiration of McSharry, saying: “The 100 last night, it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to race Mona, she wasn’t at last year’s Irish Open, so I just want to make the most of an opportunity, I love going out and racing and to get anywhere close to Mona for me it’s mind-blowing, it’s something I’ve always wanted to achieve, she pushes me and she inspires me.”
Cullen Clinches Backstroke Double
National Centre Ulster’s Lottie Cullen claimed the first hardware of the day in the 200m backstroke. Cullen, who’d already achieved consideration times for the European U23 Championships and World University Games, completed the backstroke double as she added to the 100m gold she won on Sunday. Cullen touched in 2:14.67 ahead of National Centre Ulster’s Maria Godden (2:17.08) and Banbridge’s Annabelle Wilkinson (2:18.39). Commemorative gold went to Germany’s Gabriela Georgieva in 2:13.07.
Having set a new Irish record of 1:56.61 and secured a consideration time for the World Aquatics Championships in the men’s 200m backstroke semi, National Centre Limerick’s John Shortt withdrew from the final as he sits his Leaving Certificate oral on Wednesday morning. In his absence, Swim Belfast’s Brandon Biss won his first national title in 2:01.16, also securing a consideration time for the European U23 Championships. Silver went to New Ross’ Emmet Cousins in 2:04.80 and bronze to Bangor’s Brydan Byrne in 2:04.81.
John Shortt: Photo Courtesy: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Alana Burns-Atkin claimed her second gold medal of the week in the 100 fly. The National Centre Ulster swimmer swam a personal best 1:00.70 to add to the 200 title. Silver went to National Centre Limerick’s Lucy O’Brien in 1:02.49 with New Ross’ Eva Bayley completing the podium in 1:03.89.
National Centre Ulster’s Adam Colgan won his first national title topping the podium in the open 200IM in 2:06.52. Commemorative silver went to Germany’s Tobias Van Aggelen who got the touch in 2:07.50 just ahead of Irish silver medallist Tom Wilkinson of Banbridge in 2:08.08. Bronze went to Templeogue’s Baltazar Allende in 2:10.93.
Already under consideration for the European U23 Championships, Eoin Corby secured a consideration time in the 200m breaststroke semi for the World University Games. The National Centre Limerick swimmer is top seed for Wednesday’s final after a semi-final swim of 2:12.30 ahead of National Centre Ulster’s Lachey Reed (2:18.71) and Bangor’s Adam Bradley (2:18.99).
Larne’s Danielle Hill was the only swimmer under 26 seconds in the women’s 50 free semis as she touched in 25.22. In joint second overall National Centre Dublin’s Rosalie Phelan and Ards’ Grace Davison clocked 26.13, Davison securing her third consideration time for the European Junior Championships.
National Centre Limerick’s Jack Cassin will be the fastest Irish swimmer in Wednesday’s 200m butterfly final. Cassin, who clocked 2:01.15 is the reigning Irish Champion in the event and victory would see him claim three titles in a row in the event.
