Ballinasloe swimmers had a very sucessful trip to the Galway Community Games swimming finals held in Leisureland on Saturday 26th May. They emerged with a staggering 22 medals which was a great return on all the hard work and training that was put in by all the swimmers this year.

Ballinalsoe got off to a flying start with a great 1st place for Heather Payne in the under 8 freestyle. This was quickly followed by a close 2nd place by Colm Reilly in the boys under 8 Freestyle.

This set a trend of Ballinasloe swimmers challenging for top spots in every race as the events moved on to under 10. Geniveve Duncan came 2nd in under 10 freestyle with Billy McKenna coming 3rd in the boys under 10 freestyle.

At Under 12 there were more medals with Niamh Loughnane coming 3rd in the girls freestyle, Eoin Stack claiming 3rd in the boys backstroke and Meadbh Hurst coming a very close 2nd in the girls breaststroke. There was great local rivalry in the boys under 12 breaststroke with Ahascraghs Sean Horan claiming 2nd just ahead of Ballinasloe's Graeme Gullane at 3rd.

At under 14 level Robert McKenna came 1st in a very tight race in the boys freestyle. Cian Dooley was 2nd in the boys breaststroke with Cliona Loughnane also coming 2nd in the girls breaststroke.

At Under 16 there was more success as Joseph Ward had a great win in the boys freestyle followed by a 2nd for Aishling Murray in the girls butterfly. In the relays both Ballinasloe teams swam well to claim two 2nd places.

The boys relay team consisted of Cian Dooley , Eoin Stack, Patrick Murray and Graeme Gullane and the girls were Meadbh Hurst, Deirdre Phelan, Michelle Jenings and Niamh Loughnane. Heather Payne,Robert McKenna, Joseph Ward and Aishling Murray qualified for the National Finals in August and we wish them every success.

Some of the successful Ballinasloe swimmers pictured in Leisureland, at the Galway Community Games.