Sunday’s Well Masters Swim Gala

Blackwater Triathlon Club member, Julian Boeg, has been a serious swimmer for many years now and has been a regular competitor at the annual Sundays Well Masters Swimming Gala, usually returning home with an impressive haul of medals. This year he was joined by Niamh Fleming, and Niamh, who was competing in her first ever swim gala, also managed some very impressive results, adding to her own medal collection.  The gala, which is held in the Douglas swimming pool in Cork, is a very popular event on the swimming calendar and attracts competitors from all over the country. Niamh won two medals in her age group, finishing second in the 100 metre individual medley event and third in the 50m front crawl. Julian also had a very successful day out, coming home with no fewer than six medals! He recently moved up to the 55-59 age group and finished first in the 50 metre butterfly, second in the 50 metre backstroke, and third in the 50 metre breast stroke, 50 metre front crawl and 100 metre individual medley. Julian was also a part of the Sandycove Swimming Club team that won the 200 year plus event by a clear 6 metres. The race was a 200 metre front crawl relay event where the combined age of the 4 team members had to be in excess of 200 years. Julian and Niamh really enjoyed their day in Douglas. They described it as a fabulous day out with very good racing and a really friendly atmosphere for both the competitors and their supporters. Julian, who has been swimming competitively in Cork since the age of 7, had a great day at the competition meeting many old friends and rivals, including someone he hadn’t seen since 1987. Credit must go to Sunday’s Well Swimming Club for organising such a well run and well attended event. The junior marshals, timekeepers and the committee all ensured that the day went smoothly and there was great craic afterwards in the South Country pub.  Well done to Julian, Niamh and everyone else who took part on the day. Definitely one to keep in mind next year.