Cork Swimming: Relay events are now hugely important for clubs

Relays are a vital component of competitive swimming, offering unique opportunities and benefits to individuals and their teams. 

Unlike individual events, relays emphasise teamwork, strategic planning, and synchronised execution. Each swimmer’s performance directly impacts on the overall result, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and collective responsibility.

One of the key aspects of relay swimming is the development of team dynamics. Swimmers must work closely together to perfect their timing, particularly during the transitions, where timing of takeovers can make the difference between victory and defeat. The excitement and high stages of relay races can boost motivation and competitive spirit, pushing swimmers to achieve their personal-bests while contributing to the team’s success.

There is an increased focus on relay swimming within the Swim Ireland programme with three teams qualified for the Paris Olympics. Two female relays, 400m freestyle and medley and a men’s 400m medley relay. Each of the three relays set a new Irish record at the Games and all three improved their world ranking from their entry time.

At the recent Irish Youth and Senior Championships, Cork club Sunday’s Well excelled at the women’s relay events. 

Their most impressive victory came at the 800m freestyle relay. The Echo Sports Award February winner, Isabel Kidney led from the start touching on 2:11.42, three seconds ahead of Rachel Marshall, Trojan, as she handed over to Eva Harrington. Harrington maintained that three-second lead as she handed over to Antonia Sech, the youngest member of the team.

Trojan’s Abril Allende started to claw back the Well’s lead, but Sech held on to hand over to Ellen Lee for the final leg. Rebecca Friel, Trojan ed Lee on the first 100m and was 0.82 seconds ahead at the mid-way point, but Lee ground her down over the back 100m and was just 0.01 seconds behind at the final turn. Lee had a powerful 32.73 final 50m to claim the National Title for SWSC 8:54.77.

Friel finished with a 33.05 for her final 50m and claimed silver for the team from Trojan 8:55.08. Templeogue completed the podium with 9:00.61. The Dolphin quartet, Lexi Dunne, Aoibhe Moroney, Ruby Swinburne and Emily Donohoe placed fifth overall 9:18.09.

The SWSC 400m medley team, Antonia Sech, Isabel Kidney, Izzy McGrath and Eva Harrington won the national title, stopping the clock on 4:27.82 ahead of the team from Czech Republic 4:29.86 and Limerick in third with 4:30.11. Their time of 4:27.82 was a new Munster record. The Dolphin team, Heather Fane, Shauna Murphy, Ruby Swinburne, and Lexi Dunne placed sixth overall with 4:40.01.

The ladies from SWSC had to settle for silver in the 400m freestyle relay. The team, Isabel Kidney, Ellen Lee, Izzy McGrath, and Eva Harrington touched on 4:02.14 losing out to the team from Trojan on 4:01.86. The Dolphin team, Fane, Murphy, Swinburne, and Dunne placed fifth overall with 4:07.48.

CROWNED

The men from Dolphin, Neddie Irwin (National Centre Limerick), Senan Harvey, Jack Cassin (National Centre Limerick), and Charlie Cassidy claimed the national title in the 400m medley posting 3:54.89. The team broke a Munster record which had been previously set at 3:55.32. The junior team for the club, Sasha Lychuk, Ricky Fane, Noah Switzer, and Ben Merrigan were also in record-breaking form. They placed sixth overall in the 400m medley relay final, but their time of 4:04.06 was a new Munster junior record.

On an individual basis, Isabel Kidney won silver at 50m breaststroke 33.00. She posted 27.12 to place second at 50m freestyle behind team-mate, Eva Harrington who won the national title with 27.00. Kidney also won bronze at 100m breaststroke.

Izzy McGrath was the silver medallist at both 100m and 50m butterfly and also had a record-breaking swim at 50m backstroke to claim bronze. Her time 29.95 saw her dip under the 30-second barrier and reset an eight-year-old Munster Record. McGrath was an integral part of the Women’s 400m medley relay team. The versatile swimmer swam the butterfly leg with her team-mates and helped to set a Munster record.

Turning to the coaches, Richard Cassidy won the ‘Coach of the Day’ award on the penultimate evening. The award is sponsored by SwimKit and was voted on by his peers and fellow of the Irish Swim Coaches Association (ISCA).