Next weekend's Leisureland International event in Salthill provides Irish swimming with the opportunity of a fresh start under the new banner of Swim Ireland. The event takes place from Friday through Sunday.
The quality of international entries guarantees that the sport should get the boost it so urgently needs right now. Competitors from the US, including Olympic medallist Jon Olsen, along with challengers from Russia, Britain, Holland, Poland and Denmark spice up some very competitive race sheets.
There was some disappointment that the great Alexander Popov, who had expressed an interest in competing, was unable to attend, but he is committed to the World Cup Series in Germany. Hamburg-based Irish champion Nick O'Hare has the European qualifying mark for the 100 and 50 metres freestyle in his sights and will also be attempting to qualify for the Hong Kong World Cup meet at Salthill.
O'Hare will be accompanied home for the three-day gala by high profile German national team members Frauke Gaughklitz, Martin Sader and Miriam Mullel, a reigning European junior champion.
An additional attraction in Salthill is the final trial for the Irish water polo team that will compete in the forthcoming Seven Nations tournament in Malta. Meanwhile, Ards teenager Andrew Bree has made the qualifying mark for the World shortcourse championships in Hong Kong on April 1-4th.
Swim Ireland's director of swimming Dave McCullough set out the times required for all major events last September, with the proviso that competitors would have to fund themselves in the continued absence of Government funding. Bree is prepared to pay his own expenses, but it may not come to that, even though the Hong Kong event is ahead of the Swim Ireland AGM on April 24th. Funding may yet be restored prior to this meeting.
Two, possibly three, swimmers could be joining Bree in Hong Kong, but the final decision will rest with the national selectors.
TIMES REQUIRED FOR HONG KONG: Men - freestyle 49.87; Backstroke 55.13; Breaststroke 1:01.90; butterfly 54.37; Women - freestyle 56.29; backstroke 1:02.32; breaststroke 1:10.42; butterfly 1:01.55.
