Strong Irish Junior Team Ready to Take on Europe

A team of twelve Irish swimmers are in Belgrade, Serbia to compete against Europe’s stars of tomorrow at the LEN European Junior Swimming Championships. The Ireland team will feature across the six days of competition from Tuesday, 4^th – 9^th July at the Milan Gale Muskatirovic Swimming Centre.

Led by Andy Reid and supported by coaches Fran Ronan and Andrew Addison, the Irish contingent includes four swimmers returning for their second consecutive LEN European Junior Championships; Evan Bailey (New Ross), Ellie McCartney (National Centre Ulster), Grace Davison (Ards), and Molly Mayne (Hamilton Aquatics) were all part of the team at last year’s European Juniors in Bucharest, Romania.

It is an action-packed opening day of competition for Ireland with eleven of the twelve team members getting the competition underway. Ards swimmer Grace Davison, Evan Bailey of New Ross, and recent National Centre (Ulster) scholarship recipient, Adam Colgan (Lisburn City) will all compete in the 200m Freestyle.

Colgan, along with six of his teammates will be making their international debuts for Ireland this week. Liam O’Connor (Terenure & Project 28) Cora Rooney (Enniskillen), Alana Burns-Atkin (Banbridge), Oisin Tebite (National Centre Dublin), Dylan Registe (Lisburn City), and John Shortt (National Centre Limerick & Bluefin) will all debut across different events.

Completing the action on Tuesday is 2019 European Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Molly Mayne (Hamilton Aquatics) and Ellie McCartney of National Centre (Ulster) who get their second European Juniors underway in the 50 Breaststroke, while Conor Fitzgerald (National Centre Limerick), who competed at the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival, will compete in the Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay.

Speaking before the event, National Performance Pathway Manager Andy Reid said: “I am excited to lead our largest and most competitive team since 2019, a team with potential for current and future success.  The athletes have prepared well and are looking forward to delivering their best performances each day.”

Team

Evan Bailey                  New Ross SC

Alana Burns-Atkin       Banbridge SC

Adam Colgan              Lisburn City SC

Grace Davison             Ards SC & National Centre (Ulster)

Conor Fitzgerald         National Centre (Limerick) & Limerick SC

Molly Mayne               Hamilton Aquatics SC (Dubai)
Ellie McCartney           National Centre (Ulster) & Ards SC

Liam O’Connor            Terenure SC & Project 28

Dylan Registe              Lisburn City SC

Cora Rooney                Enniskillen Lakelanders

John Shortt                 National Centre (Limerick) & Bluefin SC

Oisin Tebite                 National Centre (Dublin) & NAC SC

Day 1 Heats Schedule:

Women 200m Freestyle                     Grace Davison

Men 200m Freestyle                           Evan Bailey, Adam Colgan

Women 50m Backstroke                    Cora Rooney

Men 50m Backstroke                          John Shortt

Women 50m Breaststroke                  Molly Mayne, Ellie McCartney

Men 50m Breaststroke                       Liam O’Connor

Men 200m Butterfly                           Dylan Registe

Men 4x100m Freestyle Relay             Ireland (Oisin Tebite, Evan Bailey, Conor Fitzgerald, Adam Colgan)

NOTES

1. Tuesday – Sunday schedule: Prelims: 10am (9am Ireland) / Finals: 5pm (4pm Ireland)
2. Results Link
3. Live Stream