Four Irish swimmers qualified for the finals at the IPC European Open Swim Championships in Funchal, on Tuesday.
There were personal best times for 13-year-old Nicole Turner and Ailbhe Kelly on the Portuguese island of Medeira.
First to hit the pool was Meath man James Scully, who was contesting the men’s 200m freestyle S5 and was hoping to go one better than his heat time of 2.54.76, but finished the final in a time of 2.55.37,
“I’m a bit disappointed to be honest, I swam faster in the heats, I was looking for a better performance, but training has been going well and though I swam well I didn’t get the result I wanted,” he said.
Next up was teen sensation Nicole Turner - who scooped a European silver medal on Monday evening in the 200m IM SM6.
The Laois girl continued her impressive form in the heats of the 100m freestyle S6, when she touched home in a time of 1.19.91. She didn’t disappoint in the final, securing another massive Personal Best to place fifth in a time of 1.19.22.
“I’m really happy with it, it was better than this morning too so that was great. I was trying to break 1.20 last month, so to go sub 1.20 twice today is brilliant. I’m really looking forward to my 100m Breaststroke tomorrow.”
Ellen Keane was up next in the women's 100m butterfly S9 final, where she swam home in a fantastic time of 1.12.54.
“I’m really, really happy with that time. I was a bit tired from yesterday, so I wasn’t really expecting much out of my butterfly, I just gave it my all. Now I’m looking forward to my 200m individual medley tomorrow.”
Last in the finals was 17-year-old Ailbhe Kelly who also secured a fantastic PB in the 200m individual medley S8 when she finished in a time of 3.27.79.
Earlier, 14-year-old Barry McClements hit the pool for the men's 100m freestyle S9 and finished in a new personal best time of 1.07.57, but just missed out on a spot in the final.
Clare man Jonathan McGrath also secured a new personal best in the men's 200m individual in a time of 2.55.52 but also missed out on a final spot.
Speaking about the Championships so far, Irish Swim Team Manager Hayley Burke said: “The team is going quite well, there’s a lot of background work going on to get things right before Rio.
“Results have been really good, we’ve stepped up and done a number of PBs, particularly with Nicole, Barry and Ailbhe, the younger members of the squad - they’re really carrying the flag for us.”
