The policy of making provincial championships open to swimmers outside the host province has proved astute, and further evidence of the merits of the venture should be on display during the Ulster championships at the Grove Baths at the weekend.
The move has been welcomed by the top competitors throughout the four provinces and is sure to make for some very competitive races. Whatever about the prospect of a glut of short course records, personal best times are justifiably anticipated.
Given what is expected during the four-day event, which begins on Thursday, it seems a pity that it will be too late for competition-starved competitors to earn qualifying marks for next month's world championships in Hong Kong.
The deadline for the worlds expired on February 28th, but of course swimmers will be very mindful of the new opportunity now presented to them since short course times are to be recognised in the process of qualification for the European championships in Istanbul in July. Unfortunately, it is understood that exam-tied Colin Lowth of Cormorants will not be available to show his paces at the Grove, but the list of entries is nevertheless imposing. Should Nick O'Hare and Hugh O'Connor confirm their entries, the gala will be assured of top freestyle racing.
The local hero, Andrew Bree, Ireland's only qualifier for Hong Kong, will be in a hurry in every sense of the word. Following the 200 metres breaststroke on Saturday (his forte), he sets off with his Ards coach George Morrow for the worlds.
The continuing improvements at school level here were confirmed at Salthill at the weekend when Ireland finished runners-up in the annual Home Countries internationals. England's stranglehold on the top spot was as difficult as ever to break, and this time they won with 60 points to spare from Ireland, with Scotland 17 points adrift in third place and Wales forth.
Andrew Bree and Chantal Gibney were predictably Ireland's strongest seniors, although Lee Kelleher was never far away. Bree and Gibney set meet records: the Ulster youth in the 200 metres IM (2:05.40), and Gibney at 100 metres freestyle (56.96).
