Brilliant Burdis finishes in style

PORMARNOCK swimmer, Karl Burdis, finished the final day of the Irish National Long Course Championships on a high. The young Dubliner managed to win the 100m Backstroke, while also setting another European Junior Championships time — his third of the weekend.

He will be looking to replicate this form at the Europeans, which take place in Budapest in July.

Ciara Farrell also had a great day as she booked her place at this summer’s European Senior Championships in Budapest. Athlone swimmer Farrell set a time of 33.02 in the 50m Breaststroke finishing just ahead of UK swimmer Rachel Hares. This is her second gold of the championships. She also took first in the 100m breaststroke.

Laura McDonnell, from Cormorant, was another swimmer who made an impact yesterday at the NAC. McDonnell set a new Irish Junior record in the 100m butterfly as she came home in 1:03.36 just ahead of top UK swimmer Aimee Ramm.

Commonwealth Games swimmer Melanie Nocher was also on top form as she broke an Ulster Senior record. Melanie came second in the 400m IM in a time of 5:12.16 which was enough to set the new record. Nocher couldn’t do enough to catch Cormorant swimmer Sinead Tyrell who won the event in a time of 5:07.18.

Aisling Cooney, who swims with Dublin club ESB, broke the Irish Junior record in the 50m Backstroke on Saturday.