SWIM ULSTER INTERNATIONAL / DAVE MCCULLAGH MEMORIAL MEET
& COSC DEVELOPMENT MEET
City of Oxford Swimming Club members, past and present, were in excellent form at the Swim Ulster International / Dave McCullagh Memorial Meet held in Bangor, Northern Ireland from 6th March to 8th March. 15 year old Emily Nisbet was selected to represent the Scotland Youth Development Squad, Rosie Bancroft was a member of a strong group of Paralympian swimmers and amongst an array of senior Scottish and Irish swimmers, Alex Murphy represented University College Dublin.
The first evening’s finals saw Nisbet win gold for Scotland in the Women’s 200m butterfly in 2.18.44, breaking the Oxfordshire & North Bucks Junior County Record by 2 seconds in the process.
In the next final of the evening Alex Murphy won silver in the Men’s 100m breaststroke in a time of 1.02.20, beaten only by Scotland’s Commonwealth 200m Breaststroke Champion, Ross Murdoch. However, Murphy reversed the positions on day 3, taking Gold in the 50m breaststroke in 27.83 with Murdoch in silver position in 28.11. Murphy’s time sees him qualify for the World University Summer Games to be held in Gwangju City, South Korea in July 2015. Murphy added a second gold in the 50m butterfly in 24.85.
Bancroft warmed up for the British Team Trials for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships to be held in Glasgow in July by swimming significant season bests in both the 200m freestyle (2.21.01) and 400m freestyle (4.49.80).
Over the same weekend City of Oxford Swimming Club held their first Development Meet at the new Leys Pool. The meet attracted over 100 swimmers from Wantage White Horses SC, Didcot Barramundi, 4 Shires SC and Banbury SC as well as City’s own swimmers. City organise a number of such development meets over the year to give less experienced swimmers exposure to competitive swimming. Ruth Smith, who organises the meets, was delighted with the smooth running of the gala in Oxford’s fabulous new facility.
The previous weekend City’s Academy level swimmers competed in the annual Dragon School vs COSC gala. The fun and exciting event saw Dragon School win with 326 points to City’s 270. COSC coach Liz Basterfield was very proud of the team spirit and support shown by all of the swimmers who attended.