PTL swimmers reflect on successful year

The club swam a total of five galas throughout the season, winning two and losing three.

The first gala of the year was a narrow defeat to last year's rivals Banbridge by 20 points, with a significantly depleted team due to injury.

Round two saw Leander travel to Ballymena in October and with many of the young local swimmers participated against a team which included some of Ulster and Ireland's hottest prospects including Sycerika McMahon.

The Ballymena swimmers rose to the occasion with an impressive tally of 59 PBs on the night and in particular a great display from the senior boys in the medley relay to win a very tightly fought race. The end result was a win to Ballymena by 48 points and a great boost to all involved.

December brought Lurgan to Seven Towers Leisure Centre and the first encounter between the clubs in many years. Once again Ballymena rose to the challenge and with some outstanding individual and relay performances, the club recorded an unbelievable 73 PBs on the night.

A second narrow defeat followed against Coleraine – despite 55 PBs - with the relays being Ballymena's downfall.

In the final gala, against Letterkenny, a weakened Ballymena team produced some outstanding swims, many from younger swimmers who had to swim up age groups to fill gaps from older swimmers ill or injured.

Despite a largely inevitable defeat, the coaches were once again pleased with many of the spirited individual swims on the night.

The culmination of the PTL season is the PTL time trials, held recently.

The best swimmers from each of two venues will form teams which will compete in the End of Season Gala to be held this year on April 24, in Ballymena.

The local swimmers performed well on the night recording 40 PBs split equally between boys and girls. Places for the End of Season Gala have yet to be determined but it is hoped that on these performances a number of Ballymena swimmers will be selected.

The success of our team has been achieved with wonderful dedication of a voluntary group of coaches, assistants and many parents who give their time freely to aid the excellent group of swimmers to achieve the best they can be.