Kildare athletes excel at National Lifesaving Championships in Limerick
A talented group of young athletes from WSI Kildare delivered an impressive showing at the recent National Lifesaving Championships, held at the University of Limerick
A group of young athletes from Water Safety Ireland Kildare delivered an impressive showing at the recent National Lifesaving Championships, held at the University of Limerick, with strong individual performances and podium success in relay events highlighting a memorable weekend for the team.
Competing against the very best in the country, each event featured only the top 20 qualifiers from the three regional championships, underlining the high standard and competitiveness of the meet.
Leading the charge was 14-year-old Conor Murphy, who produced a standout swim to claim a silver medal in the highly competitive 25m underwater with fins event. Murphy also put in consistent performances across multiple disciplines, finishing 7th in the 50m obstacle, 10th in the 50m rescue tube, and 12th in the 50m manikin carry.
Teammate Patrick Bell (13) was another key contributor, narrowly missing out on a podium finish with an excellent 4th place in the 25m underwater with fins. Bell also secured 5th place in the 50m rescue tube and added solid results in the 50m obstacle (7th) and 25m manikin carry (11th).
Joseph Jackson (13) demonstrated versatility across events, finishing 8th in the 25m underwater with fins, 10th in the 50m obstacle, and 15th in the 50m rescue tube. His brother, Samuel Jackson (13), also competed strongly, placing 14th in the 50m obstacle.
Among the younger competitors, Dara Murphy (12) finished a commendable 12th in the 50m obstacle, while Michael Doyle (12) secured 14th place in the 50m rescue tube event.
The Kildare relay teams proved particularly successful, showcasing excellent teamwork and determination. The quartet of Samuel and Joseph Jackson, Patrick Bell, and Conor Murphy placed 6th in the obstacle relay before going on to claim a superb bronze medal in the manikin relay. They also achieved a strong 5th place finish in the medley relay, capping off a series of impressive team performances.
Overall, the results reflect the depth of talent and commitment within WSI Kildare, with athletes gaining valuable experience and national recognition. With such promising performances across multiple age groups, the future looks bright for lifesaving in the county.
Training for WSI Kildare takes place at K Leisure Naas on Sunday evenings, while open water training will begin in June at Blessington Lakes on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings.
Anyone interested in getting involved in lifesaving in Kildare can find out more by contacting [email protected].