Four Ulster swimmers represented the Irish National Swimming team at the 2011 Dutch Open Swimming Championships, from 2-4 December in Eindhoven. This event was targeted by many Irish swimmers as an early opportunity to achieve the FINA A qualification standard for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

2008 Olympian Melanie Nocher (Ards) was focused on the 200m Backstroke today. Nocher swam strongly in the heats (2:13.31) and was seeded 3^rd heading into this evening’s final. In the final Nocher swam 2:12.02 securing the bronze medal.

HPC-NAC (Lisburn) swimmer Bethany Carson was unlucky to miss out on the final, finishing 11^th in a time of 2:18.68. Carson improved this time in the B final finishing 3^rd in 2:18.50.

Sycerika McMahon, of Leander SC, swam two events. Her first event was the 100m Breaststroke, where she set an Irish Junior Record in the heats (1:09.80) on her way to qualifying for the final. In the final she again lowered the Junior Record finishing in 6^th place in 1:09.24.  In her second event Sycerika finished 14^th in the 400m Freestyle event in a time of 4.16.97 just ahead of Clare Dawson in 15^th (4.17.20)

Results from Dutch Open Championships - Day 1

Bethany Carson – 200IM 2:18.68 (H) 2:18.50 (BF)

Clare Dawson – 400FREE 4:17.2

Melanie Nocher – 200BACK 2:13.31 (H) 2:12.02(F)

Sycerika McMahon – 400FREE 4:16.97; 100BRS 1:09.80 IJR (H) 1:09.24(F)

On day two, all four Ulster swimmers competed in the women’s 200m Freestyle, all aiming not just for the A standard but also a possible place on the Olympic relay team. Melanie Nocher was the fastest in the heats qualifying for the B final, where she finished in a time of 2:00.49.  Sycerika McMahon, Clare Dawson and Bethany Carson swam in the C Final and all four girls made the 4 x 200m Freestyle team for the final day of the meet.  Sycerika also competed in the 100m Butterfly finishing in a time of 1.03.27.

Results from Dutch Open Championships - Day 2

Bethany Carson – 200Free 2:03.08 (H) 2:02.96 (F)

Clare Dawson – 200Free 2:03.05 (H) 2:02.72 (F)

Melanie Nocher – 200Free 2:01.66 (H) 2:00.49 (F)

Sycerika McMahon – 200Free 2:02.30 (H) 2:01.83 (F); 100Fly 1:03.27

On the final day of competition Sycerika McMahon was on the podium, taking a bronze medal in the final of the 50m Breaststroke. McMahon finished in a time of 31.63, outside of her personal best, behind winner, Swedish swimmer Jennie Johansson (31.12).

Melanie Nocher finished 7^th in the final of the 100m Backstroke in a time of 1:02.95, with the other three girls competing in the heats of the 100m Freestyle.

The 4x200m Freestyle Women’s relay team of Sycerika McMahon, Bethany Carson, Melanie Nocher and Clare Dawson also took bronze today, finishing behind the Spanish and Dutch national squads in a time of 8:10.97. Hope remains for Olympic qualification for the squad, with further chances to compete in 2012.

Results from Dutch Open Championships - Day 3

Bethany Carson – 100Free 57.74

Clare Dawson – 100Free 58.43

Melanie Nocher – 100Back 1:02.95 (H); 1:02.67 (F)

Sycerika McMahon – 100Free 57.33; 50Breast 31.80 (H) 31.63 (F)

Women – 4x200m Freestyle Relay 8:10.97