On the 13th of July one of our current Dominican pupils Sophie Smyth (Year 12) and one past pupil, Caoimhe Breen, competed in the prestigious Irish rowing Championships held in Cork from the 12th to the 14th of July.

The girls were representing Bann Rowing Club in the Women’s junior 8+ competition (age 18 and under is classified as junior). The race was 2km long. Going into the race the Bann team were seen as the “under dogs”, something they were able to use to their advantage on the day.

Over the first 150/250 metres everybody was in a line until the Bann and Enniskillen teams broke away from the rest of the field. The race was a tough battle between both crews giving their all but in the end Bann won with a convincing lead of about a 1 ¼ lengths.

This was an amazing achievement and the first time Bann Rowing Club have ever won this women’s junior event since it was formed in 1842.

Well done to both girls from all here in DCP and we look forward to watching the future success of Sophie and Caoimhe.

Charlie Eatwell, Year 10, offers this reflection on a season’s achievements in his swimming career.

“My goal for the 2018/19 season was getting the Swim Ireland Regional (Ulster) Squad times. I only had once chance to get these times which was in the Irish Nationals in Dublin as it’s the only bench mark meeting to qualify.

I trained all summer early mornings in Coleraine with my coach and in Magherafelt in the evenings I also completed strength and conditioning training in the gym.

To motivate myself I put my target times on my wardrobe and looked at them every day as these were the times I needed to achieve.
I went to Irish nationals in July and got exactly what I needed in my 50M free long course (27.40 seconds) and my 100M free (59.90 seconds) I also had knocked 4.5 seconds off my previous personal best in my 100M fly.

And now the 2019-20 season beckons! I start my first training day with the Ulster Squad on Saturday and I’m so excited. I know that I have a long way to go for sure but I have made my first goal and look forward to achieving all my others.

I have now joined Bangor Swimming Club so I can have more pool time in one of the best swimming centres in Northern Ireland. This involves lengthy daily travelling in order to help fulfil my goals.

I swim in Bangor 5:30am -7:30am and 6:30-8:30 P.M on Mondays and I attend further evening sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays 6:30-8:30 P.M and further early morning sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Attached are photos from the Irish Nationals this summer.

The school will hold a Familiarisation Morning on Saturday 7th September for parents and P7 pupils interested in sitting the GL Entrance Assessment for entry to Dominican College in 2020-21.

The principal will speak to parents at 9.00 A.M.

Registration for the GL Assessment will close on Friday 20th September.