Daniel Wiffen Goes 14:51 1500 Free Title at Irish Open; Grace Davison Wins 100 Free Gold to Irish Record in Prelims
Daniel Wiffen claimed the first title of the Swim Ireland 2026 Irish Open Swimming Championships and Commonwealth Trials with an emphatic victory in the 1500 free in Bangor, Co. Down.
The Olympic bronze medallist came home in 14:51.38 to enjoy a winning margin of nigh on 30 seconds over twin brother Nathan who clocked 15:20.88. Daragh Horgan was third in 16:09.03.
It was Wiffen’s first voyage inside 15mins this year with 15:04.98 from January’s Pro Swim Series in Austin his best in 2026 coming into the meet at the Bangor Aurora Aquatics & Leisure Complex.
However, the two-time world champion stated ahead of the five-day meet that he was looking to go inside 14:40 as well as breaking 3:43 for the 400 and 7:42 for the 800, in which he’s the Olympic champion. Should he not do so then a return to Dublin from his Cal training base could be on the cards.
Grace Davison got the meet off to a flying start with an Irish record of 54.45 in the 100 free prelims.
The Ards swimmer – who was the youngest member of Team Ireland at the Paris Olympics at 16 – sliced 0.35 from the 54.80 national standard which propelled her to bronze at the 2025 European Juniors.
With that Davison confirmed her slots on the teams for the Commonwealth Games and European Championships in July and August. Davison made her Commonwealth debut for Northern Ireland at Birmingham 2022 when she was just 14.
She returned in the evening to claim a clear victory in 54.88, more than a second ahead of Danielle Hill (55.92) and Victoria Catterson (56.12).
Evan Bailey was the only man to break 49secs in the 100 free as he came home in 48.94. James Ward was second in 49.54 ahead of Matthew Hamilton (49.89).
Ellen Walshe dominated the women’s 200 fly in 2:09.74 ahead of Alana Burns-Atkin (2:16.44) and Eve Leleux (2:23.71).
Jack Cassin was within sight of the Irish record with a 1:57.05 victory in the men’s 200 fly, 0.50 off Brendan Hyland’s 1:56.55 standard that has stood since the 2019 worlds in Gwangju. Paddy Johnstone (2:00.33) and Sean Donnellan (2:01.47) followed him home.
Fleur Lewis won the 800 free in 8:48.33 with Clare Custer the first Irishwoman in 8:52.63