John Shortt Clinches Backstroke Treble as McCullagh International Wraps up
John Shortt claimed a sweep of the backstroke events and Ellen Walshe ensured she left Dublin with three golds as the McCullagh International wrapped up.
Ellen Walshe: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Shortt went 1:57.24 to add the 200 back crown to his 50 and 100 titles to go third in the fledgling rankings behind Yohann Ndoye Brouard (1:56.68) and Roman Mityukov (1:56.86).
The two-time world junior champion finished more than seven seconds ahead of Emmett Cousins of New Ross who clocked 2:04.89 with Gudmundur Rafnsson of Iceland third in 2:05.74.
Walshe won the 200 free and 100 back on Saturday before returning to the water at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre on Sunday. There she went 4:15.80 to take the 400 free ahead of Iceland’s Vala Dis Cicero in 4:23.31 with Stirling’s Lucy Hope completing the podium in 4:25.06.
Jack McMillan Claims Freestyle Triple; Paris Olympians Return
Jack McMillan clinched the 200-400-800 treble with victory in the 4 in 3:49.32, more than 11 seconds ahead of Cormac Rynn (4:00.35).
Paris Olympians Tom Fannon and Danielle Hill both raced for the first time this year on Sunday after returning from injuries they sustained in 2025.
Fannon clinched the men’s 50 free in 22.43 ahead of NAC’s Fionn Byrne (23.46) and Breifne’s Miks O’Flaherty (23.67).
Danielle Hill: Photo Courtesy: Swim Ireland
Hill shared the women’s title with Grace Davison with both women touching in 25.54 and Ulster’s Rosalie Phelan third in 26.28. Davison, who also won the 100 free on the opening night, returned for the 200 back which she won in 2:13.07.
Duncan Scott cruised to victory by more than nine seconds in the 200IM. The only swimmer under the two-minute mark, Scott clocked 1:59.48 to go third in the fledgling rankings. Isabel Kidney of National Centre Limerick won the women’s title in 2:21.71.
Scott’s Stirling training mate Keanna MacInnes clinched the 100/200 fly double with a 58.84 victory over two lengths with Jack Cassin taking the men’s title in 53.31.
Federico Poggio claimed the 50/100 breaststroke double with a 27.77 one-length win with Kara Hanlon (Edinburgh) taking the women’s title in 31.40.