SWIMMING: Ireland's top swimmers are poised for major international competition at this week's Commonwealth Games and next week's European senior championships. The close proximity of fixtures means that four competitors, led by Andrew Bree, will compete in Manchester while nine of their National squad colleagues are booked for Berlin. Pat Roche reports
Bree, a second-year student at the University of Tennessee, clearly shades it over his team- mates at either venue in terms of medal prospects.
National coach Ger Doyle says that the Ards swimmer has come on in leaps and bounds since the Sydney Olympics. Bree (21) included a personal best of 2:16.75 for the 200 metres in April and hopes to go better in Manchester. Michal Williamson of Lisburn and Coventry also hopes for reasonable results on breaststroke.
Julie Douglas of Bangor and Loughborough is set for good Commonwealth performances on butterfly and freestyle, as is Bath's Emma Robinson, now fully recovered from a knee operation, on breaststroke.
A strong team for the European championships is led by Chantal Gibney and Cork's Lee Kelleher. Also en route for Berlin are Mullingar's emerging prospect Deirdre Hughes, Sinead Tyrrell, Muiris Ó Riada, Hamburg-based Willie Carey, Stephen Manley, Donal O'Neill and Neil Cameron.
