SWIMMING: Swim Ireland officials were relieved to learn yesterday serious storm damage to the roof of the Leisureland Complex in Salthill over the weekend will not disrupt plans to stage next month's prestigious international meet at the venue.
Skylight roofing, running the length of the pool, was blown off by 80 m.p.h. winds but Leisureland's duty manager Ian Brennan is confident "everything will be in ship-shape for the three-day gala (February 15th-17th)".
Association secretary Pat Donovan confirmed the event will be as attractive as ever with world-class competitors from the US, Mexico, Holland, Russia, Britain and Sweden set to compete.
Much interest will again focus on world-beater Mark Foster, last year's big record-breaker. Foster hopes to better his time of 22.54 seconds for the 50-metres freestyle.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games medal prospect Andrew Bree will continue to train short-course within the format of the US collegiate yards system ahead of this summer's Manchester Games.
National coach Ger Doyle, having spoken to coaches at Bree's US base, has been reassured about the swimmer's preparations.
"The feeling is mixed on the question of short-course training ahead of long-course competition, some coaches approve of short-course training only prior to 50-metre events, depending on the character of the swimmer," says Doyle. Bree has no other option until the end of March but he does not see it as a problem.
