Mallow Swans Swimming Club is very proud of David Duane and Éanna Garvey who have been picked for the Swim Ireland Skills Academy. Swim Ireland Performance Team has identified that, to achieve the performance objectives for Tokyo 2020 and subsequently Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, a targeted regional squad programme is essential to achieve its goals. The Regional squad programme is placed directly below the National Programme and will align with the National Programme in terms of values and content. Swim Ireland will operate a two-tiered Regional Squad programme which will encompass a ‘Skills Academy’ unit for age group athletes and a ‘Development Squad’ unit for youth athletes. An athlete can potentially be a member of the Skills Academy for three years before advancing to the Development Squad which provides support to athletes as they aim to achieve National Squad selection within a one to three-year period. The aim of the programme is to support athletes as they strive to achieve their full potential at senior national and/or international level. David Duane has been chosen for the Regional Squad Programme, and Éanna Garvey for the Skills Squad Athlete programme.

Regional Development Squad
The Regional development Squad is for age groups, Male 14-18 years and Female 13-18 years, with a maximum athlete quota of up to 26 per region. The athletes are selected though the National Performance Pathway Manager and Regional Pathway Development coach/es.
To be considered, David had to achieve two or more of the published Individual Event Consideration Standards. Consideration Standards are to be achieved in the period 27th March 2019 – 31st August 2019 and from Benchmark Meets ‘A’ and/or ‘B’ only.

Regional Skills Squad
To be selected, Éanna had to be ranked Top 6 in the 200 metre IM per age group in each region (as of 28th July, 2019) and ranked Top 3 per age group in each region in a minimum of two Olympic events (as of 28th July 2019). Being chosen for the Regional Squad Programmes requires a huge commitment from athletes and their families, such as 100% attendance, mandatory activities, participation in the respective 2019 Regional Swimming Championships, participation in the 2019 Irish National Swimming Championships, participation in the respective 2020 Regional Age Group Long Course Championships, participation in the 2020 Irish Summer National Championships and the 2020 Irish National Division 2 Competition.
As a club we are so proud of these swimmers for all they have achieved to date, and we wish them the best of luck going forward.

Other activities
A flag day will be held this Saturday in Mallow. Please support.
The Regional SC Championships will be held in UL this Sunday, 3rd November, and we wish the best of luck to all our participating swimmers and hope you all achieve your potential.