The McCullagh International – which was scheduled to take place in February – has been postponed with Swim Ireland and Swim Ulster hoping to stage it in the final quarter of 2021.
The annual meet was to be held at the Bangor Aurora Aquatic Centre in the town of Bangor, Northern Ireland, late next month but the decision was taken to postpone it in light of the pandemic.
As with last year, the schedule would have featured morning finals and evening heats mirroring the schedule at the Tokyo Olympics.
Photo Courtesy: Swim Ireland
Last year’s meet featured the likes of Adam Peaty, Duncan Scott and Siobhan O’Connor alongside a strong home contingent including Mona McSharry, Brendan Hyland and Shane Ryan.
Many of those who would have been expected to head to Tokyo spoke of the benefits of being able to experience morning finals.
With meets being called off, the chances of them being able to do that between now and July – when the rescheduled Games are meant to take place – are greatly receding.
So too does the cancellation mean young club swimmers do not have the chance to mingle on poolside with the likes of Peaty and McSharry, the opportunity to create lifelong memories no longer a possibility in the foreseeable future.
A statement from Swim Ireland read:
“Swim Ireland and Swim Ulster have together decided to postpone the McCullagh International that was due to be held in Bangor Aurora in late February.
“This decision was not taken lightly, but given the current environment that we find ourselves in, we feel that we could not run this event as we would wish.
“This is unfortunate for all swimmers that were hoping to take part, but everyone’s health and safety is paramount to both Swim Ireland and Swim Ulster.
“However, we do hope to run this competition in some format in the last quarter of 2021 – if an appropriate environment is in place at that time.
“We thank you all for your continued support around our pool competitions and will always update you as soon as we are in a position to do so.”
The 2020 meet was staged as the coronavirus began its silent march across the world and there was some talk of it on poolside.
However, little did anyone know what was in store and what is still unfolding today.
Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu / ISL
Peaty went 58.78 in the 100br final – a time only he and Cameron van der Burgh have bettered in Olympic waters – and 26.83 in the 50 heats, shocking himself in the process.
Scott fired off a 1:47.06 over 200 free among four titles and Luke Greenbank went 1:57.51 in the 200 back as he took the 100/200 double.
Greenbank said then:
“It has been really good experience to swim finals in the morning.
“It’s another stepping stone really but a stepping stone with a bit more purpose with it being this way round.”
Photo Courtesy: Mike Lewis / ISL
Abbie Wood – whose star is firmly on the rise after struggles following a fine junior career that she shared in an interview with Swimming World ahead of the ISL – won the 200IM ahead of Rio silver medallist O’Connor as well as the 200 free.
McSharry won six medals – two of each colour – and the 2017 world junior 100br champion pointed to the legacy of the McCullagh International that offered insight and inspiration for the younger club swimmers, many of whom gathered to watch Peaty at the training pool, eyes transfixed.
She told Swimming World:
“I think it’s been great. I think it’s really inspiring. There have been a lot of young kids here and even young kids who aren’t racing, they are just coming up to watch, I think it’s really nice to be able to watch some older swimmers.
“Even how they prepare before races and stuff – it is nice to see because it is a different atmosphere I guess with the older competition so I think it’s something great to watch.”
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