IRISH swimmers will take to the pool in Bangor this weekend for the Dave McCullagh Memorial Meet, which incorporates the Swim Ulster International. The first national meet of the new season takes place from Monday to Friday at the Aurora Leisure Complex 35 and will involve more than swimmers from 55 clubs competing in 32 individual and six team events.

Ireland’s senior swimmers will be seeking qualification for the 2017 World Swimming Championships at Budapest next July, and the World University Games in Taipei in August. Rio 2016 Olympian Nicholas Quinn competes along with Irish senior record holders Brendan Hyland, Conor Ferguson, Shauna O’Brien and Danielle Hill, while a strong group of British swimmers, including Olympic medallists (relay) and finalists (individual) Duncan Scott and Dan Wallace will provide for some fantastic races across the weekend.

Junior swimmers will be looking to qualify for the European Junior Championships in Israel in June, the European Youth Olympic Games in Gyor, Hungary in July and the World Junior Championships in the US in August. European junior silver medallists Ferguson and Mona McSharry are both eligible to compete at the championships again in 2017.

The competition marks the start of new national performance director Jon Rudd’s tenure at Swim Ireland following his appointment in November.

Also in action this weekend are Olympic Games finalist Oliver Dingley and Jack Ffrench, who will compete at the British Diving National Cup in Plymouth. Both will compete in the 1m springboard event on Friday and 3m on Saturday, and will be facing tough competition in the form of Olympic gold and silver medallist, Jack Laugher.