Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Wiffen finished inside the consideration time for a place at this summer's Commonwealth Games and European Aquatics Championships
- Published8 April 2026, 15:31 BST
Daniel Wiffen claimed the 1500m freestyle title at the at the Irish Open Swimming Championships in Bangor's Aurora.
The Olympic 800m champion powered home in a time of 14:51.38 - the second fastest time in the world this year - which is well inside the Commonwealth Games consideration time of 15:15.42 and also the European Aquatics Championships' consideration time.
Wiffen's twin brother Nathan finished second but his time of 15:20.88 is outside the consideration time, with Daragh Horgan third in 16:09.03.
The Magheralin was not entirely satisfied with his race but secured his first title of the week regardless.
"I'd say it's 50-50 as to whether I'm happy or not with the swim," he said.
"I need to look at the splits, I felt really good up to like 1000m, and then I felt like I kind of faded away a little bit and was seizing up.
"That's good for an 800m, that's good for all other events, whereas with the 1500 sometimes you go unbelievable and then sometimes it's not good at all, and that was kind of middle ground, so I'm pretty pleased, but also kind of disappointed."
Davison wins 100m freestyle after breaking championship record in heats
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Davison competed at the Paris Olympics
Earlier on Wednesday, Grace Davison set a new Irish Senior and Championship record of 54.45 in the 100m freestyle heats to reach Commonwealth Games and European consideration and while slightly slower in the final with a time of 54.88, it was enough to claim gold
The 18-year-old Ards swimmer finished ahead of Larne's Danielle Hill whose 55.92 is also enough for Commonwealth Games consideration, while National Centre Ulster's Victoria Catterson finished third in 56.12.
"I'm really happy with that (day), but if I'm honest I'm probably a little bit disappointed with tonight, I wanted to go a bit quicker, I was 54.4 this morning and 54.8 there," Davison reflected.
"But it's all learning for me and I think a big thing for me is learning to be quicker in the morning, so when I do go to the international stage I can progress through the rounds, so if anything, it's interesting to see that I can go quicker in the morning than in the final.
"I'm really happy to get all those times out of the way on the first day of the competition, it's pretty cool."
In the Open 100m freestyle final, Limerick swimmer Evan Bailey took gold in 48.98 with Bangor's James Ward second and Lisburn City's Matthew Hamilton third.
Jack Cassin claimed the 200m butterfly title with a personal best and championship record of 1:57.05, finishing ahead of team-mate Paddy Johnston and UCD's Sean Donnellan.
Templeogue's Ellen Walshe won the 200m butterfly title in 2:09.74 - under the consideration time for the European Aquatics Champinships - with National Centre Ulster's Alana Burns Atkin second and Eve Leleux third.
Clare Custer won the 800m freestyle title in 8:52.63, finishing ahead of Bangor team-mates Chloe Stewart and Eva Hand with visitor Fleur Lewis of Loughborough University first home in the race with a time of 8:48.33.
Competition continues tomorrow (Thursday) through to Sunday.
