Browne seeking NI post

SHARLENE BROWNE, the former British ASA 100 and 200 metres breaststroke champion from Lisburn, Co Antrim, is in line for the North's prestigious director of coaching post at the House of Sport in Belfast.

Browne is among the applicants for a job that carries with it prime responsibility for guiding the North's swimming back to the prominence it enjoyed in the 1960s.

The former director, Paul Dennis, has become the North's first full time professional club coach in Bangor.

Browne would appear to have suitable credentials. She has held all the North's breaststroke records and represented Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games in Victoria. She remains active by turning out with her local water polo team.

The signs are promising for the North's swimming with prospects such as Claire Nixon and Michael Williamson poised for big claims for inclusion in the Commonwealth Games team for Kula Lumpa in 1998. Top competitors like Pearse McGuigan and Richard Morrow had reason to be suitably pleased with their recent comeback bids at national level.

Marion Madine, currently in Spain winding down following the Olympics, is not thinking of retirement. She returns to Nottingham shortly to take up employment with a law firm and intends to train on with a view to qualifying for yet another Commonwealth Games.

The North's council (IASA), who meet shortly, are expected to give considerable time to discussing the 11th hour switch of the national championships to Dublin from the original venue at the Grove Baths.

A number of Northern entries, mainly from Derry, did not travel to Dublin for the tests as a result of the switch influenced by the unrest during the marching season. Many Northern swimming enthusiasts are annoyed that the championships were taken out of the six lane Grove venue and put into the five lanes at the Guinness pool, with the obvious result of restricting the final line ups.

Meanwhile, Matt Hickmott's great win in The Irish Times Dun Laoghaire Harbour swim on Sunday indicates the important role endurance training is likely to play in future Harbours", especially since the distance has been extended to 1 3/4 miles. Hickmott has competed in an Iron Man event in Germany which entailed a three mile swim, 112 kilometer cycle race and a marathon run.

Back in the North, Lisburn town council will be going ahead with the reopening of its revamped 25 metre pool without Michele Smith doing the honours with the scissors, even though the appearance fee had been reduced considerably.

The Trojan SC races are listed for Blackrock Seapoint next Friday - women 7 p.m., men 7.30. Sandycove holds the Eddie Heron memorial events (Dun Laoghaire Lighthouse) on Sunday, women 6.30, men 7.00.