CARLYN Connaghan, who completed a free-style hat-trick at the Scottish
championships in June and, at one time, looked set to challenge Alison
Sheppard for British honours, has become so disillusioned with swimming
that she may soon become the latest drop-out from the national senior
scene.
''I have not swum well for the past 18 months, and I really wonder if
it is worthwhile carrying on,'' admitted the 19-year-old daughter of
former Celtic goalkeeper Dennis Connaghan.
She has already pulled out of the Scottish squad for the forthcoming
season, although a glimmer of hope for the selectors is that she resumed
light training with the Renfrew District club last week.
''I've started slowly, doing a couple of sessions a week,'' Carlyn
said. ''But I certainly won't be taking part in any of the early-season
meets. In fact, if I compete at all during the short-course season it
will only be at the Scottish championships in December.''
It is two years since Carlyn achieved her best short-course 100 metres
free-style time of 57.6sec -- ''I've been nowhere near it for ages'' --
and her decline has coincided with the demands of a full-time job at
Barrhead Leisure Centre.
''I love the job, but I work shifts and it does make it more difficult
to keep training,'' she conceded. ''At the moment I'm just managing two
sessions a week.''
If Carlyn does opt for retirement, it will be a major blow for both
the Scottish team and the Renfrew District club, the latter entering its
first full season as an amalgamation of the Paisley and Barrhead Dolphin
set-ups.
Neither Jean Muir nor Ruth Gilfillan will be competing at top level
this season, while another international stalwart, Jill Ewing, like
clubmate Connaghan, has taken an extended summer break.
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