David Fletcher (swimmer)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (Northern Irish) |
| Born | c. 1936 |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
Event | Breaststroke |
| Club | Victoria SC, Belfast |
David Fletcher (born c. 1936) is a former swimmer from Northern Ireland, who represented Northern Ireland at the British Empire Games (now Commonwealth Games).
Biography
Fletcher was an initially a member of the Beaver Swimming Club[1] before he joined the Victoria Swimming Club in Belfast.[2] He was the 1952 Irish junior breaststroke champion and the Ulster champion,[3] in addition to representing Ulster at senior level.[4][5]
Fletcher specialsed in the breaststroke[6] and broke the eight-year-old Irish breaststroke record in July 1954.[7]
He represented the 1954 Northern Irish Team[8] at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada, participating in the 220 yards breaststroke event.[9]
His selection for the games had caused a protest from the Post Office ASC, who claimed that their own swimmer Alan McCrum had beaten Fletcher in a trials event.[10] However, after the games he was given a civic reception by the Lord and Mayor and Lady Mayoress at the Belfast City Hall.[11]
References
- ^ "Close finishes expected in Ulster swimming championships". Northern Whig. 3 July 1953. p. 9. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Neptune gala". Northern Whig. 26 April 1954. p. 5. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Ulster swim team for An Tostal gala". Northern Whig. 16 April 1954. p. 6. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Ulster swim team for An Tostal gala". Northern Whig. 16 April 1954. p. 6. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Ulster team is on expected lines". Ireland's Saturday Night. 17 April 1954. p. 5. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Swimming". Belfast News-Letter. 8 March 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Off-to battle for Ulster in Vancouver". Belfast Telegraph. 19 July 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Northern Ireland Vancouver 1954". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Swimming 220 Yard Breaststroke - Men Vancouver 1954". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Protest over Empire Games selecion". Belfast Telegraph. 24 June 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Ulster Athletes Entertained". Belfast News-Letter. 4 September 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.