It was another bumper weekend of action for 24/7 with the Causeway Coast Triathlon, Tri the Orchard, Escape to Alcatraz, and Donegal Ultra 555 taking place.
Causeway Coast Triathlon
Six of our club members travelled to the Causeway Coast Triathlon, hosted by Triangle Triathlon Club on Saturday. John Connaghan had another impressive race topping his M55-59 age category for the 2nd time consecutive weekend with a superb finish time of 2:15:59.
John had a fantastic 25minute swim followed by a 1:04:08 bike split, finishing off with a 43:28 10k off the bike. Philip Browne had a fantastic race- Philip exited the water in 30:29 and followed that up with a strong 1:07:17 bike leg and a 48:43 10k run to cross the finish line in an overall time of 2:32:01. Sam Bogan is also in super form ahead of Sheephaven Half in under a fortnight.
Sammy’s hours of open water training is certainly paying off and he exited the swim in a brilliant 29:14. He clocked 1:12:27 for the bike split and ran 47:29 for the 10k. He crossed the line in a brilliant 2:35:02. Just 35 seconds separated Sammy and Alaistair Hetherington who crossed the finish line in 2:35:37.
Alaistair is in great form ahead of Ironman Copenhagen later this Summer and had a brilliant race with the brilliant splits of 27:46/1:12:59/50:46. Elaine Gallagher also raced very well.
Exiting the swim in a fantastic 30:38, Elaine went onto bike 1:42:02 and finished off with a 1:12:59 run to cross the finish line in a brilliant 3:31:52. Eamonn Patton also travelled to compete on Saturday.
However, after feeling unwell he made the correct decision to not finish the race and so joins the 2019 list of DNF’s.
Well done on completing the swim Eamonn and get well soon.
Tri the Orchard
Amanda Witherow travelled to the Orchard county to take on the Tri the Orchard Sprint Triathlon on Saturday. Hosted by the Armagh Pikekickers Tri Club, this was Amanda’s debut sprint race.
Amanda had a fantastic first Sprint. She had a strong swim of 21:39 and went onto clock a 1:00:29 bike split and run 42:47 to cross the finish line in a total time of 2:08:23.
Well done on your first sprint triathlon Amanda and we look forward to seeing you take on many more!
Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon
Karl Bonner went a little further than Ulster to compete! Taking on the Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco, Karl had unusually hot temperatures to contend with, with The Bay Area reaching record temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit on race day.
The race consisted of a 1.5-mile swim, a challenging 18-mile bike and a hilly 8-mile run. Karl had a superb race and finished in a total time of 2:53:38-274th out of the 1722 competitors that took part.
Donegal Atlantic Way Ultra 555
The annual Donegal Ultra 555 took place on the roads of Donegal over Friday and Saturday and 24/7 had lots of competitors taking part in the team categories. In the 4 Person Team categories club members Aidan Callaghan, Shane McNulty and Shaun McDevitt raced alongside Adam Speer in the Speer Performance team. They had a superb time and finished the gruelling 555km in a time of 18:00:51.
Graham Parker, along with his fellow Pramerica workmates was part of the 4 Amigos team. They had a brilliant race and finished in 19:38:50. Club members Keith Gordon and Conor McLaughlin were part of the McMorrow & McLaughlin Solicitors team who finished in 21:23:39. Paul O’Gara also took part with Pramerica teammates. Paul’s team 04 DL 555 also had a brilliant performance finishing in a total time of 22:51:05. In the 8 person team category, Barry Foley was part of ‘The Chancers’ team who finished in 21:21:09.
Channel Cup Swim Sligo
Karen Crawford was back in swimming action in her native Sligo at the weekend and once again had a superb performance. Karen swam a fantastic 18:27 for the 1500m event finishing 3rd female overall in the race, just 6secsonds off 2nd place.
Browns Bay Triathlon
John Connaghan took on the Browns Bay Triathlon last Saturday- This PRO can never keep up with JC!! In typical John Connaghan fashion, he had a superb race finishing 10th overall and winning his M50-59 age category with a fantastic finish time of 1:13:15.
Weekly Running Round-Up
Ciaran O’Donnell took on the Buncrana Summer 10k on Saturday evening and had a great run of 42:53.
At Friday evening’s Mantis 5k Raj Mehan had a superb run, clocking 21:46 – a brilliant PB for Raj. Amanda McNulty also had a brilliant run crossing the line in 22:14.
At the Illistrin NS 5K Emma McGee had a brilliant run clocking 22:26 to finish 2nd female overall and Aoibheann O’Grady had another strong run of 25:16.
The Convoy AC 5K was the race of choice instead of the weekly club run session and 24/7 had a brilliant turnout for the popular and very well ran race.
Michael Black was the first club member to cross the line in a brilliant time of 16:26. Paul Dillon is in super form this season and yet again had a brilliant 5k with a super time of 17:29. Chairman Liam Tinney is also in brilliant form ahead of Sheephaven Half and he had a fantastic run on Tuesday to finish in 17:48 a PB of 9seconds for Liam. Gavin Crawford had another good 5k of 18:27. Martin Donnelly ran very well and clocked 19:31 on the night.
Conor McGlinchey is making brilliant progress in his first season and on Tuesday he ran a superb PB time of 19:48. Paul O’Donnell had another super run and crossed the line in 19:57 with Ciaran O’Donnell just 20 seconds behind in 20:17. Pat Brady ran 20:50 on the night, another race in the bag before his Ironman debut in Cork this weekend. Anne Robinson had yet another PB performance clocking an impressive 20:51.
Aidan McFadden crossed the line in 21:00 on the button. New member Lee Haughey had another fine run of 21:41. Just 5 seconds separated the 2 Niamh’s with Niamh McDaid clocking 22:03 and Niamh Gibbons 22:08. Eugene O’Donnell had another good 5k performance crossing the line in 22:11.
Just 3 seconds separated the Raphoe Duo- Terence Quinn ran 22:24 with Raj clocking a brilliant 22:27. Rory Kennedy ran a brilliant 22:47. Tommy Hill crossed the line in 22:53 with Rachael Stilvern hot on his heels in 22:56. Fin Begley was back in racing action after taking on the mammoth Race earlier in the year. Fin had a brilliant run of 23:56.
Carl Houston ran well finishing in 24:05 and Patrick Patton had another fine run of 24:20.
Club Notes
All members are encouraged to contact club PRO Fiona McDaid if they are competing in events and want to be included in club notes. It is great to see so many members take part in events each week so please submit your results. Results can be sent to 0879044287.
Club Training
Club training continues as follows:
Monday: Gartan Open water sessions. In the water for 6.30 SHARP. Please see email for more information on the rules of Open water sessions at Gartan.
Tuesday: Run sessions will take place predominantly in Letterkenny Town Park. Warm up at Town Park at 6.30pm; session starts at 6.50pm SHARP. Meeting point is the chapel at St. Conal’s.
Wednesday: Swim session- Novice 7-8pm, Intermediate/Advanced 8-9pm
Please note- Due to the staging of the Donegal International Rally – there will be no TT Session/Club Cycle on Thursday 20th/Saturday 22nd June.
Saturday: Club swim session Saturday at 6pm Additional lane added for 14-16yr old club members- MUST be accompanied by a parent (please note prepayment does not cover Saturday swim).
Full Results
Causeway Coast Triathlon
John Connaghan 2:15:59 1st M55-59
Philip Browne 2:32:01
Sam Bogan 2:35:02
Alaistair Hetherington 2:35:37
Elaine Gallagher 3:31:52
Eamonn Patton DNF
Tri the Orchard- Armagh Pikekickers Tri Club
Amanda Witherow 2:08:23
Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon
Karl Bonner 2:53:38
Donegal Atlantic Way Ultra 555
4 Person Team
Speer Performance Aidan Callaghan, Shane McNulty, Shaun McDevitt 18:00:51
4 Amigos Graham Parker 19:38:50
McMorrow & McLaughlin Keith Gordon, Conor McLaughlin 21:23:39
04 DL 555 Paul O’Gara 22:51:05
8 Person Team
The Chancers Barry Foley 21:21:09
Channel Cup Swim Sligo
Karen Crawford 18:27 3rd female
Browns Bay Triathlon
John Connaghan 1:13:15 1st M50-59
Buncrana Summer 10k
Ciaran O’Donnell 42:53
Mantis 5k
Raj Mehan 21:46 PB
Amanda McNulty 22:14
Illistrin NS 5K
Emma McGee 22:26
Aoibheann O’Grady 25:16
Convoy AC 5K
Michael Black 16:26
Paul Dillon 17:29
Liam Tinney 17:48 PB
Gavin Crawford 18:27
Martin Donnelly 19:31
Conor McGlinchey 19:48
Paul O’Donnell 19:57
Ciaran O’Donnell 20:17
Pat Brady 20:50
Anne Robinson 20:51 PB
Aidan McFadden 21:00
Lee Haughey 21:41
Niamh McDaid 22:03
Niamh Gibbons 22:08
Eugene O’Donnell 22:11
Terence Quinn 22:24
Raj Mehan 22:27
Rory Kennedy 22:47
Tommy Hill 22:53
Rachael Stilvern 22:56
Fin Begley 23:56
Carl Houston 24:05
Patrick Patton 24:20
