It was yet another busy week of action for 24/7 with members taking on WAAR, a sprint triathlon in Roe Valley, Strabane Lifford Half marathon as well as a host of midweek 5k races.
Club notes
Roe Valley Sprint Triathlon
Noelle Parker was back in triathlon action at the weekend. Just a fortnight after her return to racing at our Super Sprint event, Noelle travelled to Limavady for the Roe Valley Sprint Triathlon hosted by Triangle Tri club.
Cheered on by her very own support crew, Noelle had a fantastic race. She had a brilliant time of 16:16 for the 750m swim, she went onto complete the bike route in 43:40 before running a 26:45 5k to cross the finish line in a total time of 1:29:00.
WAAR
The annual Wild Atlantic Adventure Race took place in Mullaghaderg, Annagry at the weekend and 24/7 had lots of ‘waariers’ taking part. In the individual event, competitors took on a 10k run, 42.5 cycle. 2k hike and 1k kayak along the Hills of Donegal and the Atlantic coastline.
Peter O’Donnell was the first club member to cross the finish line and once again what a superb performance he had! Peter and eventual race winner Shaun Stewart battled throughout and only 10 seconds separated them at the finish line. Peter crossed the line in 2nd place in a fantastic 2:17:52, 7 minutes ahead of 3rd place Adam Speer. Shaun McDevitt also had a brilliant race, performing very strongly over the course of the event to finish in 6th place in a time of 2:27:19. Siobhan Brennan had an extremely impressive performance in the ladies race.
Finishing over 20minutes ahead of her nearest competitor Siobhan had a superb race, crossing the finish line in a superb 2:43:48, beating husband Ronan on her way to victory!
Ronan Brennan had a brilliant performance also clocking a brilliant 2:47:18 for the event.
The Race training buddies Martin Donnelly and Barry Foley had fine performances crossing the finish line in 2:54:12 and 2:58:04 respectively. Seamus Kelly had a brilliant race clocking a time of 3:21:56.
WAAR Sprint Course
In the WAAR Sprint event, competitors tackled a 5k run, 33k cycle and a 1k kayak. Karl Bonner was the first club member to finish in a superb 1:35:34, taking 3rd place overall. Shaun Logue also performed brilliantly clocking a time of 1:42:54. Colin McMenamin crossed the finish line in 1:48:05.
Rory Kennedy had a good race crossing the line in 1:50:25 with Catherine Kelly hot on his heels in a time of 1:50:52.
Gavin McMenamin raced well and finished in 1:52:50. Cathy Harvey is no stranger to the WAAR terrain having taken on the event for many years now and once again she had a brilliant performance.
Cathy has just returned to running after a lengthy injury and crossed the finish line in 2:05:50, 1st place in the F50 category.
Strabane Lifford Half Marathon
On Sunday the Lifford AC Strabane Lifford Half Marathon took place and six of our club members took part. Shane McNulty was the first club member to finish in a superb time of 1:17:27, finishing 4th overall with a very impressive PB. There was also a PB for Eamonn Patton.
Eamonn crossed the finish line in a fantastic time of 1:27:21 PB – a huge PB from Eamonn. The last time he ran that distance was in a time of 1:32:40.
Margaret Kelly is already having a superb 2019 and Sunday was no different. In April Margaret took on the Omagh half and finished in 1:34:54. On Sunday she had another fine race finishing in a super 1:32:35. Philip Browne had yet another PB on Sunday. Philip also ran Omagh half setting a PB time of 1:36:35.
On Sunday he smashed that time with a superb race crossing the finish line in a new PB time of 1:33:49. Paul O’Donnell also had a brilliant race, clocking 1:38:19 for the 13.1 miles.
Terence Quinn is also in fine form this season. He set a PB of 1:51:18 at the Madrid Half marathon only a few weeks and he smashed that on Sunday to cross the line in 1:44:08 , setting yet another PB.
All Ireland Loreto Track and Field Championships
Junior club member Chloe Wasson had brilliant performances taking part in athletics with her school Loreto Convent recently.
Chloe won a bronze medal at the All Ireland Loreto Track and Field Championships in Santry, placing 3rd in 400m.
Chloe also finished 3rd in the Javelin event at a recent athletics event in Lifford.
5k Roundup
On Friday night at the Tir Chonaill AC Ballyshannon 5k, coach Ciaran O’Donnell ran very well clocking 19:49. Niamh McDaid &Douglas also took part, Niamh and Douglas finishing in 23:43-a PB for Douglas!
The Colaiste Ailigh 5k took place on Tuesday night. Renowned to be a fast course with the first kilometre downhill, there was some impressive club times.
Natasha Kelly was 1st female, running a new PB time of 17:53. Niamh Gibbons made a return to racing clocking 21:55. Rory Kennedy ran well also crossing the line in 22:05. Labhaoise Maguire had a fine race clocking 24:04. Peter McLean ran a 24:30 PB, just a few days after setting a new 10K PB at NW10K.
Mary Bond had a great race crossing the line in 25:34. Fiona Temple ran a 26:37.
New junior member PJ Devenney ran very well clocking a time of 27:13 ahead of his Mum Bridie Devenney in 30:44.
At Monday’s Kilmacrenan NS 5K Peter O’Donnell was 1st place clocking a brilliant time of 16:48. Junior Cian Corcoran had a superb race, clocking a superb time of 22:26 and setting a new PB.
Well done to Cian. Dad Colm Corcoran hung on and finished a second behind Cian in 22:27- Cian is setting the bar high in the Corcoran household!
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 will resume on Monday 20th May. More details to follow. Keep an eye on the club Viber and FB page for details.
Tuesday: Run session at Letterkenny Town Park – This week’s club run session will be the Interfirms 5k
Run sessions will change to Tuesday nights commencing Tuesday 7th May and sessions will take place predominantly in Letterkenny Town Park.
Warm up leaving Aura at 6.30pm; session starts at 6.50pm SHARP. Those who would like to meet up there, meeting point is the chapel at St.Conal’s 6.50pm.
Wednesday: Swim session- Novice 7-8pm, Intermediate/Advanced 8-9pm
Thursday: Brick/TT Session-16th May, Brick Session – starts at 7pm SHARP at Foxhall
Marshals: Lester Speer, Patrick Patton
Saturday: Club cycle from Aura at 9am- All members must have front and rear lights to take part in the club session.
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
Roe Valley Sprint Triathlon
Noelle Mollohan 1:29:00
WAAR
Full Course
Peter O’Donnell 2:17:52 2nd
Shaun McDevitt 2:27:19
Siobhan Brennan 2:43:48 1st Female
Ronan Brennan 2:47:18
Martin Donnelly 2:54:12
Barry Foley 2:58:04
Seamus Kelly 3:21:56
WAAR Sprint Course
Karl Bonner 1:35:34 3rd
Shaun Logue 1:42:54
Colin McMenamin 1:48:05
Rory Kennedy 1:50:25
Catherine Kelly 1:50:52
Gavin McMenamin 1:52:50
Cathy Harvey 2:05:50 1st F50
Strabane Lifford Half Marathon
Shane McNulty 1:17:27 4th PB
Eamonn Patton 1:27:21 PB
Margaret Kelly 1:32:35
Philip Browne 1:33:49 PB
Paul O’Donnell 1:38:19
Terence Quinn 1:44:08 PB
All Ireland Loreto Track and Field Championships
Chloe Wasson 3rd 400m
Chloe Wasson 3rd Javelin Lifford
Tir Chonaill AC Ballyshannon 5k
Ciaran O’Donnell 19:49
Niamh McDaid (&Douglas) 23:43 PB for Douglas!
Colaiste Ailigh 5k
Natasha Kelly 17:53 1st PB
Niamh Gibbons 21:55
Rory Kennedy 22:05
Labhaoise Maguire 24:04
Peter McLean 24:30 PB
Mary Bond 25:34
Fiona Temple 26:37
PJ Devenney 27:13
Bridie Devenney 30:44
Kilmacrenan NS 5K
Peter O’Donnell 16:48 1st
Cian Corcoran 22:26 PB
Colm Corcoran                                    22:27
Photos: North West Newspix (Joe Boland)
