Letterkenny Triathlon Club has had an amazing 2018 season. We hosted the National Duathlon Championships back in March, our inaugural Sheephaven Half in June and on Sunday we had the pleasure of hosting the exclusive Tri-gether ladies only triathlon.
To host one race requires a lot of hard work but to host five in one year really is an outstanding achievement for a club of our size up here in the North West! Yes a lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes by our main and race committees in preparation for every race, but it’s repeatedly said a successful race cannot be run without the support of the whole club and that is so true.
To all club members and family and friends who helped out in any way on Sunday – THANK YOU – it couldn’t be done without all your help.
We are overwhelmed with the amazing feedback we have received from Sunday’s participants. We take it for granted the importance and effect completing a challenge like this has on some people. Everyone gets involved for all different reasons which are uniquely special to them. We, as a club, are lucky to share this with them and of course, they are so grateful that they are given the opportunity to achieve something that may have been so far from their dreams many weeks and months ago.
Tri-gether Sprint Triathlon
Fourteen club members took part in the sprint distance event on Sunday. Natasha Kelly was the overall winner in a superb time of 1:10:10. Natasha had a swim of 13:20 and a brilliant bike split of 36:25, 2nd fastest on the day, before she ran the quickest run split of the day, an amazing 19:09 to cross the finish line with five minutes to spare on Anne Paul from Triangle Triathlon Club in 2nd place.
Just four seconds separated 2nd place and Bronagh O’Gara in 3rd. Bronagh put in a very strong performance, posting the fastest bike split of the day, 36:03, and running a brilliant 22:36 off the bike. Another podium finish for Bronagh in 2018- even more impressive since she had just returned from the US the previous night. She definitely showed no signs of jetlag on the day, crossing the finish line in an overall time of 1:15:29!
Fionnuala Larkin, on her sprint debut, finished 5th lady overall and winner of the F30-39 age category.
Fionnuala exited the pool with a 16:54 swim and smiled the whole way to the finish line where she finished in 1:19:13. Aoibheann O’Grady has made some huge improvements throughout the year and on Sunday she was the first junior to cross the line. Aoibheann had a brilliant swim time of 13:39, as well as strong bike and run splits to finish in an overall time of 1:27:53. Club treasurer Amanda McNulty was part of the Team SAM relay team who finished in 1:28:03.
Olympian Maria McCambridge took on the 750mswim while her daughter Shauna took on the bike leg leaving Amanda to take on the 5k run. Suzanne Bogan had another fine result on Sunday. Suzie has made big improvements over the summer and on Sunday she had a brilliant swim of 16:35 to set her up for a super overall finish time of 1:31:47.
Martina O’Donnell also had a brilliant swim on the day, exiting the pool in 16:20, before putting in a great performance on the bike and run splits to cross the line in 1:32:12. Labhaoise Maguire was back in racing action again this weekend. Just a week after taking part in Gaelforce North, Labhaoise had a brilliant finish time of 1:34:45. Denise McBride crossed the finish line in a superb 1:36:56.
Denise’s hard work and long hours working on her swim is certainly paying off, exiting the pool with a brilliant time of 19:32.
Fiona Gibbons also had a brilliant race finishing with a brilliant time of 1:41:40. Mary Bond, one of our race ambassadors had a brilliant sprint debut.
Mary was the winner of the F60-69 finishing in a time of 1:41:54. Julie McBride had another good performance finishing strongly in 1:47:57.
Sheral Hetherington set her sights on Sunday’s event many months ago – she was actually the first to sign up to our race! Sheral trained so hard to make it to the start line to take on her first sprint distance tri and she had a brilliant performance on the day, smiling from ear to ear throughout. Sheral crossed the line in sheer delight in a time of 1:53:18.
Amanda Witherow also took on her first sprint distance event on Sunday. It is three years since Amanda took on a try a tri event in Omagh and she has wanted to complete a sprint event ever since. Amanda crossed the line to rapturous applause in a time of 2:01:50.
Tri-gether Super Sprint Triathlon
In the Super Sprint event, there were also some amazing performances. Winner of the event Amelia Tyler, 1:06:57, and second place Edie Carroll, 1:10:10, both juniors, posted some amazing splits on the day.
Maeve Corry was in 3rd place in a time of 1:15:29. Trisha Nulty took on the super sprint event and was the first club member to cross the line in a brilliant time of 1:24:36.
Club member Chloe Wasson was part of the Worth a Tri relay team along with her cousin Lydia Wasson and Rebecca Wauchope.
Chloe had a brilliant swim time of 8:36 and the team went on to finish in a time of 1:29:41- a bright future in triathlon lies ahead for these three juniors.
Carol McCabe also had a super race on Sunday. Carol put in a strong performance throughout crossing the line in a brilliant 1:32:53.
Catherine Kelly, a new recruit to 24/7 this year, took on her first triathlon on Sunday and finished in a brilliant time of 1:40:51.
Congrats to everyone who took part especially to those taking on their first triathlon or sprint distance event.
Crystal River Triathlon Florida
Most people on holidays choose to chill out and relax, but not most triathletes! While on holiday in sunny Florida Peter McLean decided to take advantage of the great racing weather and sign up to the Crystal River Triathlon. The balmy weather conditions and non-wetsuit race seemed to suit Peter very well.
He put in a superb performance throughout the race. Exiting the water after 11 minutes and 17 seconds he went onto put in a strong performance in the bike and run before crossing the line in a time of 1:30:54 winning 1st place prize in the M55-59 age category. Congrats Peter- some international success to add to your 2018 season.
East Donegal ¾ Marathon
Three club members preparing for the upcoming Dublin City Marathon took on the East Donegal ¾ Marathon on Sunday. Brothers in Law Stephen Sweeney and Johnny Duffy kept each other company around the course and crossed the line together in a brilliant time of 2:47:01. Georgina Dill also had a brilliant run, finishing strongly in 3:34:17.
East Donegal Half Marathon
John Daly took part in the half marathon event. John ran very well crossing the finish line in a time of 1:31:58. Paddy McNulty loves his half marathons and he was back racing on Sunday. Paddy had a brilliant time of 1:38:29.
AGM
The Club’s AGM will be held next Friday 12th of October in the Mulroy room at the Education centre in Saint Conal’s hospital at 7.30pm. All members welcome.
Nominations are invited for Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, PRO, technical officer and eight committee members for the main committee. We are also seeking nominations for Youth Committee: Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Liaison officer (Safeguarded 1 & 3), Children’s officer (Safeguarded 1 & 2) and six committee members. The club are also seeking race and assistant director for the Duathlon, Try a Tri,
Super Sprint Events and Gartan races.
Please email nominations to club secretary Anne Robinson (secretary@letterkenny247.com) by Wednesday 10th October. Any motions to be discussed at the AGM must also be sent in by this date.
SAVE THE DATE
The 2018 24/7 Club Awards night will take place in Arena 7 on Friday, November 30.
Club Training
Club training continues as follows: Monday: Coached track session at Aura Message from Coach Ciaran O’Donnell: Leaving reception at Aura at 6.30pm SHARP to complete 2-mile warm up, out past Ballymacool Park. Latecomers will know where to head to meet them if anyone running late. On track and warmed up for 6.50pm, with session getting underway as soon as!
– Wednesday: Swim session- Novice 7-8pm, Intermediate/Advanced 8-9pm
– Thursday: Long run session leaves Aura at 6.30pm sharp- Hi-Viz is compulsory for these sessions- Be safe, be seen!
– Saturday: Club cycle from Aura at 9am – All members must have front and rear lights as well as mudguards 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)- Please note there will be no club swim this Saturday, October 6.
Full Results
Tri-gether Sprint Triathlon
Natasha Kelly 1:10:10 1 st
Bronagh O’Gara 1:15:29 3 rd
Fionnuala Larkin 1:19:13 1 st
Aoibheann O’Grady 1:27:53 1 st Junior
Team Sam- Amanda McNulty 1:28:03
Suzanne Bogan 1:31:47
Martina O’Donnell 1:32:12
Labhaoise Maguire 1:34:45
Denise McBride 1:36:56
Fiona Gibbons 1:41:40
Mary Bond 1:41:54 1 st F60-69
Julie Bride 1:47:57
Sheral Hetherington 1:53:18
Amanda Witherow 2:01:50
Tri-gether Super Sprint Triathlon
Trisha Nulty 1:24:36
Worth a Tri- Chloe Wasson 1:29:41
Carol McCabe 1:32:53
Catherine Kelly 1:40:51
Crystal River Triathlon Florida
Peter McLean 1:30:54 1 st M55-59
East Donegal ¾ Marathon
Stephen Sweeney 2:47:01
Johnny Duffy 2:47:01
Georgina Dill 3:34:17
East Donegal Half Marathon
John Daly 1:31:58
Paddy McNulty 1:38:29
