24/7 Triathlon Updates
Caroline Kearney Memorial
On Saturday past 8 athletes from the 24/7 travelled to Loch annell just outside the Westmeath town of Mullingar to compete in the Olympic distance event which was set up as a memorial to one of Irelands most talented up and coming tri-athletes Caroline Kearney who was tragically killed in France in a training accident in 2006. Many believe that she would have gone on to compete at the Beijing Olympics as the first Irish Triathlon Olympian.
Almost 300 athletes took part in the event and the Letterkenny club were well represented when the event came to its conclusion just after midday on Saturday afternoon. Alan Mitchell was first home from the club in 8th place in a time of 2.09 and is surly setting himself up for a top 5 finish in the national rankings for his age group come the end of the season, Aidan Callaghan was next home in a time of 2.16 followed by Pauric Kelly 2.28, Padhric Mitchell 2.30, Mark Nicholls 2.34 , Paul O Gara 2.38. Graham Parker 2.44, placing all 24/7 athletes in the top 50% of finishers and many in the top 15 athletes in their respective age groups.
On completing the race in 2nd place in the womans category Margret Kelly almost certainly is a shoe in for 1st in her age group come the end of the national series in September, improving on her third place in last years series.
Gartan Triathlon
This coming Saturday the 20th will be a very special day for the young Letterkenny club as it hosts it first triathlon in Gartan and the surrounding area of Churchill on the outskirts of Letterkenny. The event kicks of at 10 a.m and the club would urge the local people of Letterkenny and Churchill to come a show their support to the athletes taking part in the event.
Ironmen
The club would also wish congratulate another one of it’s members, Alan O Mahony on completing Ironman U.K recently in Bolton, England. In what is a very tough event and a course which is not for the faint hearted either, Alan did himself very proud completing the event in just over 12 hours. That’s now three Ironmen in this small club, with another 3 athletes taking part in the Half Ironman in Galway in September, the future looks bright for the club with people wishing to take on the challenge of triathlon.
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