There was another successful week of action for the Letterkenny Triathlon team with the Junior Bike event, Brady conquers Ironman Cork and lots more 24/7 action at Mullaghmore Sprint Tri, Kirkistown Duathlon and Glenswilly 5k taking place.
Club notes
Irelands first ever Ironman took place in Youghal, Co. Cork at the weekend.
Irish weather wreaked havoc with the race and so the decision was taken by organisers to cancel the swim of the event to ensure the safety of the competitors.
It was a day of brutal conditions for everyone taking part with relentless and torrential rain and high winds making the gruelling course even more difficult.
Not usually a fan of a swim Pat Brady was of course disappointed to not be able to complete it after his months of dedicated training, but he didn’t dwell too long on that and got stuck into the gruelling task ahead.
He had a superb debut Ironman performance in testing conditions.
Pat clocked 6:57:57 for the 180km bike course along the undulating coastal roads of Youghal, which included the ascent of the infamous Windmill hill twice! Pat also had a brilliant run clocking 4:29:50 for the marathon route through the heart of Youghal village.
Pat crossed the finish line in a total time of 11:37:50- a fantastic 13th in his age category. Well done Pat on your amazing achievement., enjoy the well-deserved rest and recovery time now!
Mullaghmore Sprint Triathlon
On Saturday 16 of our club members made their way through the gap to take on the annual Mullaghmore Sprint Triathlon- a firm favourite of 24/7! Fresh from his Escape from Alcatraz Karl Bonner was back in racing action and was the first member to cross the finish line in a superb time of 1:12:48.
Karl had a fantastic swim of 14:56 and followed that up with a strong 36:01 bike split and an impressive 20:11 off the bike.
Ciaran Callaghan also had a fine race. Exiting the water after a 16:56 swim, Ciaran had an impressive bike split and a 22:17 run, crossing the finish time in a time of 1:17:57.
Brian Gormley had a great performance overall with an impressive 16:28 swim for the 750m. He followed that up with a 42:13 bike split before going on to finish strongly with a 21:40 5k off the bike to finish in a total time of 1:22:44.
Shaun Logue wasn’t too far behind Brian and had a brilliant race clocking a total of 1:23:20.
Just 10 seconds separated Shaun and his work colleague Niamh Gibbons, who had a superb first triathlon of the season and she crossed the line in 1:23:30. Niamh’s 19:00/39:45/23:35 race splits ensured she was 2nd in the F30-34 age category. Sandra Devine was 3rd F45-49 on the day with a brilliant race finishing in 1:23:54.
Cathal Gorman also performed very well crossing the finish line in a total time of 1:25:15. Despite having a little wardrobe malfunction (!) prior to the race Terence Quinn put in a brilliant performance to finish in a time of 1:28:43.
A minute separated Terence and Emmet McClafferty who had a brilliant swim of 16:43 to set him up for a great race. Emmet finished in 1:29:43.
Kevin Hennessey also had a fantastic swim, exiting the water in 15:34, Kevin went onto complete the event in a total time of 1:30:34.
Mary Harkin raced well also crossing the line in 1:31:34. Just 32 seconds separated clubmates Christy Callaghan, 1:34:09, and Suzanne Bogan, 1:34:41, who had brilliant races.
The other half of the Raphoe duo Raj Mehan raced well clocking a total time of 1:35:32- Raj with a great 17:07 swim.
Stephanie Dunleavy, 1:38:57, and Denise McBride, 1:45:06, took on their first triathlon of the 2019 season- Both with impressive times for the sprint distance event. Well done to everyone who took part!
Kirkistown Series Duathlon
On Saturday John Connaghan was in racing action at the Kirkistown Track Series Duathlon. John had a superb race and finished in a time of 2:10:37 with an impressive 39:45/1:10:07/20:05 for the 10k/40k/5k event.
Weekly 5k Roundup
There was a brilliant 24/7 contingent in attendance at the Glenswilly 5k. Paul Cullen was the first club member to cross the line in a time of 17:08, with Peter O’Donnell (pacing) just behind in 17:16.
Twenty seconds separated the trio of Paul Doherty,18:08, Jason King, 18:21, and Paul Dillon, 18:28- getting their last race in ahead of Sheephaven Half this Saturday. Brian Gormley had a super run on clocking 19:39 on the night with Conor McGlinchey following up last weeks PB with a brilliant 19:58.
Liam Tinney is also in tapering mode ahead of Sheephaven and he clocked a time of 21:23 with Aidan McFadden just one second behind in 21:24. The trio of Fionnuala Larkin, 21:55, Anne Robinson, 22:08, and Karol Harvey, 22:23 also used the event to get in some tapered training ahead of this weekends action in Downings.
Eugene O’Donnell, in his shiny new 24/7 gear had a fantastic run of 22:30. Desiree Casburn had a strong run of 22:41 on her (adopted) home turf –good to see Desiree getting back to her best! Just 54 seconds separate Terence Quinn and Rory Kennedy who finished in 22:51 and 22:55 respectively. Samuel Rankin ran well clocking 23:45.
Gavin Crawford in tapering mode ran 23:50 with Rachael Stilvern clocking 24:01. Mary Bond takes part in at least one 5k each week and she ran well in Glenswilly to cross the line in 26:06 with Fiona Temple running also well finishing in 28:04.
Junior Bike Event
The club’s Junior Committee, in conjunction with Bike Week 2019, held a very successful junior bike event at Gartan on Monday night where a total of 48 kids came along to take part in the fun cycle. Well done to everyone who helped in any way to make it happen- it was a great success.
Next up for the Juniors is a practice swim session at Gartan on Monday 8th July at 7.30pm ahead of our Junior Aquathon which takes place on Friday 13th July. More details on Facebook, everyone welcome.
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
Thursday: Brick/TT Session-27th June Brick Session –Jason King, Martin Robinson
Saturday: Club cycle from Aura at 8am- 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
Ironman Cork
Pat Brady 1137:50
Mullaghmore Sprint Triathlon
Karl Bonner 1:12:48
Ciaran Callaghan 1:17:57
Brian Gormley 1:22:44
Shaun Logue 1:23:20
Niamh Gibbons 1:23:30 2nd F30-34
Sandra Devine 1:23:54 3rd F45-49
Cathal Gorman 1:25:15
Terence Quinn 1:28:43
Emmet McClafferty 1:29:43
Kevin Hennessey 1:30:34
Mary Harkin 1:31:34
Christy Callaghan 1:34:09
Suzanne Bogan 1:34:41
Raj Mehan 1:35:32
Stephanie Dunleavy 1:38:57
Denise McBride 1:45:06
Kirkistown Series Duathlon
John Connaghan 2:10:37
Glenswilly GAA 5K
Paul Cullen 17:08
Peter O’Donnell 17:16
Paul Doherty 18:08
Jason King 18:21
Paul Dillon 18:28
Brian Gormley 19:39
Conor McGlinchey 19:58
Liam Tinney 21:23
Aidan McFadden 21:24
Fionnuala Larkin 21:55
Anne Robinson 22:08
Karol Harvey 22:23
Eugene O’Donnell 22:30
Desiree Casburn 22:41
Terence Quinn 22:51
Rory Kennedy 22:55
Samuel Rankin 23:45
Gavin Crawford 23:50
Rachael Stilvern 24:01
Mary Bond 26:06
Fiona Temple 28:04
