Ulster Triathlon Championships, Castlewellan

The reigning Irish triathlon champion Brian Campbell dominated the men’s race, finishing under the 2 hour mark and a full 7 minute ahead of his nearest competitor. The female race was a closer fought affair though between Northwest Triathlon Club’s (NWTC) Aileen Morrison, Hi-Elbows Claire Connor and Piranha’s Elena Maslova. Morrison and Connor exited the swim together after only 21 minutes of swimming. Connor edged ahead slightly on the bike course, while Maslova produced an excellent bike leg to narrow the lead after her slower swim split. The top three women were only separated by just over a minute exiting the second transition. Morrison was able to hold off the charge of Maslova on the run, but was unable to pull back the lead of Claire Connor, taking second place overall and in the 25-29 category in an excellent personal best time of 2hrs 19minutes 39 seconds. A full 45 minutes ahead of her personal best time over this distance.

NWTC’s Jarlath Fearon was also in personal best setting form, when he posted a finishing time of 2hrs 28mins 51 over the distance, and 4th in the 40-44 category. Patrick Mc Laughlin was next home in 2:31:08, followed by Frankie Dunlop. Who posted a time of 2:33:02, which earned him third spot on the podium in the 45-49 category. In his first race over the distance Paul Mc Connellogue produced his normal strong swim and bike legs to finish in the very respectable time of 2:34:59. Letterkenny’s Frank Roche had a solid race coming in 2:48:49, with Mickey Mc Bride following closely behind in 3 hours 29 seconds. Colm Quigley was well in contention after the big leg but struggled with a hamstring injury on the first lap of the run, where he retired from the race to prevent further damage.