Lough Neagh Triathlon, Ballyronan (15-08-09)

Once again club captain Colm Quigley led the way for the club with an impressive performance to finish just outside the top ten.  His time of 2hours 17minutes and 58seconds was enough for second spot in the M35-39 age category.  Paul McConnellogue was next man home and despite having his swim affected by the drifting buoy he still put in a strong race to finish on 2hrs 25mins 31secs.  Gary O’Donnell and Jarlath Fearon were hot on his heals as O’Donnell finished strongly on 2.26.02 while Fearon took 3rd spot in the M45-49 age category in a time of 2.27.30.

Brendan Doherty had a good race to come home in 2.31.15 while Paul McGilloway raced to a 2.35.22.  Patrick McLaughlin had a solid race throughout and stopped the clock on 2.37.10 while vice club captain Frankie Dunlop gave the young guns a run for their money finishing in 2.38.36.  James Beattie was the next club man to finish on a time of 2.44.18 with Sean Doherty coming in on 2.48.33.  Seamus Martin raced to a 2.53.50 while James Harkin crossed the line in 2.55.11.  Ronan Toland put in a spirited race to finish in 2.57.12 with Aoife Logan coming home in 3.09.09.  Joanne Doran had an unfortunate race having to retire on the bike leg after getting a puncture while Eamon Harkin pulled out on the run suffering from a pulled muscle.

Meanwhile in London,Aileen Morrison was also unfortunate to crash out of her race during the bike leg which took place over the course of the 2010 Olympic race.  This race was one of the final races of the World Championship Series with the Grand Final taking place next month on Australia’s Gold Coast.  The incident has forced Morrison to finish her season earlier than planned and she will now miss out on competing at the World Championships as a result.

As the season begins to wind down the club are looking to the final few races of the National Series including the Dublin City Triathlon, Kemare Half Ironman and Groomsport Half Ironman which all take place over the next few weeks.