Local competitors at the Waterways Ireland Fermanagh Lakeland Triathlon
Posted by Johnny Davis from the Pioneer Group (Race Director & Series Organiser) on Monday 28.06.10 at 14:20
Sunday saw the running of the inaugural Waterways Ireland Fermanagh Triathlon. Over 100 competitors started in the Sprint Distance race which took place at the Fermanagh Lakeland Lodges holiday complex at Aghnablaney, near Boa Island.
The competitors who had come from all over Ireland to compete began the race with an open water swim in Lough Erne starting from the first Marina and coming back into the second Marina. They then picked up their bikes and the cycle route took them out onto the B136 where they then joined the A47 to Belleek. The cycle leg took them out as far as the Mulleek Road turning point where they turned around and then headed back to the steep hill up into Lakeland Lodges. They then had to deal with the spectacular descent down the hill to the transition area where they left their bikes and headed out for the run. The run leg took them through the spectacular off road forest section at Lakeland Lodges and after 3 laps of this route they finished with the beautiful backdrop of Lough Erne behind them.
The winner of the Male Open Category was Adam Wilson from Triangle Triathlon Club in Portrush and the winner of the Female Open Category was Trudy Brown from Olympian Triathlon Club.
There were a high number of local triathletes taking part and Lucy Parkinson from Kesh was the winner of the Female 16-19 category. In the Male16-19 Category there were great performances from Ewan Ballantine and Carl OReilly indicating the strength there is in the local Youth category. Angela Speight was winner of the Female 20-29 category with her sister Kelly-Anne not far behind her. Other well known triathletes including Peter Jones, Brian OReilly and Ewan Ballantine all recorded impressive times.
The Team Relay event was won by Chris Turbett, Raymond Dunlop and Steven Burns.
The event was superbly marshalled by the members of Omagh Triathlon Club, many of whom are off to compete in the Ironman Triathlon in Roth, Germany on July 18th. Lakeland Swimmers from Enniskillen were also heavily involved in the organisation of the race and all agreed that it was a great success for both the athletes and spectators, many of whom had come to stay in Fermanagh for the weekend.
Next weekend many of the triathletes will be heading to Athlone for the Waterways Ireland sponsored European Triathlon Championships in what has been a great summer for the sport of Triathlon in Ireland.
