200 competitors start the challenge!
Triathlon Returns to North Down
Race Report by Conal Heatley (Race Director)
The Ireman Triathlon had it’s annual outing in Groomsport over the weekend. The event, hosted by Triangle Triathlon Club, welcomed nearly 200 athletes from across the British Isles and from as far away as Australia’s Gold Coast to the borough and provided a fantastic day’s entertainment under some welcome sunshine.
A stunning sunrise welcomed nine long distance competitors onto the beach for a 3.8km, four lap swim. First back into transition was Alfie Day with a three minute advantage over Michael Holland and James Harper. The perfect sea conditions encouraged fast swim times, with all nine coming ashore in under one hour and twenty minutes. With all the guys safely on the bike course, the action turned to the next event which was doubling as the Triathlon Ireland Middle Distance Championships. It was also part of the Decathlon Northern Ireland Triathlon Series, being held in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Groomsport looked stunning under blue skies and it was easy to see why sporting tourists would want to visit our shores.
The tension started to mount as the competitors headed to the start line and waited for Deputy Mayor Harry Dunlop to get proceedings under way. Swimmers heading out to sea under the watchful eye of a flotilla of kayakers, supported by the RNLI crew and two other boats, was something to behold. Overhead, the action was being captured by the television crew and photographers in the circling helicopter. First into T1 was London based swim specialist Matt Molloy from Bike and Run with more than a minute lead on Brian Campbell. Predator’s Colin Duane was a further three minutes adrift. In the ladies race, Aoife Lynch from Pulse had opened up a gap of more than a minute on Deanne McGuinness and Taryn McCoy.
Once all the swimmers were back on terra firma and out on their bikes, the crew prepared for the return of the long distance cyclists. Michael had taken charge on the bike, gaining a fifteen minute lead over Alfie while Aussie Alan Melville had moved ominously into third place. Alan headed out of T2 telling the cameras that the real race was now on. Never a truer word spoken. This Ironman distance event requires the athletes to swim 3.8km, bike for 180km and then run a full 42km marathon. The run is always the decider.
Man of the moment on the bike course was the other half of Pulse’s dynamic duo, Joe Lynch, who posted the fastest bike split to move into the lead. Brian held second place while Matt slipped to third and was being pushed hard by another London visitor, Rory Maguire. Aoife confirmed her dominance on the bike while Piranha’s Sinead McBreen moved through into second with Taryn rounding off the podium places at the start of the final discipline.
The Groomsport run course is tough; with sections along the coastal path on grass, rock, sand and tarmac. The ladies winner was never in doubt as Aoife Lynch crossed the line in just over five hours. Taryn McCoy had a strong run to regain silver medal position while Limerick’s Alison Ledger stormed through to take bronze. The men’s race was settled by Brian Campbell’s blistering run. Having won the Ards Half Marathon last month, the Hi-Elbow man headed back across Belfast Lough to collect yet another title, breaking the tape in 4:14:53. Joe Lynch was clear in second with Matt Molloy taking bronze. The last finisher completed the course in just under 8 hours but was welcomed home, equally deserving of her medal.
Throughout the day, the middle distance athletes were on the course with and encouraged the long distance runners towards the finish line. Alan Melville had the honour of being first home in just under eleven hours. Michael Holland followed up last year’s third place finish with a second place this year. Gold in 2011 perhaps? Glasgow based Robin Steacy ran through the field with a sub four hour marathon to take third place. Eight of the nine starters completed the epic journey which is the Ireman long distance triathlon.
Triangle Triathlon Club would like to thank all those who made the day so special. Mobile Team Adventure, the RNLI and all the water safety personnel, the guys at Bikeworks Cycle Shop, the PSNI and our team of motorcycle officials, Aescu Event Paramedics, North Down Borough Council, David Anderson Injury Rehabilitation, Groomsport FC, Glenn at ChampionChip, the Triathlon Ireland officials and our fantastic Race Crew who provided support at junctions and aid stations around the course. See you all next year.
