Race results are available to view by clicking here.
Report by Tony Bagnall
No Doubt about it Saturday’s Crooked Lake Triathlon was the best yet.
In the eight years since its formation the race has improved in leaps and bounds.
And this year with a new transition area, vast swim start and a record 500 participants, enjoying the beautiful scenery plus a massive crowd urging them on through a 750-metre swim, a hilly 20-kilometre bike ride and a 5000-metre run, the anti was upped in magnificent fashion.
Once again the race featured on the Triathlon Ireland National Series Calendar and the Decathlon Northern Ireland Triathlon Series. Newry and Mourne Council were joined in their sponsorship by Newry Firm First Derivatives.
And as usual St Catherine (Murphy) got the weather right. Despite weeks of rain and showers not one drop fell on Saturday. Amazing. Truly amazing.
Catherine, her right hand woman Patricia McParland, plus seemingly half the population of Camlough, did the mammoth job of staging the event and making everyone feel welcome in South Armagh.
Race director Murphy told the Democrat: “The race was a huge success and is getting better as the years go by. The feedback from the competitors was fantastic. They loved the area and they couldn’t believe how friendly everyone was.
Catherine continued: “My abiding memory of the race was when the last person left the water. All the canoe people and indeed all the spectators clapped and cheered that person to the water’s edge.”
“The Crooked Lake Triathlon continues to amaze me every year. There were more spectators than ever – in places they were five and six deep. The people here are so proud of the event and their area,” said Murphy.
Teenager Russell White, coached by Newry Tri Club member Oliver Harkin, was a clear winner of the race, the Banbridge youngster exiting the swim with a massive lead of well over a minute. White posted a fast 28.17 cycle time before completing his race with a 18.16 run to finish on 56.57, almost a minute and a half faster that the second placed Joe Lynch (Pulse) who clocked 58.32. Belpark’s William McCormack was third.
In the ladies race Belparks’s Aoife Lynch was an excellent winner in a fast 1.04.50, with Olympia’s Trudy Brown second (1.05.58) and Sinead Roche third.
From a local point of view Newry Tri Club chairman Sean Featherstone grabbed sixth place (and third in his age group) with a nippy 1.01.08 overall time, that included a 11.43 swim, a 28.57 bike ride and a 19.14 run.
Ross Collins was 16th in 1.02.45 and he won the First Local prize (Camlough and Bessbrook) while Ciaran Hughes edged into the top twenty with a fast 1.03.49 – and the Camlough man had the fifth fastest bike ride (28.16).
Tony Bagnall (1.17.34) was first in the Most Ancient age group.
Jim Loughran’s Camlough Triers won the Best Relay team award to the consternation of Jim’s pal Gerry Patton who has competed in every Crooked Lake Triathlon but as yet has not won a prize!
First of the local ladies was Teresa Fearon who clocked a sizzling 1.14.32 and, as well as taking third place in her age category, she carried off the First Local Woman’s trophy.
Also doing well in the ladies category for the host club was Sonia Rea (1.19.27) and Andrea Stefkova (1.19.32), who was also first female in the 18-24 age group.
Dundalk’s Setanta Club also had a great day with Liam Dolan picking up fourth spot and Karl Kildea, Gerry McCabe (who had the fastest bike split; 26.37) and Niall Ivory making the top 20 while Johnny McCabe won the O50 category was a stunning 1.06.54.
Some locals who posted fast times were: flying postman Barry Convery (1.05.24), Gareth Taggart (1.07.21), Adrian McGreevy (1.07.22), Declan Forde (1.07.32), Stephen Bagnall (1.07.57), Paul Watters (1.08.24), Kenny Bagnall (1.08.33), Shane McKeown (1.08.58), Neil McDonald (1.08.59), Mick Dunford (1.09.36), Miceal Hughes (1.10.11) and John McAuley (1.10.57).
Further down the field there were success stories all over the place: for example husband and wife teams of Paul and Lorraine McCann, Mick and Deirdre Dunford, Aaron and Shauna Clements and Tom and Roisin Morgan.
Also it was heartening to see the likes of Collie Cunningham conquer the lake and finish the race, and to see Nicola McCamley, John Mallon, Catherine Kinkaid, Nicola McElroy, Eddie Curtis, Noel Pepper, Brendan Heaney also complete the event.
There were also some high profile people competing – such as: MP Conor Murphy and top Irish News GAA correspondent Paddy Heaney as well as GAA stars past and present: Jarlath Burns, Shane Mulholland, Aidan Carr, Conor Maginn and Shane King.
Finally at the Crooked Lake awards ceremony at the Carrickcruppen Club, Sean Featherstone presented the Newry Triathlon Club’s Spirit of Triathlon trophy to Warrenpoint lady Linda O’Hare who, despite some bad times over the past year, continues to amaze everyone with her cheery personality and her determination to take everything in her stride. This trophy will never go to a more deserving person. Incidentally Linda competed Saturday’s race in a time of 1.34.46.
