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03 May 2009 - Joey Hannan

Podium start to Triathlon season

Last weekend saw one of the largest pool based triathlons take part in University Limerick with over 400 competitors taking part in the Olympic distance and sprint distance races.  There were 2 starts to each race with 10 lanes in the 50m pool with up to 11 swimmers in each lane which got quite hectic at times.  Each competitor had to estimate their swim time on entry which determined which lane they were assigned to.  This can cause problems during the race if swimmers are either too fast or too slow for other competitors in the lane as they get held up or hold up others which can be quite stressful.  Competitors in the Olympic distance race had to swim 1500m followed by 42k cycle and a 10k run.  The Sprint race consisted of a 500m swim, 27k cycle and 5k run.  It was quite blustery on the bike which made it quite difficult in parts which suited the strong bikers of which we have many in the club.

Shane Scadding had a pretty good swim to emerge 11^th out of the pool but he had an excellent cycle posting the 2^nd fastest bike time to come back into transition in 3^rd place which he maintained throughout the run to finish 3^rd overall in 2.08.26, 1^st vet.  Stefan Green had an early start with the long drive from home on the morning but was given porridge for breakfast by Martin Kirwan and Olive Costello who were also taking part.  He had a good swim to emerge 37^th out of the water but made up places on the bike and run to finish 27^th overall in 2.24.08.  Martin Kirwan started in the 2^nd start so he didn’t know where he was placed until the results were out and adjusted.  He led out the swim in his lane with his new “red goggles” but lost a lot of time in transition as he decided to put on socks.  He had the 9^th fastest bike of the day which together with his fast run enabled him to finish just a few seconds behind Stefan in 28^th position in 2.24.25.  (At least he didn’t have any blisters on his feet!).  Noel Ryan was next home with an excellent race to finish 55^th overall in 2.33.02.

In the Sprint race, Michael Bowes got a lot of slagging for taking the easy option and taking part in this short race and not the longer one.  He got held up a bit on the swim and emerged 52^nd out of the pool but had an excellent bike, posting the 7^th fastest of the day and posting the 6^th fastest run to finish 5^th overall in 1.19.06, 1^st vet.  Peter Barry was very nervous before the start as this was his 1^st triathlon race and swimming is not his strong point.  He started out on the bike in 91^st place but cycled past dozens of cyclists to post the 6^th fastest bike time and 13^th fastest run to finish 10^th overall in 1.21.35.  An excellent result for his debut.  Eleanor Carey was also apprehensive as this was her 1^st pool swim race but she put in a great performance to finish in 1.40.46.  Olive Costello could barely eat her breakfast she was so nervous as this was her 1^st triathlon ever.  She got held up quite a bit in her swim lane but once she got on the bike she passed lots of cyclists and had a strong run to finish in 1.46.46, thrilled with her performance. 

(c) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TO WATERFORD TRIATHLON CLUB