Consternation , counts and recounts, cold winds and feisty competitors, comeback kids and brand new faces, this was going to be a tough one.
Everything was running very smoothly , Grand Marshall Trish shipshaping all 27 athletes. In gig time they were signed up, marked up, bikes in position and raring to go. The pool was open on-time and the swimmers were in and flexing their dorsal fins by 8.45.
Christy Fingleton started the swim, three lanes, one minute apart. Unfortunately in the heat of battle some lanes were miscounted and a few swimmers were given the bonus of two extra lengths. As someone who was helping on the poolside, it is not easy to keep track of the swimmers as they zip up and down. No doubt lessons will be learned for the coming races.
These things happen but you just have to refocus and get on with the rest of the race. A flustered Mark Mc Manus will remember this as he put on his runners instead of his bike shoes and Padraig Crossan headed out on his bike with his helmet on back to front.
First out of the pool was first-timer and long distance runner Avril Byrne, who combined the head start on the swim with the fastest ladies run time only to be beaten into overall second place by iron woman Sinead Wearen in a winning time of 44.46. Michelle Roberts and Paula Hyland, put in strong first time performances and over the coming months will easily get their times under the hour. Susan Wall was knocked off course by the longer swim but gathered her composure and finished well.
The wind was quite a factor and the "back straight at Ballydavis" was into the teeth of the gale. Willie Fitz was off to a flyer and Shane Delaney despite the additional swimming got within a minute of him to finish second . Willie won the race in 40.03 but Shane had the fastest run in 13.14 and before the season is out he will get this under 13 minutes. Niall Whelan (ex cyclist extraordinaire ) had the fastest bike in 21.30 and Karl Mc Cann scorched the swim in 3.18.
Former Chairman Mark Downey returned to the fold after a long absence and gave it a lash and though a long way of his PB of 44.31, his experience and staying power saw him through. Clement Herron put down a marker at 56.30 for his first time and an ever improving Roy Atkinson was the only competitor to record a PB at 54.33 knocking 15secs of his old one in very difficult conditions. Young Jonathan Robinson after his exploits in Limerick last week was only one second behind his PB with a winning time of 53.29 for the Junior men's race.
Not a day for PBs, but a memorable morning, and a tough race and all over and done with by 10.00 am. Well done to all athletes and thanks to Trish and her volunteers. |
Test Tri 2
