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Large entry for second World’s End Triathlon at Castleconnell


OVER 220 competitors made their way in very welcome late summer sunshine to the waters edge in Castleconnell on Saturday morning last for the second World’s End Triathlon, organised by Castleconnell Boat Club. 
A new race category Try-a-Tri was introduced this year to accommodate competitors who may be new to the triathlon discipline and wished to opt for a shorter swim of 175m rather than the full swim of 750m being undertaken by those in the full sprint category.
At around 12.15pm, the swim got underway for the main body of competitors sporting blue swimming caps, they were joined in the latter stages of the race by the Tri-a-Tri competitors with their white caps, who entered the water at a point closer to the finish line. 
Every style of swimming was apparent with those choosing to use the backstroke taking up the rear of the field. All were under the watchful eye of several canoeists who tracked the swimmers on the course. Once out of the water, the competitors mounted their bikes for a 20km cycle which took them out the old Dublin road to Birdhill, back through Montpellier and finishing in the public playground in Castleconnell village. 

Sprint category

FIRST out of the water in a time of 9.41 was junior competitor Conor Rooney followed eight seconds later by Mike Yelverton competing in the senior category. However, Yelverton from Newport gained considerable ground in the cycle when he recorded a time of 00:30:34 against Rooney’s 00:33:01. Yelverton again gained on the run, which he completed in a time of 00:16:57 to give him a winning time of 00:59:06 with Conor Rooney from Ennis Tri Club, a junior competitor, finishing second in 1:02:06 and third place going to Limerick Tri Club’s Colm Turner in 1:03:34.
First to emerge from the water in the female category was Ailbhe Carroll from Castletroy in a very fast 00:10:17 followed by Lisa Horgan, also from Castletroy, in 00:12:46.
The lead changed hands in the cycle with Andree Walkin from Killaloe making up considerable time. Lisa Horgan fought back in the run but it was not enough to beat Walkin who crossed the finish line in 1:09:28 followed by Lisa Horgan in a very close 1:09:38, with third place going to Ailbhe Carroll in 1:10:59. 
A delighted Mike Yelverton and Andree Walkin, both competing in triathlons for their fourth season, retained their titles from the previous World’s End Triathlon held in 2009. Mike cut a total of 4.03 off his previous winning time with Walkin taking 8.49 off her winning 2009 time. 
The junior section of the sprint category was won by 17-year-old Conor Rooney from Ennis Tri Club who is on the Junior National Triathlon squad. Conor also finished second in the overall race in 1:02:06. In second place in the junior section in a time of 1:04:40 and also finishing in overall fifth place was Shaun Hennessy from Cork. Third place went to Stephen Devin in 1:11:36.
The sprint category also provided an opportunity for a mixed relay team-of-three competitors to share the different disciplines.  Twenty-two teams entered this category with some teams comprising workmates using the event as a bonding weekend away.  Winning this section in 1:12:25 was Keith Lumsden’s team followed closely in a time of 1:12:53 by Pat Bradley’s team with third place going to Ruairi McLoughlin’s team in a time of 1:13:19.

Try-a-Tri category

THE Try-a-Tri category which attracted a total of 44 competitors made up of 23 men and 21 women was won by a very satisfied first-time triathlon competitor Derek Bowen from Newport in a time of 1:06:23 followed by Dan Shanahan from Limerick in 1:07:09 with third place going to junior competitor, Cathal Moloney, who rows with Castleconnell Boat Club, in a close time of 1:07:58.
The female winner in the Tri-a-Tri was Niamh McKernan from Cork, who also finished in overall fourth position in this category behind the first three men, in 1:08:37.
Coming first in the men’s junior section and also finishing third place in the overall Try-a-Tri race was Castleconnell Boat Club’s Cathal Moloney who won comfortably in 1:07:58. Second place went to Sean Ryan in a time of 1:18:04 followed by Joe Hartnett in 1:23:24
The women’s junior section in the Try-a-Tri category was won by Caoimhe Hartnett from St Michael’s Rowing Club in 1:31:44.

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