Pushing past the pain

Endurance athletes gathered on the shores of Lough Derg last weekend to test the limits of their resilience, writes Dan Danaher.

THERE was plenty of drama at the second annual Brian Ború Trichallenge on the shores of Lough Derg on Saturday morning.
The 750m swim broke up quickly with a steady stream of the favourites coming out of the water before the testing 22km bike run. As the leaders made their way back to transition, the dramatics started when Mike Yelverton, who was in pole position after the swim, got a puncture.
Next to fall was Shane Scully from Nenagh Tri Club who, with a three-minute lead, had to opt out of the 7km run due to a leg injury, which left the race wide open. Mairtin Grealish of Predator Tri Club in Athenry took over as leader with Mike O’Brien of Limerick Tri Club in second place.
Mairtin, who is from Ennis, managed a very strong run up the hill earning him a 2m30 lead that he held until the end, to become the 2010 winner in 1.20:12. Mike O’Brien finished second with third place going to the Irish junior squad athlete Aaron O’Brien (16) from Limerick Tri Club.
The ladies’ race was exhilarating with Limerick tri Club’s Lynne Algar and Lizzy Lee from the Cork Tri Club dismounting from the bike and going stride for stride into transition. The excitement was high as they left transition and took on the hill. Lizzy’s strong running ability gave her the win on the day and her second Brian Ború crown in a row. Lynne Algar was three minutes behind with Derval Devaney, Cork Tri Club hot on her heels in third place.
Ennis Tri Club won the relay event with two talented members of the Ireland development squad Conor (16) and Stephen (14) Rooney, Ennis.
The triathlon attracted 312 individual competitors and 24 relay teams. Twenty children and teenagers also participated in a short ‘splash and dash’ designed to encourage the participation of young athletes.
Proceeds from this year’s event will go to the Brothers of Charity in Clare and Muscular Dsytrophy Ireland.