Predator Triathlon Club gearing up for big event

Date Published: {J}

PREDATOR Triathlon Club is making final preparations for its major annual event of the year, the Loughrea Sprint Triathlon, which takes place in the local town and Kilnadeema area on Sunday, September 12.

This weekend, Race Organiser Tony Daley and his fellow members will go over the course one more time before the big event, to ensure it all goes to plan. It is that meticulous.

Since its inception in 2006, the triathlon club and its flagship meet have gone from strength to strength. Indeed, this year, over 500 competitors will take part in the race, although Daley believes that, such has been the response, this figure could easily be 700.

“This is the fifth year of the race and it just keeps growing and growing,” he beams. “I know some people in the club would like to extend it to 600 or 700 people, but we ran it so well with the numbers we had last year, we want to continue to do that. Even now, though, we are still getting queries from people who want to do the race.”

In any event, the race filled out about a month ago and it will be left to those lucky enough to claim a number to take on the challenges of the 750 metre swim, 20km cycle and 5km run. In contrast to an Ironman event, which boasts of greater lengths in the three disciplines, this is known as a sprint distance.

That said, the sprint distance triathlon is not the only race that will be run on the day. Daley explains that contests for juveniles and women will also be held although, in relation to the latter, there will be female competitors involved in the sprint distance race also.

“We have 60 children in the Predator Triathlon Club; a lot of the tri-athletes have got kids involved, so the children do the junior races – 150km swim, 6km cycle and 2km run – and the adults compete in the senior races. We also have a women’s only section, which is a 300 metre swim, 6km on the bike and a 2km run but, of course, the women can also take part in the sprint distance, which is mixed.”

The swim itself takes place at Long Point in Loughrea, with the cycle meandering into the heartland of Kilnadeema. “It is quite hilly,” adds Daley. “The run also winds its way out towards Kilnadeema as well, so there are plenty of hills.”

Naturally, to pull an event of this magnitude together takes a great deal of organisation from all involved. Race Organiser Daley is quick in his praise. “The Gardaí are really good, as are Loughrea Town Council,” says the Sheffield native.

“We have roads closed for part of the race, which you have to do, particularly for the kids’ part of the race. So, the Gardaí, the Civil Defence and Loughrea Town Council all play their part in helping out. Then, we have our own local club members. We ask them, for just one weekend a year, to help out and they do. We set it all up on the Saturday, so come Sunday everything is ready to go.”

Although there will be competitors from all over the world, including the UK and Lithuania, most of the field will travel from right across the country, from as far away as Belfast, Cork and Dublin. However, the one to beat will be Galway City native and defending champion, Ruaidhrí Geraghty, who has become something of a specialist in the sport.

“Yeah, Ruaidhrí Geraghty won it last year and he is entered again this year,” says Daley. “The winner gets €100 and an engraved, glass trophy, but it is all about the prestige of winning it.

“From our own club, Maírtín Grealish could win it this year. He won Brian Boru (Tri Challenge, Killaloe) two weeks ago and came second in the Lough Ree (Monster Sprint, Roscommon) last week. He is doing the European Duathlon Championships this week in Edinburgh. He is going really well at the moment.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.