From Athy to Hamburg, OTC athletes excel

OMAGH Triathlon Club (OTC) were in Kildare for the Triathy series of triathlons.

The town of Athy is the homeplace of this spectacle of multisport with the choice of a try-a-tri, sprint, Olympic or TA-100 distances.

A handful of OTC members took part in the Olympic event. This standard triathlon is made up of a 1,500m swim in the River Barrow, with a 600m pull upstream before doing a U-turn and facing the 900m downstream.

Once upon the bike, it was a single 40km loop running to the south of Athy.

Lastly it was time for the 10km run that would take the competitors on a two-lap course around Athy town and over the Horse Bridge to finish at the Athy Community Library.

Results for OTC athletes: Eddie Molloy - 29.39 - 01.06.42 - 39.29 - 02.21.57; Lucy McDermott - 31.15 - 01.15.34 - 47.29 - 02.41.22; Cathy Cunningham - 27.13 - 01.18.27 - 52.18 - 02.44.39; Gemma Skeath - 29.57 - 01.21.51 - 47.59 - 02.45.52 and Gerard Turbitt - 32.26 - 01.22.43 - 57.44 - 03.01.30.

Cathy and Gerard both won their age groups, picking up valuable points for the National Series.

The hardy Curran Brothers of Liam, Sean, Peadar, and Niall all opted for the new-for-2025 TA-100 race - aptly named for the total 100km distance to be covered.

Similar to the Olympic, the swim is slightly longer at 2,000m consisting of a 1,000m upstream in the River Barrow and coming back downstream to transition one.

The 80km bike is made up of two laps of the 40km route, with the 18km run made up of four laps of a circuit to the South of Athy on defined pathways and walkways.

Results: Liam Curran - 47.42 - 02.57.49 - 01.48.21 - 05.43.45; Sean Curran - 59.14 - 02.44.37 - 02.06.26 - 06.01.33; Peadar Curran - 01.14.15 - 02.38.34 - 02.02.20 - 06.13.41; Niall Curran - 01.15.53 - 03.25.01 - 02.00.48 - 06.58.27.

Also on Saturday was the return of the annual James McManus Sprint Triathlon.

The day began with high hopes as the weather seemed to be in favour, before the rain and wind began becoming increasingly worse. No strangers to rough weather, the competitors lined up in Brackley Lough for the swim, managing the 750m course with minimal difficulty - with four out of the first six out of the water our own men.

Out of the waters and the wetsuits stripped off, the fast bike course lay ahead. An out-and-back course made up the 20km, and the wind didn't let up.

Back into transition came everyone to rack their bikes and slip on the running shoes. The final 5km run was before them and a beautiful route was planned. Another out-and-back with a kicker of a hill right in the middle was a tough test but no bother to everyone.

Among the 40 who were competing from OTC, a special shoutout goes to Conor Maguire who won the men’s race, to Jude Harkin who came third overal and to Niamh Heaney who finished as second lady overall.

A huge well done is also due to Dervla Heaney, Laura Fitzpatrick, Seamus Arkinson, Sean Healy and Marie Cowgill who won their categories. Adrian McKinney, Michael Holland, Sinead Donnelly, Sean Gillespie and Alanna McAleer scooped up second in their categories.

Finally Niamh Prevett, Sean McAleer and Barry McCann all collected third in their categories.

Further afield this weekend was Ironman Hamburg where Damian O’Hagan, Shane McGale and Gareth Fegan were competing.

The swim took place at the Jungfernstieg, the city's iconic promenade in the heart of Hamburg.

The single lap takes the athletes through the inner and outer Alster with Damian emerging after 01.09.05.

Shane wasn't far behind with a 01.14.23, and Gareth completing the 3.8km swim in 01.29.01. After the swim it was time for the competitors to hang up the wetsuits and unrack the bikes for the 180km cycle.

The bike route is two laps from Hamburg's city centre and along some fantastic scenic views. A fast, flat course meant the men could put some serious power down throughout the bike.

O'Hagan did just that, completing the entire bike split in an incredible 4hrs 47mins 28secs!

Shane didn't let off the pressure as he got round the cycle in 06.24.09, with Gareth starting the run after 07.13.44. Lastly it was time for the marathon.

The 42.2km run is made up of a four-lap course around Hamburg - eventually leading to the red carpet and the infamous words, "You are an Ironman".

Damian continued to set the pace with a fantastic run time of 03.29.15, with Gareth finishing the run after 05.01.41 and McGale completing the marathon in 05.55.50.

Results: Damian O'Hagan - 09.40.23, Shane McGale - 13.59.08, Gareth Fegan - 14.04.33.