Brave hearts at the Land of the Giants Duathlon 2017!

January 2, 2018

Race report and results from the Land of the Giants Duathlon Claremorris 2017.

Tough cold conditions greeted over 300 athletes at the annual Land of the Giants Duathlon in Claremorris on December 28. With temperatures barely above freezing, organisers pulled all the strings necessary to make sure the course was safe to race on.

Huge input from local volunteers made sure pathways were salted and gritted and all passageways were cleared just in time for the start at Market Square in the town.

With quite a few participants not willing to brave the cold instead deciding to stay wrapped up in their duvets rather than donning their runners, yet despite this the field was only marginally down on last year’s record numbers.

For those that made the journey from near and as far away as Australia the cold conditions did not dampen the moods, as there was a festive atmosphere in the air and a competitive field aiming to come home with personal bests.

All participants were keen to have a go with the aim of burning a few Christmas calories on the challenging but iconic course.

Paul Dixon the main sponsor of the event and also a participant “Praised the locals especially the Gardai, the Men’s shed group and the local Chamber of Commerce for what he called a community coup, it was easier to postpone the event but with great camaraderie every stop was pulled to make it happen.

How the event unfolded

A super fast run by Karol Cronin, Sports World threw the cat amongst the pigeons by upsetting pre race favourites Aichlinn O Reilly of Westport Tri and Cathal O’Donovan from Cork Tri. On the bike, O Reilly’s power took over showing a clean pair of heels to the Cork man with Cronin now fading back through the pack.

Going into the final run, O’Reilly had a commanding lead with well over a minute; with Sligo man Feidhlam Mc Gowan catching the Cork man on the final run to net second with O’Donovan back in third.

In the ladies race, Mary Daly, Westport had to overcome a strong running challenge from local Paula Prendergast, only catching her towards the middle of the bike leg and Daly held a strong pace in the final run to hold off the Claremorris woman. In third place was Dublin woman Bairbre Doyle.

For most of the participants the event is used as a personal challenge or an excuse to meet up with friends while adding a bit of exercise to the mix, the banter at the finish line the storey of lost seconds the tit for tat battles on the road all unfold back in the square and later that evening it’s a great reason to go out and celebrate their achievements.

Roll on 2018!

Event Full results supplied by Core timing https://drive.google.com/open…

Main sponsors were Dixon & Dever Project Management Services Ltd.

Support sponsors of the event:

The Mc William Park Hotel, Flynn pharmacy and Colette Jordan Associates Architectural Engineering & Energy Consulting

The event was supported by

Claremorris Leisure Centre, Claremorris Chamber of Commerce, Mc Mahon Park committee

Mayo County Council, Road Safety Authority. Claremorris Men’s Shed groups, Claremorris Gardai and Claremorris Red Cross.

Overall Result;…
1st Place – Aichlinn O Reilly – Westport Tri Club 52;58

2nd Place – Feidhlam Mc Gowan – Sligo Tri Club 54:24

3rd Place – Cathal O Donovan – Cork Tri 54:41

Female;…
1st Mary Daly Westport Tri 1:04:21

2nd Paula Prendergast Claremorris 1:05:49

3rd Bairbre Doyle Serpentine RC Dublin 1:06:52

Category sections:…

O40 – Male > Eamon Mc Andrew – Sligo Tri club

O40 – Female > Maggie Vahey – Lough Key Tri club
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O50 – Male > Jimmy Lawlor – MultiSport Westport

O50 – Female > Ann Wynne – Killilea Carrick on Shannon

O60 – Male > John Jennings – Castlebar CC
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Junior;…
Male: – Thierry Baba

Female: – Orla Harrison TC racing
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Relay;…
1st Malone / Mulcahy – Hollymount Wheelers

2nd Hession/ O Donnell – Hollymount Wheelers

3rd Ferrick/ Conroy – Western Lakes CC

Winners of The Land of the Giants Ladies Race were:Left to right:Bairbre Doyle(3rd:London), Mary Daly (1st:Hollymount Wheelers), Paula Prendergast(2nd: Claremorris). Pic:Trish Forde

Winner of The Land of the Giants Duathlon held in Claremorris, main sponsor was Dixon & Dever Quantity Surveyors & Project Managers, Claremorris:Left to right: Féidhlim McGowan(2nd:Sligo Tri-Club), Féidhlim McGowan(Sligo Tri-Club) and Cathal O’Donovan(3rd: Cork Tri-Club).
Pic:Trish Forde.