The most beautiful sunshine glistened atop the calm waters of Cill Chirain Bay as competitors from all over the country and indeed various parts of the world gathered for the 2009 edition of Triathlon Chonamara. The south Connemara coastline looked her world renowned best as the 200+ participants headed out into the bay on the swim leg.

With some local relay teams of extremely high calibre taking part there was quiet a wait for the first individual competitor, Oisin McGrath of Ennis tri club, to emerge from the water. He was hotly pursued by Colm Quigley (North West) and Pat Touhy (Mullaghmore), less than 1 minute back. Out on the road however the Ennis man was chased down and arrived back in transition significantly behind his two rivals. Touhy used his superior run to see Quigley into second. McGrath recovered after T2 as he powered out a blistering 40:32 on the run but it wasn’t enough to retake a podium position from Limerick’s Darragh Dunne who eventually finished 3rd in the individual.

The ladies provided an equally ding dong race. Local girl Clíodhna Uí Ruáín (Galway tri club) followed lead swimmer Sinead Roche (Midland Tri) out on to the cycle. However Fiona Stephenson pushed hard on the bike to arrive back in T2 over two minutes ahead of her rivals, a lead she would hold on to until the end. Roche finished second as the inexperienced Uí Ruáín, in her first Olympic distance race, faded on the infamously tough run to finish 3rd.

The first finisher on the day was Galway man Iain Egan who’s sub 40 minute run was the perfect tonic for his relay teammate Brian O’Donnell’s 1:03: 40 bike leg. Both times were the fastest respective splits of the day.

Race director Eileen Sweeney thanked TI officials Nicky Power and Brian Galvin for their time and effort and congratulated all the prize winners on the day. Galway Triathlon Club would like to thank all who took part in making Triathlon Chonamara a great day out in particular our Sponsors Nigel’s Cycle Store, Hanly’s Mensware, Evergreen, Galway County Council, John Butler sports therapists,   ‘Is féidir libh go leir’

Please see attached provisional results under the 'Attached Documents' section.

 There is also a link to photos taken at the race.

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CopyRight Galway Triathlon Club 2006