Clonmel Triathlon Club members were victorious in Carrick-on-Suir Duathlon

The top placed women athletes: Aoife Trihy (2nd) Susan Hickey (1st) and Denise Compton (3rd)

Clonmel Triathlon Club athletes were victorious in both the men’s and women’s contests in Carrick Triathlon Club’s annual race  that attracted more than 150 super fit competitors from all over Ireland.

The organisers cancelled the swim section of the race for safety reasons due to high water levels in the River Suir arising from recent heavy rainfalls. The event, which took place on Sunday, July 23, instead became a running and cycling duathlon.

Garry McCarthy of Carrick-on-Suir Triathlon Club said swim races in other triathlons in the region were also called off for the same reason as were the Barry McCarthy Memorial Swim Races scheduled for the River Suir in Carrick the previous weekend.

The swim was replaced with a 2.5km run along the Suir Blueway starting at Sean Healy Park in Carrick. This was followed by a 20km cycle from Carrick to Kilsheelan and back.

The duathlon concluded with a 5km run along the Blueway again. Michael Scully from Clonmel Triathlon Club won the men’s event with Paul Ogle of Waterford Triathlon Club and John O’Rourke from the Tried & Tested Triathlon Club in Dungarvan placing second and third respectively.

Clonmel Triathlon Club’s Susan Hickey was first in the women’s competition followed by county Waterford competitor Aoife Trihy in second place and Denise Compton from Tipperary Town in third place.

Carrick-on-Suir Triathlon Club’s best placed member was a new competitor to the sport Michael O’Loughlin, who has competed professionally as a cyclist and represented Ireland in the sport. He is better known locally for his association with Carrick Wheelers Cycling Club.

Michael placed fourth overall in the men’s race and was first in his age category. “

Carrick Triathlon Club’s next best performers were Shane O’Keeffe, James Maher and Terry Fitzgerald.

Garry thanked all involved in organising and stewarding the race along with Carrick Davins GAA Club for allowing competitors use its facilities, the Irish Red Cross and Carrick River Rescue for their support and advice.

Garry also thanked all who supported the raffle in aid of South Tipperary Hospice that was held instead of the Barry McCarthy Memorial Swims, which are named after his deceased twin brother and are always a fundraiser for the charity.

He said the raffle’s top prize of a piece of Waterford Crystal was won by Alban Coughlan. Carrick Triathlon Club will present a cheque for the proceeds of the raffle to South Tipperary Hospice in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, four Carrick Triathlon Club members Terry Fitzgerald, Garry McCarthy, Stan Power and Darren Grace are now looking ahead to competing in the gruelling Ironman Ireland competition in Youghal on August 19.