Aileen wins silver in London to finish eighth in world triathlon series

North West Triathlon Club's very own Aileen Reid claimed a stunning second place in the final leg of the World Triathlon Series in London. Aileen, a former pupil of Thornhill College, described her achievement as “amazing”. The result means she finishes the International Triathlon Union world series in eighth place overall. “I was running with Jodie [Simpson] and Moffy [Emma Moffat] and I just thought, how am I staying here? “I felt good and saw I got a wee bit of a gap on Jodie so I just pushed more and more to see if I could get a medal. “I’m totally delighted with second place. It’s amazing.” Aileen, who represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in London last summer, took to social network site Twitter to thank her fans and her family moments after the race. “So many messages. So thankful. My family 4th time coming to London finally a result. So happy.” she said. Aileen finished the race only 25 seconds behind winner and now current world champion, Non Stanford.

What better way to remember top athlete Colm Quigley

Up to 200 people are expected to lace up their trainers in the Bogside on Thursday to run in memory of one of Derry’s best known athletes. North West Triathlon Club legend Colm Quigley, died suddenly on March 20, 2011. He was 39. He competed with distinction for his club and country on many occasions during a lifetime of triathlon and athletics events. Thursday night will see the annual Jog in Bog 5k race held in his memory and his son Daniel - himself a promising young triathlete - is urging those who raced against his dad over the years as well as runners and fun runners of all abilities to take part in the event. “What better way to remember my da than holding a race in his memory,” Daniel told the Journal. “We hope to have an even bigger entry this year for what is a great race and at just £5 to enter it’s the cheapest chip-timed race with tee-shirt and refreshments you’ll get anywhere.” Colm Quigley was a familiar figure in athletics, especially on the Triathlon Ireland circuit where he is fondly remembered as one of the country’s top triathletes and a trusted mentor. Peter Jack, of Triangle Triathlon Club, said: “He always had time for you, he always had a bit of craic and he always had an interest in what other athletes were doing and an awful lot of athletes looked up to Colm because they knew that he succeeded at the highest level.” “He was very highly regarded in the North-West Triathlon Club and in Triathlon Ireland. He loved racing, he loved training and he loved putting back into the sport that gave him so much.” President of Athletics Northern Ireland Derry Gerry Lynch said Colm was a “terrific athlete who competed with distinction over the years”. Conal Heatley, former Triathlon Ireland Secretary General and one of the pioneers of the development of Triathlon in Ireland, said Colm’s reputation in the sport outstanding. “I did not know Colm particularly well, but I knew enough to fear him as a competitor and respect him as a man. He had represented his club and country with distinction over many years, earning the admiration of those that he raced against. But although an outstanding athlete, it was his willingness to put something back into the sport that highlighted his dedication and generosity. Colm was deeply involved in sport in the North West, for many years a lynchpin of the local triathlon club where he made his mark in coaching, race organising, racing and generally cajoling members.” Derry elite triathlete, Irish Olympian Aileen Morrison, who is currently racing on the international circuit, will never forget the generosity of Colm at the beginning of her life in triathlon. “Colm brought me over my first race bike when it arrived, and built it. This was the kind of Colm, he’d do anything for anybody. Colm arrived at training with a bit of pipe insulation for the handlebars to put my watch onto. He had a whole bag of bits cut up - one for everybody in the audience. Colm’s generosity and kind spirit made him one in a million,” she said. Thursday’s Jog in the Bog, organised by the Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum will commence at 7.30pm with registration in the Gasyard Centre from 6pm. All are welcome. (IAN CULLEN, DERRY JOURNAL)

Aileen seeks to break into world top ten in London

Derry triathlete Aileen Reid is determined to exorcise the demons from her London 2012 Olympic Games nightmare when she lines-up in Saturday’s ITU World Championships in the English capital. The North West Triathlon Club member had gone to the 2012 Olympics with a top 10 finish in her sights, but finished bloodied, tearful and in 43rd place after crashing on the first lap of the cycle session. Now the 30 year-old, who is ranked 11th in the World Triathlon Series, goes into the Grand Final confident that her preparations are on the right track. “I have been training at altitude in Morzine, France with my training group,” said Reid. “My family and some friends will be there in London to watch and I hope to put right my dreadful past experiences with the London course where I’ve crashed twice including last year in the Olympics.” Aileen currently lies just 30 points off the top 10 of the World Triathlon Series and with bumper points on offer for London’s Grand Final a good result could see her break into that golden group. The Elite women’s race will start at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday. Aileen will be part of Team Ireland’s 277 strong squad in London, made up of senior elite and U23 elite triathletes, four paratriatletes and 267 Age Group triathletes which includes local triathletes, Maeve Maher McWilliams, Aoife Logan, Jarlath Fearon, Roisin Lynch, Joanne Doran and Patrick McLaughlin. (DERRY JOURNAL)

NWTC cheers on the famous five in world championships

North West Triathlon Club is cheering on five club members competing for Ireland in the Triathlon Age Group World Championships in London this week.

Maeve Maher McWilliams from Muff, Aoife Logan from Buncrana, Jarlath Fearon, Roisin Lynch and Joanne Doran, all from Derry, are part of the Triathlon Ireland team,managed by another one of our own, Carndonagh Ironman Patrick McLaughlin.
And of course our own Aileen Reid will be competing for honours in the elite women's race.
Aoife , will compete in the aquathon and sprint, Roisin will compete in the sprint, Maeve Maher-McWilliams, Joanne Doran & Jarlath Fearon will all compete in the standard triathlon.
Jarlath is no stranger to competing internationally, having represented Ireland at the European age group championship in Athlone in 2010 where he finished in the top ten in his age group. 

He said: "I'm looking forward to the buzz of the whole weekend, taking part in my own race and watching the elites in their races. I'm hoping all those from the North West Triathlon Club enjoy the weekend and race to their potential."

Roisin qualified for World Triathlon Championships by finishing second in her age category (5O- 60yrs. ) in the National Triathlon Series last  season.  "This will be my first year to represent Ireland at triathlon and, consequently, will be a life long ambition fulfilled since I have been involved in triathlons longer than I can remember. On three previous occasions I have represented Ireland at British and Irish Masters Cross Country Championships O- 60 Team and now, competing so close to home where family and friends will come to support, will be the icing on the cake. My goal is to complete the race in a respectable time and savour the excitement of such a prestigious event at this renowned Olympic venue. A good story for my little grand-daughter , Aimee."

Maeve set her sights on a world championship place ahead of last season. "My aim last year was to qualify for London and I managed to tick all the boxes, finishing second in my age group at Athlone National Championships standard distance and finishing top 5 in my age group in the TI national series rankings at the end of the season.
"I've been very happy with my season this year, having a number of placings and age group wins. And the big race is still to come. I'm hoping to hold the form I've shown this year at London and will go out next Sunday at 7.30am and give it my all. It's going to be a brilliant experience and it's great to know there'll be some Irish flags and familiar friendly faces cheering us on along the way."

Aoife Logan, had a strong 2012 and goes into the race having enjoyed an equally impressive 2013 season. "I'm really looking forward to the atmosphere. I was in London cheering on Aileen in the Olympics last year it was electric - it'll be fantastic to take part in an event with even a fraction of that atmosphere."

Following a long struggle with injury at the start of the season, Joanne has enjoyed blistering good form recently and can go into the championships with confidence.
 The local triathletes are part of a 300-strong Triathlon Ireland squad which will travel to the London to compete in events covering various distances. Among the TI management team is North West Triathlon’s Club’s Paddy McLaughlin.

The Carndonagh man - who recently competed for Ireland in the European Long Distance Triathlon Championships at Vichy in France - is one of four managers in the Irish squad.

He said: “To have five triathletes in the Irish squad from North West Triathlon Club is an excellent result for the club.

“Maeve, Jarlath, Roisin, Aoife and Joanne have had tremendous results in the Triathlon Ireland National Series and Championship to qualify and I’m sure they’ll do us proud in London. Some of them are taking part in two races at the championships.”

Up to 5,000 of the world’s best amateur triathletes will be competing in and around Hyde Park with 277 athletes in the TI squad.

(PIC: DERRY JOURNAL)

World class coach returns for winter training session

True to his word after the City of Culture coaching evening, top international triathlon coach Chris Jones is returning to Derry for another session.

This time it's for a full day, on Sunday, September 22.

The session will begin with a pool (skills) session 9-10:30am, followed by a lecture and then a track session focusing on running conditioning. After a break for lunch, there'll be another lecture and to finish off there'll be a bike turbo session until about 4:30pm.

Lectures will be on structuring your winter training and planning towards the 2014 season..

It's testament to the ambition of the club that one of the world's top triathlon coaches wants to come back for more following his visit during the summer. Everyone who attended the last session agreed it was highly worth while.

The day course is limited to 30 people and places are available on a first come basis.

There will be a £10 charge for club members to be paid by Sunday, September 1 and £20 for non-members. Email your interest to Karl, Joe or Eamon.

 

Dan's the man in last Creggan aquathon in 2013

Daniel Quigley was first past the post in the last open water club aquathon of the season.
Mark Murray was a close second, just 15 seconds off Dan's time of 23:15. Joe Doherty was in third, posting 25:25.
And so that's it for another season at Creggan Reservoir.

Speaking on behlaf of the committee, Eamon Harkin said  "A big thank-you to all who helped out, over the summer at our reservoir swims, especially the boat cover crew. Thanks lads. See you all next May."

The full results/times from Monday's race follow:

Place    Name.          Swim.              Finish 

1 Dan Quigley            11:13.               24:15

2 Mark Murray         10:30.               24:30

3 Joe Doherty           10:26.               25:25 

4 James Beattie       11:22.              25:39 

5 Paul Slavin.           12:39.              26:27

6 Johnny McLaren      12:27.              27:01 

7 Ciaran McKenny.  12:05.             27:29 

8 Adrian Kelly.          12:35.             27:30 

9 Dermott Connelly  13:59.             28:19 

10 Brian Bradley.      14:43.            29:23

11 Peter McLaughlin    13:28.           29:24 

12 Brian McLaughlin     12:47.           29:43 

13 Oran MCBride.     15:40.           30:09

14 Miriam McFadden 12:56.         30:30 

15 Riosin Lynch         14:36.          31:50 

16 Liam Harte            16:30.          32:48 

Peter McCamphill       14:30         29:10 2laps 

Thomas Long              Dnf 

Relays

1 The Lake Coma 2      10:20.        23:28

2 The @ Team              12:29.       24:32

3 The A+ Team            15:22.       31:24 

NWTC braves the Foyle in Three Bridges Swim

North West Triathlon Club members were out in force for the annual Foyle Search and Rescue Three Bridges Swim last Sunday. Conditions were tougher than usual for the swimmers but the North West crew battled the wind-whipped waves of the raging river with grit and determination. Around 50 people - the majority of them clib members -took to water for the 2.6 mile swim from Foyle Bridge to Craigavon Bridge. Some of the brave souls even continued their challenge as far as the boathouse at Prehen. Among the swimmers were a few 'purists' who took to the water without wetsuits, including recently crowned Irish long distance swimming champion, Gerard Curran who was first back to the boathouse. Amy Coll of Foyle Search and Rescue said the event raised more than £2,000 for the charity. “It all went brilliantly despite the river conditions,” she said. “It was a rough swim with the wind blowing against the swimmers - which made it challenging. But everyone seemed to get through it alright and really enjoy it. "Most importantly the event raised vital funds to go towards new swift water rescue equipment and we’d like to thank everyone who took part as well as those who supported them,” she said. Well done all.