North West Triathlon Club to feature on BBC 2 this weekend

North West Triathlon Club is to feature on BBC 2 as part of a highlights programme on this weekend's ITU World Triathlon Series race in Japan.

A BBC Sport crew filmed club members during open water swim training on Monday night as part of a TV package on triathlon ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this year.

North West Triathlon Club was chosen due to the success of club member and elite triathlete, Aileen Reid, who will compete in the third ITU World Series event of the season in Yokohama on Sunday.

BBC Sport presenter Sonali Shah said she had “a lovely day of filming” with the club at Creggan Reservoir on Monday.

North West Triathlon Club secretary Paddy McLaughlin said the club was honoured by the coverage.

“Derry was chosen as the location for the Northern Ireland coverage for the programme due to the membership of Aileen Reid who is one of the world's top triathletes. We're all very proud of our very own Olympian, who was last season ranked eighth female in the ITU world standings. As a result of her well earned success the profile of our club and interest in the sport locally has soared.

“Membership has more than doubled in the past few years due to the success of Aileen internationally and the ever growing popularity of the sport as a whole. More than 70 club members attended the first open water swim training of the season in Creggan Country Park reservoir on Monday and it was great to see the sun come out for the visit of the camera crew and BBC presenter Sonali Shah.

“The footage is due to be televised on BBC 2 on Sunday as part of the Triathlon World Series highlights programme which starts at 4.30pm. Unfortunately the show clashes with GAA coverage on BBC NI but will be shown across all other BBC regions and will further raise the profile of our club.”

2013 Liam Ball Champions retain their titles

Last years Liam Ball Triathlon winners powered home to retain their titles in Derry on Sunday.

Belfast triathlete Paul Carroll of Olympian Triathlon Club and Caoimhe Ni Mhurchu of Sligo TC finished the 750 metre swim, 20k cycle and 5k run in fine style at the 29th instalment of the sprint event.

Carroll stormed to victory in a impressive time of 1:00:11 with Bernard McCullagh of Go Tri Triathlon Club in second, posting a time of 1:00:35. North West Triathlon Club's Aaron Deane put in a stellar performance to open his 2014 triathlon season, clinching the third podium spot in 1:01:46.

Ni Mhurchu was the first female finisher for the second year running, posting a superb time of 1:09:26. North West Triathlon Club's Maeve Maher McWilliams got her season off to a fantastic start with a second place finish in 1:10:29 while Adele Neill of Larne AC took the final podium place, posting 1:13:24.

Around 200 triathletes lined out for Sunday's Total Cycling Liam Ball Sprint Triathlon which got underway at 8.30am with the first of six waves.

There were some very strong performances from local triathletes. NWTC's Daniel Quigley finished seventh overall, posting 1:04:08 while there were several other club members among the top 20 finishers.

There were also many novices and first time triathletes taking who put in impressive performances alongside the elite and seasoned competitors. Veterans such as Terry Donnelly and Danny Sheerin who have taken part in all of the annual Derry pool triathlons at Templemore Sports Complex kept their records alive while Roisin Lynch completed her 28th Liam Ball event in fine style.

Congratulating the winners, Race Director Patrick McLaughlin said the event was "huge success".

"Once again we have enjoyed a hugely successful and safe Liam Ball Sprint Triathlon. There were some fantastic performances today right throughout the six waves, from the overall winners Paul an Caoimhe and the triathletes who posted PBs to those taking part in the event for the first time. 

"As always the atmosphere at the event was electric despite the rain showers and we'd like to thank everyone who turned out to support the triathletes and make he event extra special. A special word of thanks must go to all the marshals who volunteered their time to stand in the rain and ensure the safety of all the competitors as well as cheering them on when they needed it most. Without the marshals and the others who gave up their time we could not have staged the event at all."

North West Triathlon Club will now focus on organising it next big event, the firm us energy City of Derry Triathlon in July.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7tuGnlc5lDZMHhFS014el95RnM/preview?pli=1

2014 TotalCycling.com Liam Ball Triathlon Results

Hi folks finally the results.

Well done to everyone today in what where at some stages tropical conditions. Anyway well earned rest now for you all & here are the results, more news later

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7tuGnlc5lDZMHhFS014el95RnM/edit?usp=sharing

225 triathletes limber up for 2014 Liam Ball Sprint

A total of 225 competitors will take on the endurance challenge of the 29th Liam Ball Triathlon in Derry this weekend.

North West Triathlon Club's first annual triathlon sprint event of the season will take place at Templemore Sports Complex on Sunday morning.

The event will see elite and seasoned age group triathletes compete for honours while a record number of first timers have also signed up for this years swim-bike-run challenge.

Sponsored by Total Cycling, this year's Liam Ball Sprint Triathlon was sold out within days such is the popularity of the event which is one of the longest standing triathlons in Ireland.

All eyes will be on last year's winner Paul Carroll of Olympian Triathlon Club as he attempts to retain his crown, although the 2013 Liam Ball event's second placed triathlete, Kristopher Muldoon of Dig Deep Coaching, will be vying go one better this time around.

Among the female competitors expected to shine on Sunday is last year's winner Caoimhe Ni Mhurchu of Sligo Triathlon Club while North West Triathlon Club's very own Maeve Maher McWilliams will be hoping to continue her good form of last season with an impressive performance on home ground.

The entries have been split into six waves with the first competitors beginning the 750 metre pool swim, 20km cycle and 5k run at 8.30am and the last wave competing for top honours from 10.55am.

A total of 184 men and 41 women, including 40 novices, will take part in the event.

Triathletes from as young as 16 years-old will be competing, among them Triathlon Ireland high performance junior squad members, Harry Speers and Aoife fay.

Veterans such as Derry's own Danny Sheerin and Terry Donnelly will be taking part in their 29th Liam Ball Triathlon, having finished every event since its inception while North West Triathlon Club veteran Roisin Lynch, who represented Ireland at the Triathlon World Championships in London last year, will be competing in the event for the 28th time.

Race Director Patrick McLaughlin said the event had proven "as popular as always" this year.

""Entries were sold out within a few days this year and as usual the event has attracted triathletes from all over the country," he said.

"“The Liam Ball triathlon is one of the longest running sporting events in the city and one of the highlights in the North West's sporting calendar - it's also the longest running triathlon in all of Ireland. A lot of planning has gone into this year's race to ensure that it is yet another safe and enjoyable event and we as a club would like to thank our sponsors and everyone involved in its organisation,” he added."

Registration for the event will be held at the Coffee Dock, Templemore Sports Complex on Saturday from 4pm to 5.30pm and again on Sunday morning from 7.15am to 8.45pm.

A prize giving ceremony will take place in Templemore Sports Complex at 1pm.