CROOKED LAKE DELIVERS

THE 19th Crooked Lake Triathlon was deemed a resounding success by those who took part on Saturday.

Amazingly, but not surprisingly, the sun shone throughout the 0.75km swim, 20k cycle and 5k run at Camlough Lake.

Per usual it was the recently appointed Newry Mourne and Down chairperson first public engagement and he sounded the claxon for almost 400 competitors.

Olympian Russell White was the winner, with an impressive time of 0.55.51, he has won the race before and the fact he keeps returning is a ringing endorsement for the Crooked Lake organisers, headed up by Catherine Murphy.

The Crooked Lake was National Sprint Championship Race with Pearse Gallagher (0.56.51) finished runner-up and Mathys Bocquet (0.57.09) in third, while Newry’s Matthew Kinkaid was the first local home (seventh overall) with an impressive time of 0.59.29.

Catherine Sands (1.06.07) finished runners-up and was the first local female home. Aisling Wyer (1.04.51) was the female winner, with Helen Perry (1.06.33) completing the podium.

While the time was fast, every person that entered the event deserves huge credit. Three people didn’t finish, while times didn’t count for 25 others, with 370 recording chipped times.

There were several notable competitors, including 50 members from Newry Tri Club wearing their bright orange colours. The smiles from first timers crossing the finishing line was unmistakable with Ryan O’Driscoll beaming with joy. There were some great times, Marty Mallon, young Joshua Muckian, Newry Tri members Mark McGivern and Niall McCarron, Ballyholland lads Ronan Murtagh, Damian McCrink along with Iron Man competitor Oliver Harkin. Crossmaglen’s Eddie Carville finished well, as did Camlough men Peter Quinn and James Loughran, while Ross Collins impressed.

Kinkaid, who also won the 30-34 age category, praised the organisers but admitted that the competition was a bit too fast for his liking.

“Now that the race is over it feels great, I definitely powered through it, it was full gas from the gun, said Kinkaid.

“For the most part it was a good race, the pace was on from the start, there was a lot of really fast juniors and I managed to hang on in the swim (0.9.51) then got on the bike and lit it up, up the hill as best I could and found myself in a pretty good position coming off the bike (0.38.29). It took a wee while for the legs to come around in the run (0.20.26). In the first couple of kilometres, I struggled a bit but in the last two kilometres I was feeling pretty good and I think I came in third senior, maybe fifth or sixth overall, including the juniors. It is a good result and I am happy with the performance.

“It is one of the best organised events in the country, well one of the best I have ever been too. It is a really good atmosphere, great support from the local community, friends and family. I absolutely love this race and it gets five stars from me; it is a fantastic event.”

Next up for Kinkaid is the grueling Sheephaven Half in Donegal at the end of the month.

“It is middle distance in Donegal, it is probably a distance that suits me better, I really like the longer stuff, it is slow burn rather than the intense pain of today, so I am looking forward to getting out there and really lighting it up in Donegal.”

Catherine Sands was the first female home last year and she was content with the runner up spo on Saturday, despite not feeling 100 percent, but she enjoyed the race.

“The atmosphere here is class, even beforehand going around the route on the bike or coming out to the lake, it is a great incentive to use the local roads,” said Sands.

“Look at the amount of people down here today and the sun comes out every year so if you ever want to make plans make sure it is the same day as this.”

Sands was a silver medallist along with Chloe MacCombe at the World Triathlon Para Series and Commonwealth Games last year and insists that the Crooked Lake Triathlon in Camlough is good preparation for her ahead of the Paris Para Olympics later this year.

“My other events are with Chloe so it was kind of strange not having her there today, especially on the run, she is a really good runner,” Sands said.

“My training is all geared towards the sprint distance with Chloe for the Paralympics in September, it is the same distance as this. Coming back strong now after having a back injury earlier in the year. We have a few months to go, so I may start rocking it up.”