The Year in Review: Standard Distance National Champs

This year’s National Standard Distance Triathlon Championships were hosted by Wicklow Triathlon Club at the Base2Race Wicklow Harbourman Triathlon on July 7th.

We review the 2019 champs and list all of the Age Group podium athletes from 18-19 right up to 70-74. Everyone on this list will be honoured at the Triathlon Ireland Annual Awards in the Conrad Hotel, Dublin on November 23rd.

Tickets are on sale now – don’t delay – this event sells out quickly! 

Great conditions

Near perfect weather conditions for the second year running greeted athletes arriving in Wicklow for the 2019 National Standard Distance Champs, and a memorable day of triathlon got underway. With stacked fields in both the men’s and women’s races, over 400 triathletes took to the water of Wicklow Harbour vying for a chance at a national age group title as well as vital BMW Triathlon National Series points.

The swim course at Base2Race Harbourman is as enjoyable as they come, taking athletes outside the walls of the Harbour in crystal clear water for one 1500 metre  lap before heading out into the rolling Wicklow countryside for the 40 kilometre bike. The ten kilometre run takes athletes on an out and back leg before looping the town twice, taking in a challenging set of steps once on each lap.

second national title of 2019 for Walsh

In the women’s race, Ailbhe Carroll led from the gun, having the quickest swim of the field and holding her lead on the bike. In the closing stages of the run Carroll’s HupHup teammate Orla Walsh overtook her with 1800 metres to go. 

Racing in her first ever standard distance triathlon, UCD student Orla Walsh earned her second national title of the year, having won the Aquathlon National Championships earlier in the season. 

In the race for the bronze, Kim Hickey overtook Amy O’Keeffe and Emma Porter out on the run course to move into third and hold for the second five kilometres of the run. 

Women’s standard distance national championships podium

1	Orla	Walsh
2	Ailbhe	Carroll
3	Kim	Hickey	Pulse TC

Women’s Age group Standard Distance National Champions

20-24	1	Orla	Walsh	–
	2	Niamh	Corry	Piranha TC
	3	Roisin	Dunne	Trilogy TC
25-29	1	Ailbhe	Carroll	–
	2	Emma	Porter	–
	3	Amy	O’Keeffe	Cork TC
30-34	1	Kate	Fitzpatrick	Wicklow TC
	2	Clare	Dillon	Pulse TC
	3	Jennifer	Hennebry	Waterford TC
35-39	1	Ellen	Murphy	Belpark TC
	2	Sarah	Stapleton	Pulse TC
	3	Deirdre	McAleer	Wicklow TC
40-44	1	Kim	Hickey	Pulse TC
	2	Olivia	McCartin	Athlone TC
	3	Esther	Bayon	Pulse TC
45-49	1	Donna	Mahon	Belpark TC
	2	Breda	Daly	Midland TC
	3	Tara	Johnston	Naas TC
50-54	1	Cathy	Cunningham	Omagh TC
	2	Orla	McAndrew	Wicklow TC
	3	Eileen	O’Sullivan	Active Multisport TC
55-59	1	Siobhan	Kennedy	–
	2	Eimear	Mathews	Trilogy TC
	3	Liz	Rouine	Piranha TC
60-64	1	June	McMinn	Peninsula TC
	2	Majella	Diskin	–
	3	Patricia	Eadie	Piranha TC
65-69	1	Berenice	Maher	Northwest TC
	2	Cora	O’Mahony	–
	3	–

two in a row for Chris Mintern

Eight days after he climbed the top step of the podium at the Middle Distance National Championships, Chris Mintern added a second national title to his list of achievements with an assured victory at Base2Race Harbourman Triathlon.

With Mintern leading from the off, the fight for the rest of the podium was in full flight when the rest of the men’s field reached the run course. Bryan McCrystal, Con Doherty, Aaron Doherty, James Walton and Eoin Lyons were all in the mix. 2018 Standard Distance National Champ Con Doherty was first to open up a gap out of transition and put in one of the fastest run splits of the day to try and catch Chris Mintern. 

Moving up from fifth over the course of the 10km run, Eoin Lyons dug deep to take the third spot on the podium after finishing second to Mintern the week before at the Middle Distance National Championships at Sheephaven Half.

This victory meant that for a short period this summer Chris Mintern was the reigning sprint, standard and middle distance National Champion – a hugely impressive feat! 

MEN’S STANDARD DISTANCE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS PODIUM

1	Chris	Mintern	Cork TC
2	Constantine	Doherty	Westport TC
3	Eoin	Lyons	Waterford TC

MEN’S AGE GROUP STANDARD DISTANCE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

18-19	1	Aaron	Doherty	Westport TC
	2	–	–
	3	–	–
20-24	1	Constantine	Doherty	Westport TC
	2	James	Walton	Triangle TC
	3	Niall	Cornyn	–
25-29	1	Chris	Mintern	Cork TC
	2	Eoin	Lyons	Waterford TC
	3	Matthew	Carroll	Hyper Speed TC
30-34	1	Killian	Nolan	Piranha TC
	2	Lochlainn	Connolly	Invictus TC
	3	Cathal	O’Sullivan	Piranha TC
35-39	1	Bryan	McCrystal	–
	2	Kieran	Hopkins	Pulse TC
	3	Conor	Quinn	–
40-44	1	Enda	Bagnall	Edenderry TC
	2	Paul	Kelly
	3	Fergus	O’Toole	Hyper Speed TC
45-49	1	Ernest	Asensio blasco	Tri an Mhi TC
	2	Martin	Kirwan	–
	3	Peter	Barry	Kilkenny TC
50-54	1	Shane	Scadding	Waterford TC
	2	Peter	Savage	–
	3	Peter	McConville	Newry TC
55-59	1	Michael	Maken	Athlone TC
	2	John	Connaghan	247 TC
	3	John	Kenny	Active Multisport TC
60-64	1	Gareth	McCarthy	Carrick-on-Suir TC
	2	–
	3	–
65-69	1	Gerard	Turbitt	Omagh TC
	2	John	Darcy	Wicklow TC
	3	Nicholas	McCabe	Midland TC
70-74	1	Michael	Mallon	–
	2	Francis	Xavier	Lanesboro TC
	3	–

PICTURE GALLERIES, RACE COVERAGE & RACE REPORTS

Rewatch the best moments from the 2019 National Standard Distance Championships through live event coverage posted on the Triathlon Ireland Facebook Page, where you will also find hundred of images from the race.

Race Reports from each event can be found on the TI website.

All the medalists will be presented with their silverware at the 2019 Triathlon Ireland Awards Night on the 23rd November 2019 in The Conrad Hotel, Dublin. Click here for tickets.