Hughes & Carroll are 2021 Duathlon National Champions
The 2021 multisport season is nearing its close, signalled by the final National Championships of the year – this time for duathlon!
Galco Naas Duathlon hosted this year’s event at their Punchestown-based sprint duathlon. Unseasonably warm weather made for nicer conditions than duathletes are used to, and no doubt the 150 lining up were grateful. The easing of Covid-19 restrictions has meant that mass starts can now been reintroduced, which added to the excitement of the sprint distance race.
The Course
The course in Naas is unexpectedly challenging. At first glance the run course seems relatively flat, taking in the perimeter of the race course. The terrain however is rolling, and can take its toll on the second 3.2 kilometre lap.
Out on the 20 kilometre bike course, cyclists climb to Blessington before turning around for a quick second half back to Punchestown.
Hughes Adds Another National Title
Hilary Hughes has won her second national title of 2021, in just her second ever duathlon! This year’s Middle Distance National Champ Hughes won in Naas after leading from the off. The duathlon title is Hilary’s second podium in as many weeks after finishing second a her home race in Westport for the Standard Distance National Championships.
Ciara Wilson is always one to watch, and put in a strong run, bike, run combination throughout to hold second and equal her highest placing in a Duathlon National Championship.
Behind Hughes and Wilson, Jennifer O’Sullivan was on the way to finishing on her first National Championship Podium. O’Sullivan was forty seconds behind Ciara Wilson after the first run and battled on the bike to close that gap by ten seconds. Ciara wasn’t going to be caught on the second run leg however, which saw Jennifer O’Sullivan finishing in 1:02:24 for third place.
Women’s 2021 Duathlon National Championship
| 1. | Hilary Hughes | 00:58:42 |
| 2. | Ciara Wilson | 1:01:07 |
| 3. | Jennifer O’Sullivan | 1:02:24 |
Paul Carroll Wins Men’s Event
The men’s event was closely contested from the off with one of the youngest in the field, Alex Van Buttingha Wichers, leading after the first run. The top ten were all in contention at this point with two chase packs following Van Buttingha Wichers into transition.
With a bike split that bettered the rest of the field by over 90 seconds, Paul Carroll arrived into T2 in the top spot, and there he stayed to become the 2021 National Duathlon Champion. It was behind Carroll the the battle for the rest of the podium spots was on.
Matthieu Proffit (pictured above), also held his position from the bike to the finish and crossed the line in second position in the Galco Naas Duathlon. As Matthieu was competing on a One Day Membership, he was unfortunately not eligible for the National Championship race.
Marc Flavin and Alex Van Buttingha Wichers had been battling for places throughout, with Marc overtaking Alex on the bike course to lead onto the final run. Van Buttingha Wichers gave the second run all he had to overtake Flavin and the pair battled it out to finish second and third respectively in the Duathlon National Championship.
Men’s 2021 Duathlon National Championship
| 1. | Paul Carroll | 00:51:47 |
| 2. | Alex Van Buttingha Wichers | 00:53:00 |
| 3. | Marc Flavin | 00:53:05 |
Results and Images
For full results, visit ChipIt here.
The full gallery of Gordon Thomson’s pictures are available on our Facebook page.
