Costelloe & Doellken O’Shea Win Round 10 in Kilkee
Triathlon returned to Kilkee in Co. Clare for the first time since 2019 today, at Limerick Triathlon Club’s iconic Hell of the West Triathlon.
Heavy rain showers eased in time for the 9.20am race start, and Kilkee Beach filled with triathletes ready to tackle the standard distance triathlon, and supporters ready to cheer them on.
The course at Hell of the West is always a tough one, with a consistently rolling 45km bike course, and a hilly run.
Round 10 of the 2022 Triathlon National Series saw 300 athletes from clubs all over the country race in Kilkee, but it was Limerick triathletes that took home the top spots in their home race.
Costelloe Consistent
In the men’s event, Mark Higgins was the only athlete to swim inside the 23 minute mark on the choppy 1500m course. Behind Higgins, there were approximately 10 athletes all within 90 seconds.
Ronan Costelloe was consistent in all three phases today, consistently quick! Experienced cyclist Costelloe put in one of the quickest bikes of the day, which he solidified with a 39:03 minute 10km run to cross the line first, and win Hell of the West for the first time.
Tried & Tested TC’s Conor Mullany made up some time lost on the bike course by putting in the fastest run split of the day, 38:48 to secure his second place finish.
Kevin Curran had the fastest 45km bike split of the day, contending for the top spot out of T2, but the run speed of Costelloe and Mullany wasn’t to be matched on the day. Curran finished in 2:18:45 for third in the strong men’s field.
Doellken O’Shea Shows Run Strength
The women’s event was competitive from the off, with impressive swim, bike and run splits across the field on the challenging course.
Fresh from second place at last week’s middle distance Metalman in Waterford, Shauna Doellken O’Shea was first out of the water with one of the fastest swims of the entire field. Lisa Horgan, Lisa Fahy and Kathryn Fahy were next onto the bike course in quick succession.
Having moved into poll position with a 1:17:20 bike split, Limerick’s Kathryn Fahy was the first to come back into T2. Fahy held over a minute’s lead to second placed Shauna Doellken O’Shea, and Mary Corless a further 90 seconds back in third.
Doellken O’Shea had moved into the lead by the 4km mark, and continued to run strong, winning her club race for the first time in 2:25:14. Clubmate Kathryn Fahy was second in 2:27:55, and Tri Lakes’ Mary Corless third in 2:31:10.
Galleries & Results
Full results are available from Sports Timing here.
Gordon Thomson’s full gallery of images from Hell of the West are on our site here.
