Looking Ahead: Standard Distance National Champs at Wesport
Another busy weekend ahead to close out the 2021 triathlon season! Racing takes place for both the Youth Series and the BMW Triathlon National Series at Ballyhass Triathlon organised by Mallow Triathlon Club and at Westport Triathlon Club’s Westport Triathlon. The Pulse Junior Aquathlon also hosts a round of the Youth Series.
As well as hosting Round 13 of the BMW Triathlon National Series, Westport Triathlon is gearing up to host a very competitive 2021 Standard Distance National Championships. A busy day sees the club run a sprint and a standard distance race tomorrow. Below we take a look at the Standard Distance Championship course and who will be on the start line.
The Course
Starting at Westport Quay, over 200 athletes will be vying for a National Championship medal in their age group. Starting with a single loop 1500m swim in the bay, athletes exit into the nearby transition.
The below is a very brief overview of the course, all athletes should refer to the athlete guide and briefing sent by the Race Organisers for clear instructions and safety points.
Tomorrow’s bike course is out and back, and rolling in profile as you can see from the below image from the Athlete’s Guide.
The standard distance race will do two four kilometre laps out on the run course before coming back down towards the quay and into the finish line.
The Contenders
As with every championship event anything could happen on the day and anyone could come through to take a spot on the podium. Tomorrow’s race sees plenty of local contenders and past winners returning in the hope of winning a championship race.
In no particular order, here are just some of the names to watch as the best standard distance athletes line out for Westport Triathlon.
The women’s field is stacked with podium regulars from the BMW Triathlon National Series, it’s going to be a race not to be missed!
Off the back of a stellar Age Group win at the 2021 70.3 IRONMAN World Championship and qualifying for Kona at IRONMAN Lanzarote, 2019 BMW Triathlon National Series Winner, Westport Triathlon winner and Middle Distance National Champ Hilary Hughes will be looking forward to her home race.
Also in her local race, Mayo’s Maeve Gallagher has just won the Sprint Distance National Champs. Gallagher also has history with this race, having last won in 2018.
Shannon Kelly has displayed strong form over the last number of weeks with wins in the Mixed Team Relay National Champs at Lough Cutra, the BMW Triathlon National Series at Sligo and at Rosslare Pikeman as well as silver in last week’s Sprint Distance National Champs.
Omagh TC’s Cathy Cunningham was on the podium in Sligo just a couple of week’s ago with a strong standard distance performance on a tough course.
Ellen Murphy from Belpark Triathlon Club is always one to watch and has shown form this year. Murphy was inside the top ten at last week’s Sprint Distance Champs at Hook or by Crook and won Metalman Triathlon in Waterford.
Athy’s Michelle Brennan was second at this race in 2018 and this year has had solid performances at Loughrea, Hook or by Crook and Lough Cutra.
Athlone TC’s Olivia McCartin recently won the 2021 National Aquabike Champs on a difficult Lough Cutra standard distance course and was fourth in the Loughrea BMW Triathlon National Series.
Ciara Wilson had some great results in the BMW Triathlon National Series in 2019 including a win in Dungarvan Tried & Tested, and was third overall in the BMW Duathlon National Series that year.
Shannon Kelly, Michelle Brennan, Cathy Cunningham
The men’s field is also stacked with familiar names.
Con Doherty came from the third wave to win last week’s Sprint Distance National Champs in impressive form. A previous Westport Tri winner, Doherty is in his home race on familiar ground tomorrow.
2019 Westport Triathlon and overall BMW Triathlon National Series Winner Aaron Doherty will be on the start line tomorrow. We have seen the Westport TC athlete once so far this season, finishing third at Predator TC’s Loughrea Triathlon.
Aichlinn O’Reilly won this race in 2018 and has had a solid season so far with a second at last week’s Sprint Distance National Champs, a win at Metalman Triathlon and second in Loughrea.
Niall Cornyn has shown strong championship form this year, winning his first ever Middle Distance Race at TriTyrone in July to become 2021 Middle Distance National Champ, and third in last week’s Sprint Distance National Champs.
Having just won the 2021 National Aquabike Champs over standard distance at Lough Cutra, Ross Hamilton could be one to watch tomorrow.
Ciaran Madden has just had two BMW Triathlon National Series podiums in two weeks at Sligo and Rosslare Pikeman. Tomorrow will be his third standard distance race in a row.
Tune In
We’ll be live from 9.05am on Facebook with the coverage of the Standard Distance National Championships at Westport Triathlon!
If you can’t watch live, you’ll be able to watch it back and view our picture galleries.
