Team NI at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
It’s an exciting week! The 2022 Commonwealth Games start this Thursday in Birmingham, and Team NI will have four representatives in Triathlon and Para Triathlon. The Individual Men’s and Women’s Triathlon events will take place on Friday, and the Para Triathlon PTVI (Para Triathlon Visually Impaired) events will be held on Sunday.
The team is made up of James Edgar in the Men’s Individual Event, Chloe MacCombe with guide Catherine Sands and Judith MacCombe with guide Anne Paul in the Women’s PTVI, and Oliver Gunning with guide Kyle Duncan in the Men’s PTVI event.
Keep reading to find out more about the athletes, and how to watch this year’s Commonwealth Games.
A Truly Amazing Event
Qualifying for a major championship is a huge milestone in an athlete’s career and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games signals the culmination of years of hard work for each member of the team, as Triathlon Ireland Performance Director Gordon Crawford outlines;
“We are very proud of athletes Oliver, Judith and Chloe with their guides Kyle, Anne and Catherine in the PTVI events; and James in the individual men’s race. Four years of hard work, and they are nearly there for what promises to be a truly amazing event. The 2022 Commonwealth Games provides an important step for these athletes in their development, and in looking towards future international racing.”
Edgar at Second Games
This will be James Edgar’s second time at the Commonwealth Games, making his debut at the Gold Coast 2018 Games and he is looking forward to the start line at this games;
“I’m very excited for it. I’d a good experience the last time round getting to travel to the other side of the world to Australia, it’s nice to have this one a bit closer to home.”
Edgar has had a strong build up to the Games, with some solid results against some of the athletes he will race on Friday including seventh at the 2022 Africa Triathlon Premium Cup Larache last month. He will be hoping to repeat this performance later this week;
“Big goal for the race would be a top eight and then just to be at the front of the race for as long as possible. If I can get out of the swim in the front pack and then stay in that front pack on the bike, then hang on for dear life on the run!”
MacCombe Sisters Excited for First Major Games
Twins Chloe and Judith MacCombe will have the unique experience of competing together in the Women’s PTVI event on Sunday.
Chloe and guide Catherine Sands earned silver at the recent World Triathlon Para Cup A Coruna, and the sisters got to share the podium as Judith with guide Anne Paul finished in bronze position.
Chloe describes how she is feeling ahead of the games;
“Excited and nervous. It’s always good to have a bit of nerves, it’s just whatever way you use them on the day.”
“I’ve been racing internationally for a year, maybe two years now and got some really good results, worked really well with my guide Catherine (Sands) and I think we make a really good team. We performed really well recently at the A Coruna Para Cup so that was definitely a real boost.”
Judith MacCombe has loved the lead up to the games;
“It’s been pretty cool getting the kit and getting everything all organised so it’s been good, and then the training as well.”
As a relative newcomer to international racing, what is the biggest thing that Judith has learned so far?
“I suppose it’s just controlling the nerves on the day of the race, that’s the biggest thing that I am learning so far, not have learned. It’s so great to be out there with such big names in para triathlon and to be able to be racing alongside the best in the world.”
Gunning and Duncan are Ready
At seventeen, teenager Oliver Gunning is the youngest member of the team. Oliver and guide Kyle Duncan race on Sunday in the Men’s PTVI.
“Feels amazing. I’m only seventeen so to be given the opportunity to compete for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games this year is just amazing. I’m a little bit nervous but I guess everyone is. I feel really privileged, it’s a massive team going this year.”
As Oliver is still a student, how does he manage the balance of studying and training?
“A lot of early morning training I’ll be honest, a lot of early starts and a lot of late nights getting it done as well as school work. School takes priority so I try to live by that as much as possible. Summer holidays now so full gas training all the way to the games.”
Coverage
Full coverage from the events will be on BBC TV, for full timings and details visit their site here.
Friday, 29th July 2022
11:00 – 16:00 Men’s Individual Triathlon
James Edgar
Sunday, 31st July 2022
11:00 – 16:20 PTVI Individual Events & Mixed Team Relay
Women’s PTVI – Chloe MacCombe & Guide Catherine Sands, Judith MacCombe & Guide Anne Paul
Men’s PTVI – Oliver Gunning & Guide Kyle Duncan
Read more about Triathlon and Para Triathlon at the Commonwealth Games on the Birmingham 2022 website here.
TI Technical Officials at Birmingham
There will also be three Triathlon Ireland Technical Officials as part of the officiating team at Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.
Jane O’Brien and Karl Vekins will also be travelling as part of the technical official team.
Best of luck to all!
