Attracta Doherty Memorial Pink n’ Gold Triathlon – Halton’s Amenity Park, Cootehill – Sunday 2nd August
The 6th Annual Attracta Doherty Memorial Pink n’ Gold Triathlon took place on Sunday 2nd August when almost 200 triathletes young and old turned the infamous Dromore River at Halton’s Amenity Park, Cootehill into a ‘Sea of Pink’ . After the Pink Splash, competitors then were spoiled with a scenic 20km cycle route which traversed the Cavan/Monaghan countryside and the beautiful town of Cootehill where crowds encouraged everyone who endeavoured to maintain their concentration amid the rapturous applause from the lined streets of spectators. The spectators were treated to another element of the triathlon, when the competitors emerged from Bellamont Forest to do a lap of the town as part of their 5k run before re-entering the Forest for a fast race to the finish.
Virginia Triathlon Club’s Cian O’Reilly was to deprive Dessie Duffy from Muckno Tri Club a third Pink n’ Gold title when after an incredibly fast double element of swim and bike he had 85 seconds lead leaving transition and held on for a great victory. Cavankayakarun’s under 18 competitor Conor Smith had a fantastic race and finished 3rd overall in a very competitive field holding off Piranha Tri Club’s Johnathon Maguire 4th and Sligo Tri Club’s Paul Rutherford in 5th. The ladies race was every bit as exciting with Dublin based triathlete Marie Boland, who incidentally was the ladies winner in the inaugural Pink n’ Gold Triathlon in 2010 proving too strong for local lady and Cavankayakarun Club’s Arlene O’Brien 2nd with Tri an Mhi’s Marie Gorman coming in a very close 3rd.
The other category winners and runners up were as follows:
Super-sprint Male:
1st Bernard Heaney, Tri an Mhi; 2nd Ciaran Galligan, Cavan Tri Club; 3rd Gearoid Rogers, Tri an Mhi.
Super-sprint Ladies:
1st Viki Brown; 2nd Sharon Hetherton; 3rd Kit McBride
Under 14: Winner Eva Boyle
Under 18:
1st Ciaran Madden, Longford Tri Club; 2nd Oran Magee Muckno Tri Club; 3rd Darren Keane Portmarnock Tri Club.
Relay Team:
1st Cosgrove Speedies, 2nd Muckno Dolphins; 3rd Gregory’s Chelsea Swans
Relay Team Junior: Luke & Niamh Brodie
Over 50’s
1st Gerry Kenny, Setanta Tri Club; 2nd Peter McKenna, Muckno Tri Club; 3rd Mark Kincaid, Newry Tri Club
Full result list on www.chipit.ie
On behalf of The Attracta Doherty Pink n’ Gold Fund we would like to thank all the stewards, marshalls, Bailieboro Red Cross, Water safety crews, Garda Siochana and the general public for all the help on the day and the many triathletes, families and friends who we hope had a very enjoyable day. A very special thank you to sponsors Jimmy Murray, Riverfront Hotel; Rodney Dolan, Centra Ballyjamesduff; McCrystal Pharmacies, Cootehill & Virginia; Michael Kearney Medical Furniture, Navan; Tommy Kenny, Cavan Abbey Crystal and Andy & Tina Brady from Premier Cycles, Virginia.
As we all know and appreciate, events of this scale are not possible without a great background team, and a very special thank you and acknowledgement must go to all the Muckno Tri and Cavankayakarun Club members who hosted our event and made it a Pink n’ Gold day to remember.
Le Cairdeas agus Buíochas – Attracta Doherty Pink n’ Gold Fund Committee
