A little exercise for you all to do

As many of you may already know, Triathlon Ireland have a new ‘National Series’. Full members of Triathlon Ireland gain points for each National Series race they finish. These points are also accumulated by the club and used to rank Trilogy against the other clubs in Ireland .

Mistakes can happen in the calculation of the results, and I have already found two members of the club who are missing results. I would like to make sure that everyone has been awarded the correct points.

Here is what you have to do:

1. Are you a FULL (i.e. €50) member of Triathlon Ireland ? If you are not, there is no need to proceed.
2. From the following races below, count up the number you have FINISHED (not entered). Tri-Athy Sprint, TriAthy Olympic, Garadice Lake, Fastnet Triathlon,
Crooked Lake Triathlon, Dunmore East, Kilkee, Carrick-on- Suir, TriAthlone, Ballina, Carna, Kinsale.
3. Multiply the number of races you have finished by 100.
4. Click to this page and find your actual points (LINK)
5. If the number you calculated at step 3 is out by more than 80 points (or if you are not on the list at all), please contact Karl.


Why am I asking you to do this?

- You finished the race, you deserve the points.
- There are benefits from having full points – including a better national and age group rank
- If you decide to race internationally next year, those extra points are very important.
- Your points improve the clubs position – and that makes it easier for us to get sponsors / grants etc.

One last thing to note: Just by correcting the two missing results I picked up myself, Trilogy would move from 16th place on the club ranks page to 9th or higher. If only 4 or more people find other mistakes, we could take ourselves into the top 5 (where we belong!).

Some Great News - and some great pics too!

In all the recent news of weddings and Test Tris, a little bit of good news did not go properly reported on trilogy.ie. That news concerned the fantastic performance by the team sent to represent Trilogy at Carna. Not only did we get our first EVER podium finish in National Series Race (well done Niall, pictured), we also picked up a number of AG placings - Stephen and Eimear placing second, Trish first in hers, along with Alison (4th) and Kevin (5th).

See the full report by Dermot (now updated), and link through to some great shots courtesy of Eimears husband Tom.

Carna Race Report & Pics

Report from Test Tri 5

Results from todays Test Tri are available to download, including updated ranking places. Download now. Report to follow.

Also to follow are some pictures from Carna and a final report and results - so check back here tomorrow.

Nice day for a White Wedding!

Trilogy Triathlon extends warm congratulations to a proud Mark Downey, pictured below with his radiant new wife Elaine, just minutes after tying the knot on Saturday. Best wishes for the honeymoon, and for a long and happy future together!

Heritage Challenge - Get the word out!

Help promote the Heritage Challenge by printing this poster out and putting it up at work, local shops, etc. Or if you don't have access to a printer, e-mail it out to anyone you think might be interested! Remember, all proceeds from the triathlon go directly to Trilogy, and will be used 100% for member benefits.

Click the picture below to download.

Time Trial in Carlow next week

Carlow Tri are holding a Time Trial cycle event next Wednesday (30 July). Sign on will be at 7pm at the Eurospar at Killeshin road roundabout. The Race course will be from the Killeshin roundabout up to St Abbans athletic track - by their own account an undulating course of approx 15 km. First rider will be off at 7.30.

Willie is hoping to enter a team or two, so please let him know if you are interested.

The normal swim will still happen at the Barrow at 7:30.

Carna Triathlon (Dermot O Leary)

Hi all,
This is a race report from the Carna Olympic distance tri, that took place on the 19th July 2008. It all started on friday afternoon by packing up the car and getting on the road, heading west to the small village of Carna in the heart of Connemara, where I stayed in the Carna Bay hotel.
It came to the morning of the race with the arlam sounding at 07.00 am. I have to say I was feeling a little nervous but made sure to eat as it was going to be a long day and as it was my first olympic race, one of my goals for this year. It was time to get into the car and drive the short distance across to Cill Chairan to register for the race. I headed to the local community hall and got my timing chip, race number and goodie bag. I headed back to the car and found parking outside the local shop where other triathletes were starting to gather. It wasn’t long till I saw some familiar faces with Trilogy colours in the car park. I spoke with Steve Irwin and we both headed to transition to set up the gear. When we came back up, Trish and Alison were after arriving. It came to the time for the race briefing, the nerves where really starting to set in at this stage. This is when I spoke to Steve O’ Toole, Kevin and Eimear.

Well it was time to enter the water I realised I was at the point of no return! The water was packed with competitors when the siren went off. The race had started and it was every person for themselves, away I went. It all started well getting into the swim heading for the marker but we were all still very crowded in the water looking up to see it was still in sight. As I was making the first turn and still going well, I felt this hand on my shoulder pushing me down under the water forcing me to have to settle myself and get back into my stride. I have to say after turning the first marker, striding for the second, it felt as if I was never going to get to it. Every few strokes I looked up to see if I was on course? Relieved to see that I was, I rounded the second and thought to myself I’m on the home straight. On looking up I caught sight of the transition area and with my final few strokes over I was at last able to stand. With the swim over and the first part of the race out of the way, I made my slippery way into transition. Quickly out of the wet suit and out of transition and onto the bike I was ‘delighted’ to meet a nice little hill up to the main road. With a right turn out on the bike route there was a nice head wind into the face. It was different this time because I have to say in a sprint race you are meeting people on the bike all the time, but in a forty km race and one lap circuit you’re not. It came to the six mile mark and it was a hard left up hill. A few people passed me but where there is an up hill this is a down hill and it helped me. It was the half way mark of the cycle and the marshal shouted “you are half way there now”, and you are thinking to yourself in your mind, I didn’t need to hear that but I suppose he is only giving you support. Well on hitting the last ten km of the cycle you know you are nearly there and when I saw another triathlete changing a puncture on his bike, I thought to myself, thank God that’s not me! At last, a right turn and back down the hill into transition. I made an emergancy stop on the bike (ON THE YELLOW LINE- as we were all reminded), back out of transition and up the hill for the last time. Reaching the 3km mark I met a helpful band of supporters, shouting on trilogy, with a quick look at the timing clock stating 02hr06mins I went running by it. I got to the water station, took a drink and started to meet the first of the trilogy gang heading back to the finish line. I made it to the half way mark and I was feeling quite good. Back up hill again to the 7km mark, another drink and fueled for the final few km, I hit the 8km and thanlfully it was down hill from there. Greatful to see the finish line in sight, I pushed on crossing over it with faces from the trilogy gang claping you over the line. Looking at the timing clock I se a time of 03hrs03mins on it. I had just achieved another goal of mine for this year.

I have to say it would have not of happened without the support of the club and their advice and without the support of my wife Ita in understanding the amount of training required. I know some of you took part kilkea early this year which is known as the ‘Hell of the West’, but I have to say this was my ‘Hell Of THE WEST’. So now with my first Olympic done I am looking froward to my next one. The last word of praise has to go to Niall Collins who came third in his category, well done Niall.

Dermot O’ Leary

Heritage Helpers

Mark McManus is busy planning away the Heritage Challenge race. He has asked me to ask you via the website to start forwarding on the names of people who can help on race day. Mark's policy is to have everyone in the club racing, but to achieve this, we will need everyone in the club to bring a volunteer - up to 35 people will be needed to help out.

So help Mark help you and text him the names and numbers of your volunteer! Marks number is 087 9275044.

PS - have you registered yet?

Salmon Run Report & Photos - Get 'em now!

Race Report from the 2008 Salmon Run Triathlon (doubling up as the Club Weekend Away) is now online. Click through to read and to access the H U G E Photo Album.

Get your name on the board!

Have you noticed the name board on the right panel of News and Chat? Anyone entered for the Heritage gets their name on there, along with the number of places left. Make your name be next - enter the Heritage Challenge 2008.

Results from Test Duathlon 4 Now Online

Click here for race report, results, rankings and downloads. Well done to all competitors tonight, it was a great one to watch. And a big thank you to the marshals who helped produce a flawless set of results.

This Weekends Race

Our accomodation in Ballina is the Ridgepool Hotel, and it is located pretty much in the centre of town. It would be very well known locally, so maybe the best thing to do is ask locally.

Just a few other pointers:

1. Everybody will be settling their own rooms - there has been no deposit paid, and the club has not provided a credit card. Please check-in and check-out yourself.
2. There is no race registration on Friday night. Registration is strictly 10:00 to 12:00 on Saturday.
3. Anyone travelling on Saturday and hoping to race will need to leave Portlaoise before 7:45 to arrive comfortably on time (its about 3:30 drive up).
4. If you are travelling Saturday, best advice is to avoid the Athlone area - triAthlone is taking place all day over there.
5. We have no arrangements - yet - for Saturday night. But the word is that there will be some party up there. One weeks festival ends with the triathlon, and I know of at least onother tri club making a weekend of it!

Finally - see the preview page for the Salmon Run for more details of the course and who is taking part.

New Gear Here!

I now have new gear and will be bringing pre-ordered items to Ballina for distribution. Please note, I can only give you the gear if you have paid in advance, as the gear has been fully paid for in advance by us. If you need to still pay, go to the Shop link and select the donation option to pay for your items.

Costs are €80 for the jacket and tri suit, €40 for the cycling and running tops and €200 for all four items.

Carrick report & photos

Click her to begin: Carrick Report.

Report from Athy - Heavy Flow

Roy has sent in a report to say that the flow of the Barrow in Athy is fast and high. It is probably a couple of degrees cooler - recent rainfall often has this effect. The swim will still meet, and a decision will be taken at the time. Anyone not used to swimming against the current is advised to only swim downstream. Might be a good idea to bring your runners too - we can always take a 5km run instead.

The Heritage Challenge Triathlon Now Open

The Heritage Chellenge Triathlon opens today for entries. Limited to just 100 places, this is a great opportunity for novices and experienced triathletes to race a novel course in Laois.

In 2008 we have a new race director - Mark McManus, and knowing Mark you can be certain that the great race we have built up over 5 years will get even better this year.

The Heritage Challenge Race is open to anyone interested in racing - please feel free to invite others to register, it can be a great way of introducing someone to the club. There is a link from the front page to the entry page.

Members of the Heritage Health and Leisure centres (Portlaoise or Killenard) can enter for free at the Kilenard and Portlaoise Leisure centre desks (see note 3 below). Read more about the race here.

Get your entries in now - but before you do, just three things:

1. Members of Trilogy can only race if they bring at least one marshal on race day(more if you can, we need 30)
2. Members of Trilogy who want to race must be aveilable from 7:30 to 11:00pm the night before the race to help with course set-up. You must also be available after the race for tidy up.
3. If you are a member of the Heritage and are an active member of Trilogy, why not consider paying the race entry fee? All funds will support your clubs development.

Seen the front page?

Photos, results and report from last Sundays race at Carrick-on-Suir to follow. Meanwhile check out the front page for a group pic taken at the end of the race (Mark O'S, Noel, Pawel not pictured).

Link to Carrick fixed ...

... thanks for letting me know Willie.

Duathlon 4 Postponed until 10 July

With the bad weather, some flooding and a poor road surface, we decided it was best to wait until next Thursday to run Duathlon 4. Apologies to the hardy souls who braved the conditions, I hope the training session made up for it!

Carrick on Suir Triathlon - This Weekend

14 Trilogy members are heading South-Eastward for the 2008 Carrick Triathlon on Sunday. The Race preview page has been updated with links to a race briefing (including details of registration & briefing times), and details for car-pooling. Go there now.

Leinster Sports Clinic - Body Composition test

Deirdre from Leinster Sports has e-mailed me to say that the clinic has invested in a body composition machine that can accurately give you a breakdown of your body composition - fat, water, etc. Very useful for anyone looking for bit more information than the bathroom scales might give. Trilogy members can avail of the service for €30.00, thats 40% off the standard €50.00. Bookings on 086 2118537.

PS Deirdre also mentioned that she had spied a TriAthy top in Cyprus recently!

Kilkee Race report, results and photos

**Link has been fixed (it was getting you to 2007 photos, now its getting you the 2008 ones**

Click here for more.

Caroline Kearney Entries

The following people have been entered for the Caroline Kearney triathlon on 9 August (see preview).

Stephen Irwin, Finn Ryan, Karen O'Grady, Trish Nicholls, David Murphy, Peter Travers, Eimear Matthews, William Fitzpatrick, Alison Wellwood, Dermot O'Leary, Karl McCann, Sinead Wearen. The cost of the race (€60.50) has been taken from your account.

Dunmore East Photos

Michelles photos from Dunmore east are now online. Click the shot below for more.