Colin and Neil Bolger from Dublin claimed first and second place respectively in the annual Cope Galway Triathlon held in Salthill on Sunday. The Twin brothers are no strangers to the limelight having won numerous National and International awards at Junior level. Third Place went to Galway Triathlon Club’s Ruaidhri Geraghty. Tara Whyte was the first woman across the line followed by Miriam Wall in Second place. A special mention must go to 14 year old Constantine Doherty who finished in 5th place overall.
Taking in the splendour of Galway Bay, the event started in Salthill with a 750m Swim followed by a 20K cycle to Furbo and back and finished off with a 5K run along the promenade. A large crowd turned out to support the triathletes along the finish straight.
The event raised funds for Cope Galway the Galway charity that provides services to the most isolated in our community including a refuge for women and children affected by domestic violence, accommodation for those experiencing homelessness and sustenance and social supports for older people at home. ‘We were delighted with the event from every perspective’, comments Fintan Maher from Cope Galway, ‘over 230 people took part and it was great to see the professional triathletes participating alongside first timers. The atmosphere was brilliant and the camaraderie between the volunteers, the spectators and the participants was very special.’
There has been a huge surge in interest in Triathlons over the past few years in Ireland and Sunday’s Cope Galway Triathlon highlighted some of the reasons why. ‘There were the very competitive, professional athletes showcasing their skill in the transitions from the Swim to the Bike to the Run and then there were people of all ages just enjoying the sport. The number of teams that took part on Sunday is possibly one of the reasons why Triathlons are becoming more popular as families or groups of friends can compete together.’ explains Sebastien Locteau from RunIreland.com who organised the event for Cope Galway. Sebastien has been providing free training sessions in Salthill during the six weeks prior to the event and this has encouraged more first timers to enter. ‘I enjoy seeing beginners work through a training plan and completing the event – usually I coach professional athletes but there is a different kind of satisfaction in seeing an ordinary person push themselves and succeed in finishing a Triathlon. That’s what makes the Cope Galway Triathlon such a unique experience.’
