Home News Heary Blazes a Trail in Mount Juliet at Inaugural KTC Duathlon

Heary Blazes a Trail in Mount Juliet at Inaugural KTC Duathlon

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Report from KTC Duathlon, Sat 10th March Keith Heary (Carrick-on-Suir Triathlon Club) and Irene Henebry (Kilkenny Triathlon Club) put in great performances to take the men’s and ladie’s title at the inaugural Kilkenny Triathlon Club Duathlon. Over 250 people including competitors and supporters attended Kilkenny Triathlon Club’s inaugural Duathlon race which took place in the magnificent surroundings of Mount Juliet on Saturday 10th March.

Keith Heary, of Carrick-on-Suir Triathlon Club, was the deserving winner of the event which started and finished in the grounds of the estate. Kilkenny Triathlon Club’s own Irene Henebry also led from the start and managed to hold onto it to claim top spot in the female race.

Fellow Kilkenny Triathlon Club and FitForLife members, sisters Una and Deirdre of team Scott were convincing winners of the relay event finishing the race in a time of 1.10.51, over a minute ahead of second place finishers Catriona and Noel Corr.

Heary completed the challenging course in a blistering time of 57.02, a very impressive four minutes ahead of his nearest rival. The race for second place was a more closely fought one with Brian Slattery of Waterford Triathlon Club claiming the prize in 1.01.29; a mere 9 seconds ahead of KTC’s Ronan Meally who finished in a very respectable time of 1.01.38.

Henebry completed the first challenging 3 kilometre run through the grounds of the estate in just over 14 minutes commanding a good lead as she came into transition for the bike leg. Even though her nearest challenger Eithne Coogan of the Deenside Wheelers reduced the lead to just a few seconds on the bike course, Irene held onto it in the final run leg crossing the finishing line with a time of 1.10.11. Eithne followed just less than two minutes later in 1.11.52, while Martina Nolan claimed 3rd spot in 1.12.28.

The next best placed Kilkenny Triathlon Club members were Averil Atkinson who came 5th overall in a time of 1.13.48 and Anne O’Gorman who finished just a second behind her to claim 6th. Similarly in the men’s race the next best placed club members finished 5th and 6th with Dale Kennedy finishing in a time of 1.03.44 and Stephen Dermody in a time of 1.03.50 respectively.

For many of the athletes it was their first experience of competing in a duathlon race and it proved to be a highly successful and enjoyable day for all those who took part.

Race Director and Kilkenny Triathlon Club committee member Dara Fahy said he was delighted with the event and congratulated everyone who took part. “The Kilkenny Triathlon Club committee was delighted with the way the event was run and in particular with the venue. To run your first race as a club is special but to be able to stage it in such a picturesque and ideal setting as Mount Juliet made it even better.”

Dara thanked Mount Juliet for allowing the club to use the venue, for providing the beautiful glassware as prizes and for their help and support in organising the event. He also thanked the club sponsors for donating prizes, the Gardai for their assistance, Kilkenny Hunt for the use of a field for parking and the Order of Malta for providing their services on day.

“I would finally like to thank the volunteers who gave up their time to marshal on the day. Many of them are triathletes themselves and no doubt they were jealous of their fellow athletes who had the opportunity to climb the hills and explore the tricky roads of Stoneyford and Knocktopher, which makes the venue all the more special. Hopefully they will have their opportunity to do so next year!”

For the full photo gallery from the event please visit the clubs Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/KilkennyTriathlonClub/photos

To download the full results with splits for each leg please visit – https://kilkennytriathlonclub.com/images/stories/pdf_KTC_Duathlon_2012_Overall.pdf