SWIMMING: An earlier date, caused by construction works on the course, meant numbers were down at the 91st Liffey Swim, although the 173 men and 97 women who swam enjoyed cleaner water than usual. That was because the shortened course, between Custom House Quay and the Point, got the benefit of the tidal waters at the mouth of Dublin Bay.
As always, the handicapping system meant everyone had a chance of winning and coming home first in the men’s race was swimmer and Raheny Shamrock athlete Tom Loftus of Eastern Bay.
Loftus took full advantage of a good handicap, with his time of 23 minutes 39 seconds putting him almost half a minute ahead of Glenalbyn’s Brian Murphy. Jerry Kiersey of Eastern Bay was ten seconds behind for third place.
Fastest swim of the day came from Conor Turner of Aer Lingus, who streaked through the water in 16 minutes 7 seconds, but with a handicap of 12 mins 15 secs, had little hope of catching the early starters.
Winning the women’s race was Clodagh Nolan of Carraig Masters who finished in 24 minutes 35 minutes off a handicap of two minutes. Fala (Fala) Buggy of NAC Masters was a close second with Karen McGowan of Guinness third. Garda’s Sinead Tyrrell set off 15 minutes behind the early starters, but still clocked the fastest time of 17 mins 16 secs.
The open sea season is far from over with three packed weekends to come. Bray and Wicklow both host swims this weekend, while the Harbour Swim in Dun Laoghaire, second only to the Liffey in prestige, is scheduled for Sunday September 2. Details www.leinsteropensea.ie.
TRIATHLON: Marie Boland of PixelPro made up for her disappointment at collapsing at the Caroline Kearney Triathlon with a comfortable victory in the women’s race at the Carlingford Legends Olympic Triathlon.
On a new and hilly course on the Omeath side of Carlingford, Irish triathlon champion Bryan McCrystal put in a strong cycle to win in 1 hrs 54 mins 6 secs. Irish duathlon champion Paul Carroll did his best to catch McCrystal on the run but had to be satisfied with second place.
Rory Maguire won the Irish Half Distance Triathlon Championships at Groomsport, making up a seven minute deficit on the half marathon run to catch the veteran Matt Molloy. Women’s winner Jen Duffy of Piranha Tri had missed much of the season with a running injury, but used her time well to improve her cycling skills. The hard work paid off when she beat pre-race favourites Aoife Lynch of Cycleways/Pulse Tri and West Cork’s Katie Cooke for the title.
Big race of the weekend is tomorrow’s (Sun) Vodafone Dublin City Triathlon in the Phoenix Park, with sprint, supersprint and Olympic distances on offer.
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| The mighty men of Boley |
TUG OF WAR: Boley from Co Wexford added the senior 580kg title to their considerable collection at the final round of tug of war’s National Championships. In the final, Boley beat Gortletteragh from Co Leitrim and now represents Ireland at the World Tug of War Championships starting in Switzerland on September 5. Burren from Co Clare took the division 2 title, defeating Rockies from Co Cavan, while Stapleton from Co Galway won the novice title.
In the women’s 520kg competition, Boyneside from Co Offaly got the better of Ballinastoe from Co Wicklow. Ballinasatoe also made the mixed 600kg final, but lost out to Galway team Canavans.
BADMINTON: Irish junior badminton international Johnny Dolan from Sligo is top of the European rankings after winning a European Junior Circuit event in Bulgaria.
Dolan, aged 18, beat Scotland’s Josh Neil in the final, after putting out players from France, Holland and Turkey in earlier rounds. In the quarter-finals, he had beaten fellow Irish international Josh Magee.
Next up for both players is the European Junior Circuit tournament in Dublin from September 6-8.
SNOOKER: With snooker’s Home Internationals in Wales starting on September 7, Irish pro Fergal O’Brien is to assist national coach PJ Nolan at a special weekend training camp on September 1/2 at the Ivy Rooms, Carlow. Senior, masters, U16 and U19 teams, as well as a billiards squad, will travel to the Home Internationals at Pontin’s in Prestatyn. Rodney Goggins, Brendan O’Donoghue, Johnny Williams, Robert Redmond and Greg Casey make up the senior team.
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