An Cosantóir Dec 2016 / Jan 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie
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By CAPT MICHAEL BARRY, CISM TRIATHLON TEAM CAPT
PhotoS CoURtESy oF CORINNE KRAUS HTTP://CORINNEKRAUS.JALBUM.NET & KETTY A ROM HANKES WWW.RTL.LU
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CISM triathlon
F
or the first time since 2011 a Defence Forces team
participated in a CISM (Conseil International de Sport
Militaire) triathlon competition during the Eislek
triathlon in lutzhausen, luxembourg, on 17th Septem-
ber 2016. Ireland submitted a team of five athletes: Capt
Michael Barry (DFhQ), Sgt Jackie Wykes (EUBG), Cpl Gavin
Crawford (28 Inf Bn), Pte John Joyce (6 Inf Bn), and Pte
Barry Smyth (Air Corps). Sgt Joanna tilley-Rock (DFtC)
was team Coach.
Ranged against us were some of the top military
athletes from Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium,
and Germany. Competitors also faced an exceptionally
challenging course in the form of a middle-distance tri-
athlon (half Ironman). Typically this consists of a 1,900m
swim, a 90km cycle, and a 21km run. However, due to a
build-up of algae in the Lac de la Haute Sure, the swim
was unfortunately cancelled, and replaced with another
5km run at the beginning of the race, making the event a
duathlon instead. The bike route boasted a massive 1,650
vertical meters of climbing - the equivalent of riding from
Coolmoney Camp to the top of Lugnaquilla, twice!
Undaunted, the team travelled to Luxembourg and
enjoyed the superb hospitality of the Luxembourg military
in their barracks near Diekirch. On the morning of the race,
the bikes were fine tuned and oiled, and the athletes were
rested and raring to go. On the advice of Joanna Tilley-
Rock, each athlete had a race plan worked out to capitalise
on their own strengths.
At the start line, 200 civilian and 36 military competi-
tors lined up for a tough journey through the forests and
steep valleys of the Ardennes. When the starting gun fired
and the first 5km run started, Gavin Crawford shot ahead
with the lead group. An exceptionally strong runner, Gavin
already had numerous half ironmen to his name, and knew
well what his capabilities were. The remainder of the team,
conscious of another four to five hours of intense racing,
decided to pace ourselves.
Gavin completed the 5km run in a very good 16mins
34secs, grabbed his bike in Transition 1, and set off on the
90km cycle. I was close behind, and used my experience as
