An Cosantóir

sport | 31 Paul Connolly (4 Fd Arty Regt) - who was to exit with the fastest swim on the day - followed closely by Cpl Gavin Crawford (28 Inf Bn) in second. Sgt Connolly would continue to dominate and ultimately Service exited the water just ahead of Pte Gretta O'Connor (27 Inf Bn) - both had recently prior to the DF race complet- ed IRONMAN triathlon events in the UK and Austria respec- tively. The battle on the bike amongst these two women was again a close fought event as was the run event. However it was Pte O'Connor who would ultimately be crowned as the DF Female Champion on review of a fixed time penalty being handed down to Lt Ni Fhatharta for drafting. The relay event was won by a Naval Service Team consisting of Lt's NS Dan Humphries, Barry McCormack and Darren Molloy. In the Try-A-Tri race the winners were in the Male category: Pte Graham Whittaker (Med Coy, 4 LSB) and in the Female category: Sgt Jackie Wykes (4 Fd CIS Coy). Meanwhile the O/40s category was won by CPO Ray Norris (NS) and the O/50s category was won by Sgt Marty Gilligan (HQ 4 W Bde). Much of success of the Defence Forces event is largely win the men's race posting the quickest times of the day (Swim 11.21mins, Bike 32:25mins and Run 18.30mins) of the day narrowly beating Cpl Crawford in to second place (Cpl Crawford lost a water bottle on the start of the very warm bike section and that most likely cost him the race due to not having any means of hydrating himself on the 20km bike course in the intense heat that day). In the female race Lt Niamh Ni Fhatharta of the Naval on the day which was Mr Gerry Duffy (DECA IRONMAN Champion & 32 Marathon in 32 Days). Thanks also go to the TriAthlone organising committee who generously gave contributed to the help and assistance provided by the Midland Triathlon Club (MTC) and their main committee member Mr Brian Ivory was on hand to give advice and assistance and MTC kindly help provide the necessary equipment needed for the event every year. The timing of the event was done by "Precision Timing" who again did a great job in supplying all of the timing chips and collated the results and emailed everyone their pre-race brief and results after the event. A special mention also goes to our special guest and DJ www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE chael Beary and the Chairman DFTA Lt Col Michael Moran I would like extend an invitation to you all to come and join us at next years event in Lilliput which promises to be even bigger again with perhaps the addition of an Olym- pic event added and whereby families will be invited to attend. So, get training now and keep an eye out on the DF electronic notice boards for information on the upcom- ing training camps and or contact a Bde Triathlon Rep for further information. The DFTA organises a series of training sessions every us some left over goodie bags from their event again this year and to the Defence Forces Athletic Association (DFAA) which provided each of the competitors with a souve- nir printed t-shirt and some rather nice Defence Forces branded water bottles for the goodie bags. On hand too in Lilliput were our kit suppliers "SHADOW BRANDS" who supply the members of the Defence Forces Adventure Rac- ers (DFAR), Defence Forces Cycling Association (DFCA) and the Defence Forces Triathlon Association (DFTA) with the new Defence Forces branded Cycling and Triathlon gear. This club gear is now available to purchase through the club listed above. The next order of kit for serving PDF mem- bers only will be submitted in October/November so that members will be able to train and race in the new club gear over the winter and race in it next year. Special thanks go also to the DF Kayak club, the Military Police, 4 Fd Engr Coy, 6 Inf Bn, BPEO staff from each Bde, all of the marshals that assisted from each Bde all of whom without their help the event would certainly not have ran smoothly Finally, on behalf of the President of the DFTA Col Mi- month which are coached by the DF Head Triathlon coach Cpl Derek Nugent (6 Inf Bn) and assisted by TI (Triathlon Ireland) swim coach Sgt Johanna Tilley-Rock (DFTC). Any member of the PDF and RDF personnel can join the DFTA as membership is free with a simply process of filling out a membership form. Members will then additionally have to purchase Triathlon Ireland membership for the purpose of insurance cover etc. as this a mandatory requirement at triathlon events around the country.

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