Just under two weeks to go and the heat is on in Lanesboro, with the waters now hitting highs of 19c and rising, making the Two Provinces Triathlon one of Ireland’s warmest triathlons.
The ‘Two Provinces Sprint Triathlon’ hosted by the Lanesboro Triathlon Club will take place on Saturday July 11th in Lanesboro, Co. Longford at 11am. This will be the fifth sprint triathlon race hosted by the Lanesboro club in as many years and everybody is very much looking forward to the occasion once again. Renowned as “Ireland’s Warmest Triathlon” not just because of the warm temperatures of Lough Ree, but also for the warm Lanesboro welcome which greets triathletes as they compete over the two provinces of Leinster and Connacht.
This year sees the introduction of two new events; AquaBike and Try-a-tri. Looking to cater for the differing abilities of athletes Lanesboro Tri Club has opened up entries for those wishing to take part in Ireland’s second race of its kind Aqua Bike (swim followed by a 20km bike). “For those who can’t, won’t or shouldn’t run, our aqua bike aims to cater for those who just want to swim and bike,” explained club secreatary Mark Kenny. The course takes place simultaneously on the same course as the triathlon, starting with a 750m swim in the warm waters of Lough Ree followed by the flat, fast out and back 20km bike route which takes place on closed roads between Ballyleague and Scramogue and returning to the finish line.
The second new event this year is the Try-a-tri event. “This is ideally suited to those who wish to compete in the three sports but swimming is the weaskest link. So instead of the daunting 750m swim to complete, entrants to this event start with a 200m swim, followed by the main triathlon’s 20km bike and 5km run route. This type of event is perfect for those wishing to give triathlon a try” said Race Director Anthony Gillen.
The future of triathlon in Lanesboro looks very promising for many years to come as on the day, the Lanesboro Tri Club will also host the very popular Kidathon race for children 8 to 15 years of age. The kidathon shall start at 9am on Saturday July 11th and will consist of a 100m swim, 5km cycle and 500m sprint. Entrants are capped for open water safety, and the demand for places is overwhelming with just a handful left up for grabs. “It promises to be a fun-filled day with goodie bags, medals and treats for all who take part so make sure your child has signed up well in advance of race day,” said Kidathon organiser Ronnie Johnston.
The sprint triathlon is open to all who are 16 years of age upwards. You enter as an individual or compete as part of a relay team on the day. Entries are via www.triathlonireland.com. You must provide a Triathlon Ireland membership card or a special one day license at registration on race day, to be eligible to partake. Renowned for its safety, accuracy and friendly atmosphere, the race distance is a 750m swim, 20km cycle and a 5km run.
Once again locals will see triathletes from all corners of the country flock to Lanesboro and Ballyleague. This is a true testament to the quality of the race and local amenities. Great credit must be given to the local tidy towns committees on both sides of the bridge for having the local communities looking so impeccable for all our visiting athletes and supporters.
Club PRO Andrée Gallagher mentioned how “the race could not run smoothly without the support and hard work of all the local clubs, societies, businesses and individuals, and Lanesboro Triathlon Club is extremely grateful for all the assistance from marshalling to putting up signs, to handing out refreshments, to providing heartfelt encouragement to all partakers.”
The race committee would like to relay a special note of thanks to the main race sponsors who are crucial to the success of the race, namely Insuremyhouse.ie, Waterways Ireland, All Creatures Veterinary, Bid Management, Johnston’s Pharmacy, Gourmet Fuel, Tri & Run, Walkers, Ballygowan, Robinson’s Fruit Shoot, Club Orange, Dolan Foods and Glenisk Yogurts. “We are delighted to have them on board as without their fantastic support, we could not possibly stage such a superb event,” added Andrée.
The club is concentrating on incorporating the spectators to make it an all-inclusive affair with music by local DJs, bouncing castles and food stalls. We want to make it a very enjoyable family occasion and we’re determined to stretch it into a long-term yearly fixture so it’s important that it has a festival vibe too.
Finally for safety reasons the following road closures will be in place during the Two Provinces Triathlon & Kidathon: On Saturday 11th July the the R371 from Ballyleague to Scramoge will be closed to traffic from 10.45am until 2pm and the Rathcline Rd from entrance to event car park, to Harolds Cross will be closed to traffic from 08:55-10:00am and again from 11:30am-1:30pm. We as a club take great pride in hosting a race where water and road safety are priority, as we want every competitor, whatever their fitness level, to come home safely and enjoy their experience. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the temporary road closures, and hope you can come out and support all the athletes along the route during this fantastic local race.
