Write a commentThe second Newry City Triathlon, organised by the Newry and Mourne District Council will take place on Sunday the 31st of August.
Last year’s event was a super success story, and indeed everyone who participated was glowing in their assessment of the race that incorporated a 750-metre swim in the Albert Basin, a 20-kilometre bike ride on the pancake-flat Warrenpoint Road and an around-the-city five-kilometre run.
Mark McElroy had a great race last year, finishing seventh overall and second from the Newry Triathlon Club (fellow-club member Barry Convery won it) and Mark is hoping to do even better this time out. The Ballyholland man said of the original event: “It was a brilliant race from start to finish - on a fast and flat course.”
31-year-old Mark, married to Helen with a young son Jack, started his triathlon career with the first Crooked Lake race in 2003 and since then he has come on in leaps and bounds. The athletic and fun-loving McElroy was originally a member of the Newry and Mourne Swimming Club but now sees himself as stronger on the bike. He trains with Kevin Lynch, and his punishing sessions with one of Newry’s top time triallists, together with racing on the Newry Wheelers team, has improved his pedalling power no end.
Also he runs with flying machines Rory Loughran and Dermot Mathers and says that this duo have really helped his leg speed. Although Mark says that a persistent knee problem curtails his run training.
The busy-bee McElroy, in addition to his full time work, is also a part-time fitness and spinning instructor in Newry Sports Centre and has also set up his own sports massage business called SMART Clinic Newry.
Mark, who cites his father Eddie as his biggest influence, says he was first drawn into the three-discipline sport after watching the exploits of Eamon McConvey, Martin Patterson, Tony Bagnall and Sean Hughes who were the local pioneers of triathlon in the Newry area. He says: “Those guys were doing triathlons when no one knew what the word meant.”
On his own career, Mark has competed in most of Ireland’s triathlons, including the Kenmare half iron man, Kilkee - Hell of the West, and Lough Neagh.
As well training for the Newry City Triathlon, Mark is heavily involved with getting the BSB Duathlon Series off the ground this year. Along with Barry Duffy, Tony McAteer and Paddy Duffy, he is helping to organise run-bike-run events in Bessbrook, Slieve Gullion and Ballyholland, scheduled for September/October.
Council Officials have been carrying out testing on the water quality at the Albert Basin and Newry Canal for the event and the quality is showing up as excellent.
Prizes for Triathlon
Each participant will receive a specially designed bespoke medal and air-tech Tee Shirt. There will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Male/Female overall.
There will also be section prizes for the following age groups:
16-19, 21-24, 25-29, 30-34, 34-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-70
All prize winners will receive free entry into the 2015 Newry City Triathlon.
