Portaferry Triathlon was resounding success story

Portaferry Triathlon was resounding success story

24 August 2016

OVER 100 participants battled horrific weather conditions on Saturday to complete the Portaferry Triathlon.

The summer weather disappeared and was replaced by torrential rain, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of spectators who lined the 

shorefront of Portaferry to watch the sporting action.

The athletes made their way to the start in Strangford aboard the Strangford Ferry before taking to the slightly choppy waters of Strangford Lough. 

It was a sight to behold as kayakers dotted the water accompanying the athletes as they made their way to the quayside in Portaferry. After ditching their wet suits the athletes embarked on the 21.5km cycle before finishing with a 5km out and back run along the Portaferry coastline.

It was successful day for Belfast Olympian Tri Club, which claimed the top two male positions and the top female prize. 

Peter Williamson clinched first place with an impressive time of one hour and eight minutes in tough, windy wet conditions. 

Conor McGandy, also from Olympian Tri Club, finished in second place, finishing in one hour 15 minutes with David Turtle of Hi-Elbow Tri Club securing third place finishing in one hour 18 minutes.

There were some incredible performances from the female athletes. Emma Jane Sharkey from Olympian Tri Club stormed to victory coming second overall and claiming first female prize with an excellent time of 1 hour 11 minutes. 

Laura Wylie from Hi-Elbow Tri Club, who came third overall, claimed second female position in one hour 13 minutes followed by local lady Claire Scott from Peninsula Tri Club, who finished third in one hour 26 minutes.

The relay prize went to Ian Withers, Lynne Magowan, Dave Orr, who had named their team after characters of the Fantastic Mr Fox movie, Boggis, Bunce and Bean.

The event, organised by the Narrows Tri Club and sponsored by Portaferry Regeneration Ltd, Ards and North Down Borough Council and Portaferry Hotel, was hailed a great success by the participants who had travelled from right across Northern Ireland and as far afield as England and Scotland to compete.

Only hours after the event finished, competitors took to the Narrows Tri Club Facebook page to congratulate the organisers and ask that the event be made an annual fixture. 

The event prizes were sponsored by Hoka One One, Athlos Triathlon and the Progressive Building Society.

Narrows Tri Club would like to thank all the volunteers who helped to make the event such a great success, Neal Ritchie, from Explore Home Photography for capturing the event on camera, and all the marshals who endured the wet and windy conditions to keep competitors safe.

Photos and videos of the Portaferry Triathlon can be viewed on the Narrows Tri Club Facebook page.