Triathlon Ireland offer Irish athletes the chance to compete for their country at age group or non elite level at a range of European and World Championship events each year.
2011 was a record year for Triathlon Ireland with over 100 athletes representing Ireland at European and World Championships in a variety of distances. 2011’s most popular race was the European Triathlon Championships in Pontevedra, Spain where 49 Irish triathletes battled it out against the best age group athletes in Europe.
Mark Horan took gold in the Men’s 30-34 age group while Cork man Mark Nolan and Limerick lady Andree Walkin also made the podium each taking third place in their age group.
In 2011 the Triathlon World Championships was held in Beijing where Ireland had a team of 9 age group representatives and 3 elite athletes travel. Deidre Casey took a superb gold in the 25-29 age group, making the long trip worthwhile.
If you fancy representing Ireland in the fastest growing sport in the country now is the time to start training. Triathlon Ireland has just opening applications for the 2013 European and World Championships.
With the World Championships just a stone’s throw away in London and the European Championships in Turkey, Triathlon Ireland CEO, Matt McKerrow expects to see a big team travelling. “Ireland has 20 slots available per age group per gender so we could have a couple of hundred people competing for us at the World Championship. There’s always a great atmosphere around these races and with it being in London the Irish support will be that much better.”
If you’re looking for a different challenge Triathlon Ireland are also taking applications for the Off Road and Long Distance European and World Triathlon Championships and for those who are not natural swimmers there is always the European and World Duathlon Championships.
For more information on age group selection see www.triathlonireland.com
Pic: Sportsfile: Conor Devitt and Amy Brogan celebrate after they finish the Sprint Distance European Championships in Spain.