European junior elite to compete for triathlon honours

This Sunday July 7 will see the first elite Triathlon event take place in Ireland
since the European Championships were hosted in Athlone in 2010.
A strong Irish squad, led by Con Doherthy (Bronze Medalist at the Junior World
Championships 2012) will be challenging for European Cup medals on home soil
for the first time ever. It promises to be an exciting spectacle, with the genuine
stars of the future battling it out in the River Shannon and on the streets of Athlone for European honours.
The Sunday event's takes place in the backdrop of the ever-spectacular
Waterways Ireland triAthlone series of races that includes the Irish Sprint
Distance Championships and Irish Paratriathlon Champions for 2013.
2012 Olympian Gavin Noble leads the field and is favourite to be crowned
champion this year, but certainly not without a challenge. With almost every
county in Ireland represented and up to 15,000 spectators expected to line the
streets, Athlone is gearing up for yet another great event.
The hosting of the Paratriathlon Championships places this fast developing
side of the sport centre stage in Athlone. Para athletes from across Ireland and
UK will take part and compete for the title of Paratriathlon Champion. Triathlon
Ireland is confident many of the athletes competing will develop and represent
Ireland in the 2016 Para Olympic Games in Rio.
Waterways Ireland TriAthlone have developed a free and downloadable App
for 2013 event iDevices. The goal was to give triathletes all the information they
need to compete in the 2013 event, with access to training tips, our twitter feed, and LIVE timing for users so they can track athletes as they make their way around the course! Just search by race number or name!
Speaking about the event, Chairman Liam Heavin said: “We are delighted to be
bringing elite racing back to Athlone where it belongs! This has been a
team effort and couldn’t be achieved without the support of Waterways
Ireland and Athlone Town Council. We would like to encourage as many
people as possible to come along and support the event this weekend –
and especially to take in all that the elite races have to offer and cheer on
Team Ireland!”
This year’s Waterways Ireland triAthlone event will be supported by title sponsor Waterways Ireland, with significant support also provided by Athlone Town Council.

John Martin, Chief Executive Waterways Ireland said: ”Waterways
Ireland became involved with TriAthlone, recognising the potential of the
event to generate huge awareness for the inland waterways on the island
and internationally and impact on the numbers of people using the
waterways recreationally. Now the fastest growing sport in Ireland, I
commend the committee for their dedication and hard work in bringing not
only an Elite event back to Ireland but also its inclusiveness in hosting the
Paratriathlon Championships”
Waterways Ireland triAthlone begins with a swim in the River Shannon, from
which the competitors will then take to their bikes for a cycle through south
Roscommon before the exciting town-centre run which will see the event finish in the heart of Athlone.

For further information www.triathlone.com