Team Youghal completed Their ‘Race Around Ireland’ for The Emer Casey Foundation at 12.48pm on Saturday the 19th September, 2010. Photo: John Hennessy

The Race Around Ireland is far and away the toughest cycling endurance test in Europe and is second only, to the race across America (RAAM) which is the toughest endurance race on the planet.

Team Youghal completed the race in eighty eight hours and eighteen minutes knocking over an hour off their previous time last year of 90 hours and 6 minutes. Team Youghal covered a distance of 2,160.5 km or 1,350 miles with an average speed of 24.5 km/h.

The Emer Casey Foundation is dedicated to providing funding to the ‘Disovary Consortium’ to secure the best independent research to detect the early signs of Uterine/Ovarian cancer.

Following the death of local Youghal girl, Emer Casey, in June 2006, the Casey family promised they would do all they could to help this research in the hope of securing a future of early detection.

In order to raise funds and awareness of this worthwhile charity Team Youghal started their epic journey in Navan at 8.30pm on Day One, the 14th September, after team member, Christy McCarthy, a family member of the Nationally  known Youghal Pipe Band, played the National Anthem on the pipes.

With Ger Flanagan in the saddle Team Youghal started up the North East coast of Ireland towards Belfast. Not long into the race Ger and the rest of his team, Michael McCarthy, Christy McCarthy and Eoin Whyte, experienced strong winds and heavy rain which hampered their progress through the Northern Counties.

As morning broke on Day Two the 15th of September the weather improved and saw the second section of the team, Kieran Greoger, Brian Fitzgerald, John Twomey and Tommy Roche, leaving the North of Ireland at approx. 9.15 am.

Team two then handed over to the first team who continued the journey through Donegal, which claimed the only casualty of the race, when Eoin Whyte came off his bike on treacherous roads before Mamore Gap in Co. Donegal.

Eoin injured his hand which rendered him unable to cycle and Christy McCarthy took up the mantle and conquered the steep climb through the Gap.

Team Youghal continued through Donegal, Sligo and Co. Mayo and were greeted by a lovely sunny morning when they came out of Galway on Day Three, the 16th September.

In glorious sunshine Team Youghal cycled through Co. Clare through ‘The Burren’ then along the West Coast through Kilkee and into Limerick City. Team Youghal then continued South West out of Limerick into Co. Kerry. As darkness was falling they cycled through Kerry into the Gap of Dunloe and onto the scenic Ring of Kerry.

On the morning of Day Four, the 17th of September, Team Youghal entered into their home county of Cork, reaching Mizen Head at approx 8:30am and from there Team Youghal continued on to Skibbereen, Kinsale and Blarney before reaching Cork City.

In Cork City John Twomey took on ‘St. Patrick’s Hill’ at breakneck speed which was an incredible sight. The Team then cycled through Cork County and into their home town of Youghal where all the team cycled in unison into the town to a hero’s welcome at approx. 6pm.

After a very brief stop-over Team Youghal continued into Co. Waterford via The Mahon Falls as darkness descended.

Fuelled by the welcome they received in their home Town they continued up through Wexford and into Wicklow, where Tommy Roche took on Mount Leinster, and won, as brightness began to rise on the morning of Day Five, the 18th of September. John Twomey then blazed through his familiar training ground, The Sally Gap, with Tommy Roche and Kieran Greoger conquering the final climb of the race at ‘Cupidstown Hill’ in Co.Kildare.

The team then entered Co. Meath, where the rain began to fall again. All of the team then took turns at cycling until they reached the outskirts of Navan and close to the finish line. Team Youghal then crossed the finish line together to cheers from Youghal supporters at the finish line in Navan.

After crossing the line Team Leader Ger Flanagan said;” We are delighted to finish the race and even more delighted that we beat last year’s time. We were better organised this year in every department and it showed throughout the race and we definitely benefited from that organisation and I want to say with all my heart, thank you to the lads both in the saddle and in the support crew. Also I would like to thank the people of Youghal who came out in force on Friday when we cycled through the town and the people from Youghal who travelled up to Navan to meet us at the finish line. Finally I want to thank our sponsors for the team; Jack O’Patsy Pottery and Youghal Kia, and in the media; The Evening Echo, and Youghal News with a special thanks to Cork’s 96FM and Community Radio Youghal who supported us all the way around.”

Media Coordinator with the Team, John Hennessy, said;” The lads were under a lot of physical pressure, but they coped with it brilliantly. I have never seen such a great group of committed and focused people who are giving it their all for the Emer Casey Foundation and let’s remember this team is made up of ordinary blokes, like Health Care Workers, Printers, Gardai, Retired Teachers and Fire Officers and are full amateurs, not semi professional cyclists, so they deserve incredible credit. The support Crew of Peter Coady, Tom Fitzgerald, Robert Heffernan, Peter Roche, Aonghus O’Broin, Jimmy Healy, Claude McCarthy and Maurice Flanagan also played a vital role in the team’s success, providing invaluable backup and navigation support during the race.”

John Hennessy also said;”I would also like to thank Darina Clancy, Ray Flanagan and Derek Kiely who were part of the crew providing media coverage for the team.”

After Team Youghal have got their breath back preparations will start for the team to do it all again.

What makes The Race Around Ireland such a fantastic challenge is the constant flow of the race which runs 24 hours a day from start to finish, with no let up and that overwhelming desire not only to complete the race, which is a huge challenge in itself, but to win it and defend titles!

The race is part of the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) World Cup Series and the race is organised by the Navan Road Club and is sanctioned by Cycling Ireland.

Unlike other cycling races such as the RÁS or the Tour de France, the course is in no way roped off, there are no marshals controlling traffic flow, and there are no planned rest stops or stages in this event.

For further information and pictures from the event log on to: www.teamyoughal.com

Click on image to start slideshow

Dial to Stop Drug Dealing

The September meeting was addressed by a representative of the Southern Regional Drugs Task Force. The speaker informed the gathering of an upcoming re-launch of the region’s Dial to Stop Drug Dealing campaign in the Walter Raleigh Hotel on October 4th.

The campaign has been on-going under a relatively low profile for two years but awareness is being heightened to coincide with Youghal’s Drug Awareness week from 4th-8th of October. This will be done concisely through promoting 1800 220 220, the anonymous Dial to Stop Drugs number, across various organisation and community bodies. Poster, leaflets and media interviews will form a concentrated effort to impress the number and its purpose on the consciousness of the community.

This project is effectively an intelligence gathering initiative that has proven –and continues to prove- successful in other areas of the country. Locally it is supported by the Regional Drugs Task Force, Youghal gardai and community networks.

Freefone

The meeting was told how 1800 220 220, which is a 24-hour, freefone number, is central to the Dial To Stop Drug Dealing project. Through 1800 220 220, the general public are asked relay any information, or even suspicions, they may have on drug dealers or dealing, regardless of how miniscule the data may be seem.  It is imperative that the campaign is recognised as targeting drug dealers as against drugs, a difference that may otherwise be regarded as criminals rather than their victims.

The essence of intelligence gathering is that even the most innocuous piece of information can assume major importance when placed alongside other data in the bigger picture. “We’re talking about first or second hand information –it may be a name, a car registration, a photograph of suspicious activity- anything,” the meeting was told.

Confidential

The service is “extremely confidential” and based outside the State. It is managed by an external agency comprised of trained operators sensitive to the issue, not least from a caller’s perspective. This agency gathers the information and in due course passes it back into the country to the Garda National Drugs Unit in Dublin. The intelligence is then formulated into a coherent structure and siphoned back to the gardai in the local community from whence it came and possibly even forming a case for prosecution on its own.

Most importantly, callers to 1800 220 220 are neither identified nor asked for their identity, though they can provide it voluntarily if they wish. In keeping with the essence of confidentiality, phone numbers are not sought or traced.

Empowering

September’s meeting heard that project is further seen as empowering the community to use its own strength within to cleanse itself of the blight of drug dealing and associated nightmares. “You can feel very helpless watching a friend or family member being destroyed by drugs, but this offers a way to strike back for them,” said the speaker. The scheme’s success to date also reflects a ‘safety in numbers’ consensus, whereby the input from individuals is assimilated into that acquired from a variety of sources.

The Dial Top Stop Dealing campaign originated as a local initiative in Blanchardstown in 2006. In September 2007, Phase One was launched, adding Tallaght, Co Kildare (Celbridge, Naas, Athy and Newbridge), Dublin North East area (including Coolock, Donaghmede, Kilbarrack, Clarehall, Clonshaugh and Howth) and Dublin’s North Inner City. Phase two came a year later to bring Cork City & county (Macroom, Midleton, Skibereen, Mallow and Youghal), Kerry (Tralee), Limerick, Dublin North, South East (Waterford, Wexford and Carlow) into the scheme. Further on, Phase Three brought in Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown, Bray, Wicklow (East Coast), Midlands, Finglas/Cabra

Calls increasing

To date, Phase Two regions have generated over 1,100 calls. Dissecting this statistic shows that from September 2008 to July 2009, there were 113 calls from Cork city and county, 28 calls from Kerry, 45 from Limerick, 19 from North Dublin and 94 from the South east. Those 141 calls to 1800 220 220 from the Cork/Kerry region were outnumbered between August 09 to August as 178 calls were made, mostly from rural areas.

In terms of result, the meeting was told that “intelligence gathering takes time” but that the outcome over the past two years has led to “five Section 10 seizures and numerous Section 3 searches and several significant drug seizures. Inquiries are still in progress on up to half a dozen cases and four investigations into individuals are proceeding.

In conclusion the meeting was told that the processing of intelligence given can often take some time, especially if it is used to comprise a strong legal case against a dealer. Therefore the public may sometimes feel that contacting the gardai is a preferable course of action.

PERSONAL MONITORED ALARMS:

Community Alert PRO Sergeant John Sharkey said the cost of installing 47 personal monitored alarm systems (including two free courtesy of a grateful installer) had surpassed the government grant of €11,369 by €381. This arose because the grant application was for an initial 39 alarms. The group’s finances would cover the shortfall, assisted by a well-supported church gate collection that raised €1,000. There are currently six new alarm applications, with the next tranche set at 15. Applications forms are available from the garda station. It is expected, but not yet confirmed, that grant-aid will again be forthcoming. It was clarified also that an extra bracelet/pendant per house would cost a mere €5.

SUPER STAYING:

Sergeant Sharkey said the superintendent’s announced retirement was now on hold and the intended goodwill card could remain likewise.

CRIME REPORT:

Sergeant Sharkey described crime figures for the seven-week period since the previous meeting as “satisfactory,” with no fatal or seriously injurious occurrences but quite a few criminal damage and disorderly incidents.  He reiterated that the statistics covered “only reported or discovered crime.”

Amongst the milieu were 10 persons detected for drugs possession, arising from 74 street searches and six house searches. Besides detection work, Youghal gardai co-operated with other agencies such as the Southern Regional Task Force and the local Drugs Project sub-committee, which is comprised of various community representatives including GPs, social workers, drugs counsellors and former addicts.

The sergeant made reference to the gardai playing an enjoyable five-a-side soccer match with members of the Youth Diversion project and to a memorable occasion in every sense with the Ciaran Harte Memorial match, during the summer. He asked that the general community seek garda assistance through Community Garda Peter Queally, whenever required.

Statistically, the crime report ran as follows:

Assaults (4): These consisted of one assault causing harm, at Blackwater Heights and three minor, at Blackwater Heights, JD’s pub and at Gleann Tuarigh. In most cases those involved were known to each other. Files are being prepared for the DPP.

Burglaries (1 attempted) Involved a business premises but the alarm proved a deterrent.

Drunk driving: (7 arrested) Five were subsequently found to be over the limit when breathalysed at Midleton Garda station. Arrests occurred at Greencloyne (2), Gortroe Cross (1), South Main Street(1), Cork Hill (1) Park Mountain (1) and McCurtainstownn (1)

Public Order Offences (34) Too many locations to mention, from North Abbey cemetery to Knockadoon Pier, via Nealon’s Quay. Most involved late night drunkenness, resulting in arrests and possible court appearances. There’s a lot to be said for going straight home!

Criminal Damage (35). Eleven have thus far been detected. Damage included two shop windows and four cars at the northern end of town after two intoxicated men were ejected from a local bar. Files are being prepared for the DPP.  Several main street business premises were targeted in similar incidents.

Thefts (18): These include seven from shops/private premises (€2 shop, Brookes Supervalu, Moe’s Off Licence, Tesco, Eircom Compound and St. Mary’s Collegiate Church), three from cars and eight ‘other.’ Six have thus far been detected. Of the remainder, CCTV analysis is on-going in several instances.

Robbery (1): Graham’s betting shop, whereby an individual threatened staff with a hammer and escaped on foot with a three-figure sum of money. An arrest is anticipated in due course.

Hoax call out: Reference was made to one such incident, on July 19th, in which a man was reportedly injured form a gunshot wound and resulted in a major search operation involving the coastguard and garda helicopters. The call was tracked and led to an early arrest.

Vetting and caution:

The sergeant observed that the gardai are working closely with the town council in vetting prospective council tenants.  Similarly, liaison with Dublin garda colleagues is persistent regarding non-Irish nationals who may be fugitives from other countries. Several such arrest warrants were executed over the summer. Sergeant Sharkey added that the gardai are also working with the HSE under the Children First initiative. Proceeding, he advised householders to be wary of bogus callers, whether pretending to be garda personnel or tradesmen, as such practices were relentless.

A member from the floor asked whether the town council could liaise with residents as well as liaise with gardai regarding new residents. A councillor present interjected to say that liaising with gardai now provided a much improved vetting procedure, than previous times. The councillor explained that some instances were beyond control, such as when a boyfriend moves in or marriage evolves.

The meeting had been supplied with information leaflets on ASBOs, in view of a problem during the summer with some youths harassing business staff and customers. In a brief discussion, Sergeant Sharkey said issuing ASBOs was “labour intensive” and could involve various personnel over a convoluted and lengthy procedure. He said it was often preferable and more satisfactory to employ the criminal law process in tandem with the Juvenile Liaison officer. ASBOs served as deterrents nonetheless, he added.

The Community Alert’s next meeting is the AGM, on Tuesday October 5th in the Walter Raleigh Hotel at 7.45 p.m.

Wednesday 15th September: Open 3 Person Team Event – Sponsored by: Yawl Bay Seafood

President’s Prize to the Ladies (President James Morey)
Wednesday 8th September 2010

Youghal Golf Club Prize Giving – President’s Prize 2010

President’s Prize Weekend (President James Morey)
Thurs 2nd – Fri 3rd – Sat 4th – Sun 5th September – 36 Holes Stableford

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The Phelan family from Raheen Park, Youghal, have launched a campaign to raise funds to sent their 11 year old son, Keith, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, for an operation in Germany, in the hope that it will improve their son’s quality of life.
By Michael Twomey | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

When Tony and Mag Phelan of Youghal were given the news 11 years ago that their son Keith had suffered a bi-lateral Grade 4 Hemorrhage in premature birth, they could be forgiven for reacting with confusion.

It’s not the news a family expects or wants to hear, or can immediately understand. It meant that Keith’s quality of life would be severely restricted. His Dad explained. “He can’t walk, he can’t sit up,  he can’t dress himself, he can’t feed himself, he can’t write; his future is a computer.” Keith is quadriplegic (all four limbs are affected), suffers epilepsy and has Cerebal Palsy (permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation).

Now, following a chance viewing of a programme on TV3, the Phelan family, including Keith’s sisters, Kelly and Lyndsey and brother, Dean, has started a campaign to help Keith improve on his limitations. The Phelans are attempting to raise enough money to bring Keith to the XCell-Center Dusseldorf, Germany where they believe he could benefit from stem cell treatment. Following inquiries to the centre they were informed that Keith had a number of options: surgical or lumber puncture (where cells are withdrawn from the hip bone marrow, good cells are retained in the lab where they regenerate and are reinserted by lumber puncture). It takes five days to complete the procedure.

An account for the fund has been set up through the Allied Irish Bank and the family is already busy planning ways to make the campaign successful. “We are hoping that people can donate directly, help us with our own fundraising or hold events themselves.” Tony said. Youghal Credit Union has already supported the fund and should be one of the many agencies in the town to lend its weight to the campaign. No certainties have been given by the XCell-Center about the degree of change that might result from the treatment, or indeed how quickly the signs of improvement will begin to show. That won’t stop the family from trying everything for Keith. “There are no guarantees that the treatment will work or what way Keith might progress. Anything at all that could change one of these things would be great,” Tony added. If Keith’s positive demeanour and welcoming smile is anything to go by then he has every chance of success.

That strong personality shows itself in his school; Bun Scoil Mhuire, Youghal, where he has just started 5th class. “We are delighted he is going to mainstream school. He was really looking forward to going back as he said, ‘to meet all my friends’ and that does your heart good to see kids gather round him. There’s no bad feeling,” Tony remarked with pride. Keith also goes for various therapies at Enable Ireland, regularly.

Both Mag and Tony are all too aware of what a small change could mean to their son.“He would like to be able to do what his brother does. He watches us play football. Sometimes when the ball hits the chair I’ll say – that’s great defending, Keith!” Tony smiled. Help them to help Keith help himself. One small step for Keith could be one giant leap for his family.

To donate to the fund: Sort Code: 93-43-05, Acc. No.: 05841087. To contact to assist in fundraising or organise events, contact: 024-20843.

Team Youghal passed the finish line last Saturday 18th September 2010 at 12:48 after 88 hrs 18 mins Cycling. All the cyclists and crew are home for some well earned rest. It was a magnificent experience for all involved and thanks to everyone who supported us. Thanks to everyone for the fantastic support over the past week. Well done to all.

The race around Ireland is far and away the toughest cycling endurance test in Europe and is the World’s second toughest endurance race and in Ireland the cyclists of Team Youghal will have to cover a distance of 1,350 miles travelling through all four Irish Provinces with many steep climbs and sharp descents along the way, from the starting point which began on Tuesday the 14th of September in Navan.
What makes this such a fantastic challenge is the constant flow of the race which runs 24 hours a day from start to finish, with no let up and that overwhelming desire not only to complete the race which is a huge challenge in itself, but to win it and defend  titles!

The race is part of the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) World Cup Series and the race is organised by the Navan Road Club and is sanctioned by Cycling Ireland.

Unlike other cycling races such as the RÁS or the Tour de France, the course is in no way roped off, there are no marshals controlling traffic flow, and there are no planned rest stops or stages in this event.

In terms of a sporting event, this really is up there with one of the toughest tests there is as the relay style strategy of  Team Youghal came into play over the four or five days of constant peddling.
There was a cyclist racing at all times, 24 hours a day, the team entered County Cork via Kerry on Thursday night last and make its way by Mizen Head, on through Schull, Bantry, Skibbereen, through the outskirts of Cork City where the team tackled St Patrick’s Hill and then make its way on to East Cork, through Carrigtwohill, Midleton, Castlemartyr, Killeagh and then through its home town of Youghal where there is one of many time stations.

When you consider that this part of the race is just Cork City and County it puts the 1,350 mile distance into perspective.

The Team Youghal cyclists cycled to raise funds and more importantly raise awareness for the Emer Casey Foundation. Team Youghal cyclists are: Ger Flanagan, Tommy Roche, Christy McCarthy, Brian Fitzgerald, Kieran Groeger, Eoin Whyte, Michael McCarthy and John Twomey.

The team won the inaugural Race Around Ireland eight man team category in 2009 and are back to defend their title this year and hope to improve on our time of 90 hours and 6 minutes.

Team Youghal cyclists Kieran Groeger thanked John Hennessy for the great work and to all our sponsors, the media crew, the drivers, Maurice with the gear wagon, Claude with the campervan, support crew and all the cyclists – for the friendship, support and great craic – in spite of the weather! Thanks to all who sent messages of support – every bit helps. Don’t forget the Emer Casey Foundation!

Clickn on image to start slideshow

Cork soccer legend Carl Davenport was special guest on Eugene Crotty’s sports show on Youghal local radio CRY. Carl was speaking about the launch of his new book “The Dav – Tales from Inside & Outside The Box”.
Click here to listen to the show. Audio courtesy of CRY Youghal Local Radio

Carl also signed copies of the book at the Read and Write shop on North Main street, Youghal. Later he visited the home grounds of Youghal United at Ardrath Park where he said the facilities at Youghal United were second to none

He will also be featured on RTE’s Book Show in the near future. Carl wrote the book himself and such is his popularity in Cork that the book is selling like hot cakes, so be sure to call into the Read and Write shop buy this great read.

Over 170 students from the Architectural Department of Waterford Institute of Technology commenced a major collaborative initiative with Youghal’s Heritage Committee on an Architectural appraisal of the historic town of Youghal. Pic: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Kicking off initially with a three day ‘think – in’ session in the Mall Arts Centre on 14th September, students from first to fourth year will  take on Youghal’s Architectural Heritage as a case study for the academic year.  Students will focus on various projects and will make regular site visits to Youghal over the course of the year.  Their efforts will not only provide a stomping ground for enthusiastic architectural students but it will also lay the foundation for promoting Youghal’s prominence in Architectural Heritage.

Catherine Desmond of the Youghal Heritage Committee explained how this joint initiative came about: “The Youghal Heritage Committee approached W.I.T with the idea of their Department of Architecture undertaking an architectural appraisal on Youghal, to include vacant structures, sites and buildings of prominence in the area.  Their response was hugely encouraging and they were extremely eager to come on board.  We were delighted to welcome the 170 students to the town –who will give a completely fresh perspective on Youghal’s hugely significant and unique heritage.” Said Catherine.

Máire Henry, Head of the Department of Architecture in W.I.T commented on the partnership saying:  “W.I.T was thrilled to become involved with decision makers and local authorities in Youghal in developing, in a sustainable manner, the built and natural environment within Youghal.  It is one of the key aims of the Department of Architecture of W.I.T to not only act as a catalyst for debate but to become actively involved with our students of Architecture in community supported projects”.

The initiative not only showcases Youghal’s Architectural Heritage and exhibits its worthiness of such academic attention, but the economic spin – off to the town will also be very valuable throughout the year. Initially during their three day stay in the town, students will reside in Carleton Village Holiday Apartments and Villas in Youghal, providing a welcome boost towards the tail end of the holiday season.  Undoubtedly the presence of the students over the course of the year will also be very beneficial in terms of boosting the local economy.

The initiative has received a positive reaction from all parties involved, proving the relevance of Youghal’s Heritage.  Sean McLoughlin, Youghal Town Architect in supporting the project intimated: “This initiative gives exposure for new thinking on the potential of Youghal’s Architecture and it exposes this potential to the public”.

Click on image to enlarge

Issued by: Youghal Heritage Committee

Contact: Aileen Ahern

Tel: 024-81814

E:tourism@youghal.ie or youghalheritage@mail.com

Youghal Foroige removed over 30 bags of rubbish when they conducted another clean-up of Youghal beach. In a thorough and efficient operation the youth organisation picked detritus from the Front Strand promenade to Redbarn across two, two-hour shifts across either side of midday. Pic: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Two teams of approximately 20 each participated, comprised from the Nagle House based facility’s music group, café and youth club alongside adult Foroige volunteers, family and friends. The ratio, mind you was an unbalanced 3:1 towards females, which reflects the on-going requirement for more male participation in Foroige, especially at voluntary, supervisory level.

According to youth worker Emer Power, the work proceeded “much more quickly and easily” than the club’s previous initiative last May when a trawl of the same area filled over 100 bags. “We had learned from the previous time and the weather was much better,” she explains.

In tents times

Prominent amongst the debris were crisp bags, plastic bottles and, for some reason, shoes, but the area around the rifle range at Claycastle indicated best how the good summer had accommodated the social habits of Youghal’s less conscientious visitors (or perhaps even locals). Four tents, deck chairs sleeping bags and a huge amount of beer cans and bottles” were discovered, according to Emer. “Some of the stuff still had shop tags on., It was like they had been bought especially for the occasion and then abandoned!” she reasoned. That’s recession for you –can’t afford to feed a tent with beer in the attic at home! The cleaners also found a lively small frog, who we can assume was hopping mad at the habits of humans in his habitat.

The voluntary effort has earned the Foroige centre a much-needed €500 from the Dept. of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to be distributed through Cork County Council. It will be divided between the centre’s youth club, café and Garda Youth Diversion project.

The Tenth Youghal Triathlon was a tremendous success at the East Cork seaside town, with 248 competitors taking to the Atlantic Ocean, then on to the bicycles then finishing with a run. Report: Derek Kiely

There was over €3,000 in prizes, split amongst the field, with overall prizes as well as category awards too. The course was a massive 750m swim, 19k cycle and a 6.5k run and conditions were tough early Saturday morning with a rising tide and a sharp swell in the Atlantic Ocean for the 750m swim, but as the day drew on weather conditions improved significantly and the roads were dry for both the cycling and the run.

‘Youghal Triathlon Director’ Tommy Roche said “The day was a fantastic success and it is great when everything comes together and that is down to hard work from everyone involved in this event. The standard again this year was absolutely brilliant with a great range of athletes involved. It’s great to see a lot of local Cork athletes competing well at the top end of Triathlon competitions and I want to thank everyone who helped in making this Triathlon a success, the eleventh Youghal Triathlon can’t come quick enough”.

As the competition reached fever pitch it was Trevor Woods, a physical exercise teacher at UCC who emerged as the first man home and overall winner in a time of 1.05.15. Trevor originally from Belfast was thrilled with the victory and praised the organisers for putting together such a well designed course. The first Lady home was Cork’s Elizabeth Lee who won the Youghal Triathlon in 2008. Elizabeth crossed the finish line in 1.10.21 which was a very impressive time indeed.

Other competitors of note were Cork’s Chris Mintern who at just 16 years of age has already competed at International level. Mintern was first out of the water, first home in the cycle, but was caught in the run by the experiences Trevor Woods, also Donal Mahon also put in a fantastic performance claiming third place.

In the Ladies race, there was a bit of local flavour as Katie Cooke who is a niece of well known Youghal man Ken Brookes finished second and Catherine Brown was third and Leevale from Cork took first prize in the team event. The Youghal Triathlon was supported by Youghal Town Council and the Mayor Mary Linehan-Foley was full of high praise for the organisers and the competitors alike, stating that events like these are highly important for Youghal as a town and also sponsored by
the Aura Leisure Centre at Youghal’s swimming pool in the Front Strand.