Kenmare town is fast gaining a reputation as Ireland’s fittest town. On the October weekend, Saturday Oct 24th Kenmare will host its first duathalon, a 40km Cycle and a 6km Run. It is open to everyone, individuals and relay teams. Funds raised from the event will be donated to Kenmare Underage Rugby teams and Kenmare Hospital Development Fund. Participants are coming from all corners of Ireland and the World in what promises to be an exciting event and a fun night afterwards.

Kenmare offers stunning scenery and the 40km cycle will go from Kenmare to Molls Gap, back towards Sneem, turning left for Blackwater and on again to Kenmare. The town of Kenmare offers award winning restaurants, traditional pubs and some of the best fun in Ireland. From Five star hotels to wonderful hostels the selection of restaurants is second to none. Its the ideal place to spend a weekend.

Simply log on here, and complete the form, entry fee €45.
Email enquiries to humptydumptykenmare@gmail.com

See the website http://www.thehumptydumpty.com/ for full details.

Triathlon Ireland eBulletin – 14/09/09

Welcome to the first of our eBulletins which are intended to keep the wider membership better informed of what actually takes place within Triathlon Ireland. This method of communication was suggested back in February at the AGM and at last we are able to fulfil a promise. My apologies for the delay, but a simple lack of time has been the reason. Which brings me nicely onto the main theme of this particular missive.

Triathlon has been experiencing incredible changes across the country over the last few years, with more races than ever before and an ever growing number of participants. To date, your sport has been organised at national level by a very small team of volunteers and just the over worked Amanda running the office. Yet members of TI expect, quite rightly, for races to be insured and sanctioned with proper officials in place, race results to be made available within hours of their finish, membership queries to be answered, National Series points to be awarded, international selections to be made, coaches to be trained, child protection policies to be put in place, elite athletes to be identified and nurtured etc. etc.. This is hard bloody work.

But we’re hopefully seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Triathlon is now a sport which is recognised and funded by the sports councils on both sides of the border. This funding is allowing us to put in place a professional structure, in line with other Olympic sports. But funding also brings responsibility, and we are expected to increase the accessibility of the sport and involve more women, juniors and those with disabilities at all levels, from club to international. Two important steps in this process are the appointments of a Performance Director (P/T) and a Chief Executive Officer. Interviews have already taken place for the Performance Director post and short listing is under way for the CEO role.

As a funded sport, all appointments are overseen by both the Irish Sports Council and SportNI. Representatives of both bodies approve all job specifications and sit on interview panels. Their HR guidance is invaluable.

Hopefully this has provided a little insight into the workings of Triathlon Ireland. I will endeavour to supply regular eBulletins over the coming weeks and months, so if there are any particular topics you would like covered, drop me an email and I’ll try to oblige.

Yours in Sport

Conal Heatley

Secretary, Triathlon Ireland

secretary@triathlonireland.com

Tel: 00353 83 374 6607