Laura and Olivia among winners at Triathlon Ireland awards
The Triathlon Ireland awards event was held at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin on May 8, the first time in three years it was able to be held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This event is a celebration of triathlon achievement, a day during which outstanding contributions to the sport from volunteers, officials, coaches, and clubs are acknowledged, and also a day where athletes who were successful in the various championships and leagues (series) throughout the previous year are presented with their winners' medals.
This year, once again, athletes and members from Athlone Triathlon Club were very well represented, resulting from their achievements and dedication to the sport throughout the year.
Athlone Tri Club was shortlisted for club of the year, club coach Michael Macken was shortlisted for coach of the year, and club PRO Laura Kelly was shortlisted for volunteer of the year - an amazing honour and achievement for a small club.
From the shortlist of many worthy volunteers from throughout the country, Laura was chosen as the recipient, much to her surprise and delight, as she was not aware at the time that she was even nominated.
Laura is a great club volunteer and person - always working selflessly for others in the background especially for beginners - and always working hard as club PRO to promote and highlight the activities and successes of the club and its members
Laura was the main driver behind the club's very successful charity fundraiser which raised over €13,000 for the Athlone-based South Westmeath Hospice among other things, so an absolutely well deserved recognition of Laura's great work.
ATC was also delighted with their first ever national championship win with Olivia McCartin taking the overall honours in the National Aquabike Championships held at Lough Cutra Castle last August.
Olivia also took gold in her age group in the national aquathon championships, Olympic distance national triathlon championships, the triathlon national series for 2021, and silver in the national sprint triathlon championships.
Other medallists included Michael Macken (gold in his age group in both the national sprint and Olympic distance championships, the national Aquabike, as well as silver in the National Aquathon and Triathlon National series); Gerald Lynch (age group silver in the National Aquathon and National Aquabike), and Derek Nugent (age group silver in the Triathlon National Series).
It was definitely a successful end of season for the club, and a very hectic end to 2021 with four championship and four other National series races all taking place in an eight-week period, with some athletes racing twice in the same weekend at opposite ends of the country in order to earn the necessary points to be competitive in the series.