WATERWAYS IRELAND TRIATHLONE - a huge success for the competitors and organisers

Waterways Ireland triAthlone 2009, Irelands biggest triathlon took place on Saturday 18th July in Athlone with a record number: 2,500 participants taking part. Thousands of supporters thronged the medieval streets of Athlone and along the Shannon to cheer all the athletes competing in Ireland's biggest triathlon, and host for The European Championships in 2010.

With the levels of difficulty ranging from 'try a tri' to 'Sprint' and 'Olympic', the triathlon provided most competitors with a challenge; some prepared all year, some decided to compete only in the last weeks before the event. Either way, spectators were rewarded with a spectacle as hundreds and hundreds of athletes streamed around Athlone town and over the finish line.

Elite Irish Athletes Aileen Morrison and Brian Keane placed 2nd and 1st respectively in the crucial European cup race against a field of International elite tri-athletes from around the globe (UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Switzerland and Spain).

Premium sponsor Waterways Ireland represented by Chief Executive, John Martin who presented the Elite prizes with Mary O Rourke T.D. said "the Shannon Navigation is a wonderful resource and I am delighted to see it being used to such great effect here in Athlone today. Congratulations to all who successfully took part and to the organisers who have established the Waterways Ireland TriAthlone as a world class event."

The European Championships take place in Athlone as part of the Waterways Ireland TriAthlone 3-4 July 2010 with 12 events taking place over the weekend.