This year’s Standard Distance National Champs is shaping up to be a standout day of racing at Top of the Mourne Triathlon. Two top-class domestic fields are taking the start line at 12 noon on Sunday, 10th August to battle in out for the National Championship titles.
The swim will take place in Carlingford Lough opposite Kilbroney Park. The swim is a mass start and will be in two waves, 10 minutes apart. Waves are allocated on predicted swim times as recorded on the Triathlon Ireland registration system for the event.
There have been some bike course changes this week due to road closures in the area, as all athletes will have heard in the compulsory athlete briefing on Thursday evening. Athletes should refer to the athlete briefing circulated by organisers Newry Triathlon Club for important final details.
The run takes place within the beautiful Kilbroney Park and this year organisers Newry TC have organised a new iteration of the 10km run route, consisting of two laps.
In the men’s race Olympian Russell White will tackle his first domestic race of the year, having last won this title at the 2022 National Champs at Pikeman Rosslare.
Current Standard Distance National Champ Chris Mintern is also on the start list for Top of the Mourne and will certainly be hoping to defend the title.
Also on the start line are plenty of National Series contenders from the 2025 season – the National Triathlon Centre’s Sean McMahon; Adam Ward; Liquid Motion’s Shane Dunne; Newry’s Matthew Kinkaid in his home race; Wicklow’s Scott Graham; 2024 National Series winner Cory Fines; Sean Carragher; Jude Williams; Loughlin Campion; James Graham and Belpark’s Leo Corry to name but a few.
The women’s field is equally stacked. Hollie Elliott has had strong results on the international scene this year, and it will be extremely exciting to see her take to the start line in Newry on Sunday.
Emma O’Brien and Becky Woods go head to head over standard distance for the first time since Tri Athy earlier in the season.
Triathlon National Series regulars Aisling Wyer (who guided Chloe MacCombe during their recent Para Triathlon World Series bronze in Montreal); Megan Roberts off the back of her podium in Loughrea last week; Helen Perry has been having solid results including at TriTyrone; Mary O’Donnell was second at this year’s National Aquabike Champs; Limerick’s Roisin Kelleher; and Belpark’s Hannah Roche will all be in attendance vying for their shot at the National Champs Podium.
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