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Ireland was well represented at the 2024 Europe Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships Balikesir over the weekend with 11 athletes taking to the start line.

The race format saw athletes undertake a semi-final race on Friday 9th of August in order to establish their place in Saturday’s final, or B final. Both races consisted of a single lap 260m swim, a 6.9km bike, and a 1.8km run. A fast and furious style of racing.

In the Elite Men’s race, 110 athletes took to the startline of the semi-finals on Friday 9th of August, and battled it out for a coveted top 30 spot in the final. The B final hosted the athletes finishing in the 31st to 60th rank, with the remaining athletes given a final ranking based on their semi-final performance the previous day.

James Edgar’s speedy swim saw him 2nd out of the water in semi-final 3, and cruise safely to 6th across the line, securing his spot in the Elite Men’s final the following day. Russell White was in action in semi-final 2 finishing in 19th position to make it back for the B final on Saturday. Jonathan Oakey was the highest ranking athlete not to return to race on Saturday due to an unfortunate accident.

Returning to the pontoon on Saturday, Edgar produced a slower swim than anticipated by his own high standards, but pulled together a strong bike and lightning quick run split to cross the line in 4th position, a career best and within a second of a European Championship medal. In the B final, White produced a quick swim split, and a strong all round performance to claim 9th in the B final and an overall ranking of 39th. Oakey rounded out the Irish Elite Men’s results with 61st overall.

In the Women’s race, Saoirse O’Brien managed to cross the line ahead of Elizabeth Carr in semi-final 2, with the women finishing in 19th and 20th place respectively to advance to Saturday’s B final. Meanwhile, in semi-final 3 Erin McConnell produced a solid all round performance for 13th to join her teammates in Saturday’s final. Hollie Elliott, who is currently competing under the World Triathlon flag as she switches from GB to Ireland was also in action in semi-final 3, also qualifying for the B final.

Saturday’s B final featured the textbook McConnell swim split to exit the water towards the front of the race. She continued to produce a strong bike split, and despite being outpaced on the run, crossed the line in 8th in the B final, for a ranking of 38th overall in Europe. Saoirse O’Brien had one of the fastest bike splits of the day and backed it up with a strong run to claim 18th in the B final and 48th overall in what was her senior international racing debut. The result also sees O’Brien finish 28th in the U23 category for the Championships. While Elizabeth Carr was 22nd in the B final and 52nd overall in the rankings.

Ireland was also well represented in the Junior races, with Mathys Bocquet finishing 6th in the Junior Men’s B final, where he was joined by Pearse Gallagher who finished in 23rd. The duo were joined in the previous day’s semi-finals by teammate Archie Bremner who finished 21st in his semi-final and did not progress to the next day’s races on this occasion.

The Junior Women were represented by Nessa Mangan and Aimee Carr, who finished 22nd and 21st respectively in their semi-finals.

MIXED TEAM RELAY

The Elite Mixed Team Relay squad of James Edgar, Erin McConnell, Russell White and Saoirse O’Brien raced themselves to an impressive 13th at the 2024 Europe Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships Balikesir this weekend.

Edgar provided a strong leadout for Team Ireland, handing over to McConnell in 7th position from the front group of athletes to get the race underway. McConnell maintained this position in the swim, however lost contact with the front group while on the 5.3km bike.

McConnell handed over to White who clawed back some time on the swim and the bike, suffering for it during his 1.8km run. O’Brien was the final athlete in action for the team, bringing it home for Team Ireland in 13th place overall. The best Elite Mixed Team Relay result for Team Ireland to date, with the team also less than a minute from a top 10 result at the European Championship.

The Junior Mixed Team Relay squad consisted of Mathys Bocquet, Chloe Young, Pearse Gallagher and Aimee Carr. Bocquet was on leadout duties, handing over to Young for her international debut, to Gallagher, before Carr was charged with wrapping up the race for Team Ireland. The team finished in 16th position over the lactate filled distance, gaining valuable experience for future Mixed Team Relays.