Triathlon Club ready to take over Kilkenny this weekend
The River Court Hotel have teamed up with the local triathlon club and come on board as the main sponsor of this year’s event
One of the most popular summer sporting events in the city, the Kilkenny Triathlon is back this weekend.
The triathlon, which brings people from across the South-East and all corners of Ireland, returns to the Marble City on Sunday.
This year’s event, now called the Kilkenny River Court Hotel Triathlon, will have its traditional, Try-A-Tri, Sprint and Relay options, with the action set to start at 9.50am.
And a more scenic start you couldn’t ask for. The Try-A-Tri swim starts at John’s Bridge and goes towards the boat slip, while the sprint event swims upstream for 250m before turning at a buoy and completing the remaining 500m of the 750m distance.
"The race starts in the River Nore with the backdrop of Kilkenny Castle on one side and the Kilkenny River Court Hotel on the other,” said club PRO Caoimhe Foley. “It’s a fabulous race to showcase the beauty of Kilkenny and promote our beautiful city.”
Once the water section of the triathlon has been completed, participants will make their way back to the race base in the Castle Park where, after swapping out the wetsuit for bike and helmet, it’s out on to the roads for the 20km cycle. The course heads to the Nuncio Road and on to the Waterford Road, turning at the The Harvester Pub and coming back to the Park via the Bennettsbridge Road.
Once back in the Castle Park it will be time for a quick change into running shoes for the 5km run. The course exits the Park and follows the Canal Walk towards St John’s Bridge. Turning around just before the Hurling Statue, the course goes back along the same path, passing under the Ossory Bridge before coming back into the Park via the Bennettsbridge Road, where the finish line awaits.
The finishing touches are being put in place for the big day, which begins with registration from 7.30 to 9pm. Transition opens at 9.15am, with the Try-A-Tri starting at 9.50am, followed by the sprint at 10.10am. And every participant will get to take home souvenirs of the day.
“Thanks to the help of manager Anthony Smith and the River Court Hotel, everyone who enters will have some cool kit going home with run/cycling arm sleeves,” said Foley. “Our race is also supported by some great local sponsors including John Kearns of JK Physical Therapy, who has provided water bottles for each participant.
“A triathlon race is hugely dependent on volunteers and we have some great people who have come on board to help on the day,” she added. “A feel-good day is certainly guaranteed!”
Entries for the triathlon close on Friday. With last year’s event a sell-out, people are encouraged to enter via triathlonireland.com – competitors must be aged 18 or over on race day and require a one-day membership unless members of Triathlon Ireland.