Over the past weeks and months the ‘New to Triathlon’ participants have been busily preparing for their multisport debuts. So who exactly are the newbies in the club? …
How did you get into triathlon: My cousin Sharon, whom some of ye may know, rang my last year with a suggestion that I swim the Tramore triathlon while she cycled and her brother ran. We were known as the McGuire Sandwich. I hadn’t swam in months and hadn’t trained in years. But sure hey what I had to loss. We had a great day and I really enjoyed it, so that was it I was hooked.
Sleeping and eating. I even try to do both at the same time. I’ll fall asleep every evening on the couch.
"I’m hungry"………stuff my face….."I’m full"
Sleeping, yep it can also be a talent, I’m really good at it. It’s a fine art you know to be able to fall asleep anywhere.
A recent diagnoise has lead to me being identified as a hug slut 🙂
Name: Linda Clarke
Where are you from? Blackrock, Co. Dublin, living in Milltown.
How did you get into tri?
I’ve had a good few friends over the years that have gotten into tri and I resisted all attempts to persuade me to give it ago. Finally, after a weekend watching Hell of the West in 2009 and feeling that I needed a new challenge, I took the plunge and did my first race last year, only three weeks after buying my road bike.
What’s your favourite discipline?
Its a no brainer! The swim….and preferably in open water….the more waves the better!
What’s your main motivation for joining Piranha?
To find some training buddies and meet new people. I think the races are more fun when you know lots of the other participants.
Does open water swimming count? Usual stuff….eating out, wine, a good film or box set.
Darkest sporting secret?
I first swam without my arm bands on a family holiday in Portugal at the age of four after being bribed by the promise of a massive ice cream.
Biggest vice: Ice cream….see question above.
Things you are likely to hear me say?
I’ve got a puncture!
Any special talents?
None that I can think of….but I’m quite good at watching people fix my punctures! Thanks Tadhg, Derval, Nick and Seb!
Something interesting not many people know about you:
I used to play waterpolo for Ireland….a long, long time ago!
Name: Liam Osborne
Where are you from? The sunny south east, Co Wexford
How did you get into triathlon: A group of us decided that it would be an interesting challenge now that we were getting too old for rugby. My first race was Blanchardstown in the NAC in 2010.It was my first time in a 50 metre pool and I just about managed to get through the 750 metres.
Whats your favourite discipline Swim,Bike or Run? I really enjoy cycling – there’s nothing like a good spin up the Wicklow mountains or out and around Howth.
Whats your main motivation for joining Piranha? My main motivation was to improve my swim times as they were horrendous – they’re a little better now! I also wanted to meet a group of like minded people and make training that bit more interesting. The people are great in the club and I’ve made some friends/training partners which is always good..
Other interests outside of triathlon? My main interest outside triathlon is my family – we have a 16 month old baby girl. I also enjoy watching and going to Rugby & Gaelic matches as well as the occasional soccer match.
Darkest sporting secret? I played cricket once – under duress!
Biggest Vice? A few pints of Guinness.
Things you are likely to hear me saying … Quare good
Any special talents? Nope … !
Something interesting not many people know about you? I paraglided over Rio de Janeiro with my now wife!
Name: Joey deCourcey
Where are you from? Cleggan, Connemara, Co.Galway (west of the west…next stop New York)
How did you get into triathlon: College destroyed me and Im actively recovering! I got into it last year with a great training partner. The Ironman is what really has me…I’m getting one of them tattoos. I also have an unhealthy obsession with gear…no explanation needed there!
Whats your favourite discipline Swim,Bike or Run? I love the water and anything to do with it, I have also really started to enjoy running the last few years and actually do it for fun now!
Whats your main motivation for joining Piranha? Looking for some structure, motivation, and to hang out with people who don’t think I’m off my rocker for getting up at 6am to go for a run/swim/cycle…
Other interests outside of triathlon? I’m a research graduate, so I’m constantly looking for distractions from my work! My current hobbies are learning piano, volunteering at a youth club, growing a balcony of herbs and attempting to rebuild an old dawes galaxy.. Advice on any of the above is greatly appreciated 🙂
Darkest sporting secret? Oh dear…Learning to play football in London may slightly forgive me for this, but playing an U16s match I once handpassed a sideline ball. Took a while for everyone to notice.
Biggest Vice? Apart from whiskey, gambling and a penchant for gear I cant afford…none.
Things you are likely to hear me saying … No worries…. Apparently I say it alot.
Any special talents? An amazing ability not to panic in any situation, much to the annoyance of others. Its a gift.
Something interesting not many people know about you? I grew up on Abbey road, just down the road from the famous studios…but I’m more of a rubber soul man.
Name: Louise O’Grady
Where are you from? I’m a kinda from Ross O’Carroll Kelly territory-D4.
How did you get into triathlon: A friend gave me a nudge into the tri world. Havent yet done a triathlon but done the phoenix park duathlon series last summer and Naas in duathlon Feburary 2011. Looking forward to the tri challenges of summer 2011.
Whats your favourite discipline Swim,Bike or Run? I enjoy all of them, the long distance running I find the most difficult of the 3.
Whats your main motivation for joining Piranha? Its was a local club, that seemed to be open towards newbies to tri. I wanted to work towards improving my fitness, skills in the three areas and hopefully improve my times in races.
Other interests outside of triathlon? I do love abit of tag rubgy its great for meeting new people n catching up with goss 🙂 Also love horse riding and cooking.
Darkest sporting secret? Its not really a secret, I have abit of a habit of doing it (some in the club, who will remain nameless have already witnessed)- a timberrrrrr scenerio when I forget to unclip before stopping the bike 
Biggest Vice? A pint of bulmers or two on a summers day.
Things you are likely to hear me saying … Jaysus
Any special talents? Nope… hmmm well my bbq’s are famous amoung friends.
Something interesting not many people know about you? when I was 14 yrs old wanted to join the Irish army so I could showjump for Ireland then realised it would also entail army duties, not just training and looking after horses all day.
Name: Philip McGovern
Where are you from? Gods very own County of Donegal
How did you get into triathlon: Having completed a couple of Marathons, I got bored running (with back & knee injuries), I took up swimming and a friend convinced me it would be a good idea to give triathlon ago and I heard about Piranha through one of the guys in my running group
Whats your favourite discipline Swim,Bike or Run? No better way to start the weekend, than a morning run around Dublins Phoenix Park on Saturday, Fantastic!
Whats your main motivation for joining Piranha? I guess to maintain good health and fitness while keeping the weight in check
Other interests outside of triathlon? Does food count as an interest?
Darkest sporting secret? Now if I told you that it wouldn’t be a secret anymore..
Biggest Vice? Recently bumped into the Dominos Delivery guy at Tesco express in Drumcondra..
-he knew my first name, …need I say any more?
Things you are likely to hear me saying … “Pass the Ben and Jerrys, ..please?”
Any special talents? Hmm, I have to think about that one
Something interesting not many people know about you? Jeese, this is worse than the time I tried to enter in the Mary from Dungloe competition, I am still trying to figure out what “my special talent” is. Who wrote these questions anyway?
Name: Louise Fanning ( AKA: lou, loulou, fanny!)
Where are you from? That’s always a tricky one; a mixture of South Africa / Zambia / Dublin
How did you get into triathlon: I have never really been sporty but I did grow up with three swimming fanatic siblings one of whom turned to triathlon in his late 20’s only to end up wearing the green at several world age groups. After some health problems in 2010 I turned over a new fitness leaf and went from not being able to run across the road to completing my first 5K race. I really enjoyed the running & it was after reading ‘slow fat triathlete’ that I made it my goal to try tri in 2011!
Whats your favourite discipline Swim,Bike or Run? I am probably most comfortable swimming but as I am relatively new to running, I still get a massive buzz from each completed KM.
Whats your main motivation for joining Piranha? The aforementioned ‘slow fat triathlete’ extols the virtues of joining a Tri club so after some poking around online, I happened across Piranha’s New to Tri programme – which was my main motivation for joining. Thus far it has proved to be an excellent decision, every one at the club has been very friendly and understanding to us newbies! A ‘big up’ to Tadgh & Elana for putting up with us 🙂
Other interests outside of triathlon? See ‘Biggest Vice?’ Question.
Darkest sporting secret? When I was about 12 I was promoted from the "C" to "B" squad at the local swimming club (two of the already mentioned siblings were on the ‘A’ squad) but I was quite chuffed with myself! Alas I was soon to find out my promotion was closely aligned to my younger sister of 4 years being promoted at the same time & my mun pleading with the head coach to promote me too so she wouldn’t have to do a third car run of an evening. Needless to say I rebelled and my swimming career came to an end.
Biggest Vice? Rioja, Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah…..
Things you are likely to hear me saying … F******k! – or variations of. (classy I know)
Any special talents? I make mean-ass chocolate brownies – I think I put on half a kilo just thinking of them….mmm….
Something interesting not many people know about you? Far too many to mention – you’ll have to wait for the autobiography.
Name: Seamus Fearon
Where are you from? Dromintee, Co. Armagh
How did you get into triathlon: Finished up playing GAA with my club last year so wanted something to keep fit and competitive.
Whats your favourite discipline Swim,Bike or Run? Running is my strongest discipline so probably running although enjoying the cycling/swimming now too.
Whats your main motivation for joining Piranha? After making the decision to get into triathlon the location of the club sessions was biggest factor in joining Piranha and I’d heard that the coaching was very well organised, which it is.
Other interests outside of triathlon? Still play a bit of Gaelic Football
Darkest sporting secret? John Forde overtaking me in the swim lane
Biggest Vice? Lads nights out
Things you are likely to hear me saying … There has got to be something wrong with this bike.
Any special talents? Beating John Forde up Howth Hill even though there is something wrong with my bike.
Something interesting not many people know about you? I do a bit of Irish dancing.
**Disclaimer this may or may not be an accurate likeness of Seamus
Where are you from? Raheny, Dublin
How did you get into triathlon: have been doing the Tri to beat Cancer Tri for last few years for charity so decided to give a few more a go this summer
Whats your favourite discipline Swim,Bike or Run? Def run but maybe when the swimming improves it could come a close second
Whats your main motivation for joining Piranha? Meeting new people and sorting out my swimming
Other interests outside of triathlon? Running – member of Clonliffe Harriers, surfing and heading out west coast as much as possible – Drinking in Dick Macs in Dingle
Biggest Vice? Wine – if you would call tat a vice !
Things you are likely to hear me saying … Happy Days … 🙂
Any special talents? Maybe sleeping – pretty good at that
Name: Sharon McGuire
Where are you from? The sunny south east, Tramore, Co. Waterford.
How did you get into triathlon: Both my housemates took up triathlon and could not stop raving about it until finally I decided if I couldn’t beat them I would have to join them. In 2009, I went to Australia with Tadhg, joined my first triathlon club, and started learning how to swim properly and how to train for a triathlon. I completed my first sprint triathlon in Athy 2010, loved it and haven’t turned back.
What’s your favourite discipline Swim, Bike or Run? It’s constantly changing, initially I couldn’t swim 25 metres without stopping and without my head being above water. Now that I can complete a hard 750metre swim without doing breast stroke or back crawl, I am beginning to really enjoy and love swimming. I get the biggest high after running but I also suffer from the most amount of ‘demons’ when I’m running. Cycling is, almost, always awesome (except when it rains!) so I guess that is my absolute favourite.
What’s your main motivation for joining Piranha? Tadhg and Cormac were both members of Piranha so I met a few other members through them and I thought it was a really friendly club. Everyone really encouraged me to get into the sport and were very supportive when I finally took the plunge and joined the club. I also wanted to get fit again, I hated being that red-faced, panting person that just about gets on the bus after just running a few metres.
Other interests outside of triathlon? I love stuff! I .e. I love to shop for new gadgets and clothes which is another reason why this sport suits me! I also love to read and go to the movies.
Darkest sporting secret? I used to play Golf….badly!
Biggest Vice? Chocolate, crisps, pizza, chips, milkshakes, chocolate ice-cream….the list is endless!
Things you are likely to hear me saying … “Pedal, Pedal, Pedal” and “This is hard!”
Any special talents? I’m awesome at Connect Four!
Something interesting not many people know about you? I had a fear of heights so I jumped out of a plane.
Name: Orla Montague
Where are you from? Belfast
How did you get into triathlon: Drunken challenge to do the mullaghmore triathlon 2010 – I complete the challenge and really enjoyed it with the support of a very enthusiastic family as you can see from my photograph. They have now entered a team in mullaghmore tri 2011…it’s infectious!
Whats your favourite discipline Swim,Bike or Run? initially swimming because i swam with a club when i was younger however cycling is definately growing on me, (i have finally got over the crying while trying to cycle in the wicklow mountains a few months ago) and was brave enough to purchase cycling shoes at the weekend and am proud to say i havnt fallen off YET ……
Whats your main motivation for joining Piranha? to improve – there is no way i would get out of bed at 6.25am if i was training by myself. Meeting lots of friendly helpful people was a bonus.
Other interests outside of triathlon? play gaelic with a club at home and train a little with a club in dublin, like most others i love drinking ….and dancing while drinking…. i love reading, movies,biscuits, sun bathing, water skiing, snow skiing and apres ski! ….everything really!!
Darkest sporting secret? …. in my first duathlon last year i didn’t tell my significant other (who is yet to do his profile!)until after the race that my dad had offered him a road bike knowing that he would have to do it on a mountain bike….. i crossed the finish line 23 seconds before him – some might call it sly – i call it my greatest sporting achievement to date!!!
Biggest Vice? chocolate, icecream, bed.
Things you are likely to hear me saying … "you go on ahead… i’m fine honestly … are you sure…. i don’t want to hold you back" ……while i roll backwards down a hill!
Any special talents? Dancing to Proud Mary (Tina Turner’s version!)
Something interesting not many people know about you? I am the ultimate GLEEK and if i had one wish it would be to be able to sing!!
Other members of the group not featured above:
John Forde
Alva Mannion
Keith Boylan
Paul Boyle
Petrina Mulroe
Mary Patrice Smith
Samantha Burrows
Peter McEntee
Sheila Duggan
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