Olympian Triathlon Belfast, Wollongong (2026)

22/06/2026

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 🚴‍♂️☀️

A huge endurance challenge for OTC at the weekend as Michael Rodgers and Cormac Copeland took on Chase the Sun Ireland — a gruelling 340km coast-to-coast cycle from Belfast to Enniscrone on the longest day of the year 💪

With around 3,400m of climbing and over 200 cyclists on the road, this was no ordinary day in the saddle. Starting at sunrise at Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and finishing before sunset on the west coast, the route served up a massive test of endurance, resilience and pacing.

Here’s Michael’s own report from an unforgettable day on the bike 👇

This coast to coast event takes place around the longest day of the year in 4 places Italy England (north and south) and Ireland (more info at https://www.chasethesun.org/) -The Ireland route is the longest and hardest apparently! 340k and around 3400 m of climbing.

The event started from Belfasts Titanic at sunrise, around 4.40 am so up around 3am to get fed and then cycle down
Around 200 cyclist took part. The ride goes up the Antrim coast to Glenarm then moves inland diagonally across mid Ulster eventually making its way to Leitrim and finishing at Enniscrone Sligo before sunset.

A long and tough day out for sure but an incredible route with quiet roads with spectacular scenery throughout. We also thankfully were blessed with the weather apart from a bit of a south westerly headwind at times. Well organised and a very chilled atmosphere throughout-they emphasis it is not a race! Finishing it alone is a hard enough challenge!
This event is not that well advertised but I would truly recommend it to anyone who is interested in a bit of endurance cycling.

Ive been told that the Italian ride is tremendous and so ill be trying to get a few rounded up to take that one on next year!

A massive well done to Michael and Cormac on taking on one of Ireland’s toughest endurance cycling events — an incredible achievement and a brilliant representation of OTC 🙌🔥

21/06/2026

𝗜𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗞𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁 – 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️

A huge weekend for OTC in Austria as Jack and Max took on the iconic IRONMAN Klagenfurt 🇦🇹💪

Set around the stunning Wörthersee, the race delivered calm waters, a tough bike course with over 1,800m of climbing, and a marathon run packed with support from start to finish. Both athletes put together fantastic performances on a massive day out, with Jack completing his first IRONMAN and first marathon 👏

Final times:
• Max – 12:26:28
• Jack – 12:49:57

Here’s what they had to say about their day in Klagenfurt 👇

Swim 🏊‍♂️
The calm, clear waters of Wörthersee made for a perfect start, with a reverse “N” shaped course and fast canal finish.

Jack: 1:01:52 – Delighted with the swim and surprised myself with the time, placing 37th in my age group.

Max: 1:16:14 – I aimed for 2:00/100m pace and came out almost exactly on target, feeling controlled and ready for the day ahead.

Bike 🚴‍♂️
The two-lap bike course featured 1,825m of elevation, rolling roads, two steep climbs and stunning views through the Austrian countryside.

Jack: 6:47:28 – I was on pace for my goal time early on, but foot issues forced me to back off. I kept moving and was glad to make it back to T2.

Max: 5:53:48 – This was where I felt strongest all day. The course was incredible, the climbs were full of support, and getting back in under six hours gave me a huge boost.

Run 🏃‍♂️
The flat two-lap marathon followed the lakeside and canal into Klagenfurt city centre, with brilliant crowd support throughout.

Jack: 4:40:18 – My foot eased after 2km and I was able to settle in, enjoy the atmosphere and finish strongly.

Max: 5:00:40 – I knew the run would be my toughest discipline, so I focused on enjoying the atmosphere, smiling through the tough moments and soaking it all in.

A massive congratulations to both athletes on huge performances in Klagenfurt — OTC is incredibly proud of you both 🔥🙌

20/06/2026

A massive performance from Jonathan at Ironman Tours, where he crossed the line in an incredible 09:04:36 — finishing 43rd out of 2,562 athletes, placing him in the top 1.6% of the field 👏🔥

This was Jonathan’s fifth full distance Ironman in his fifth different country, and another huge milestone in what continues to be an outstanding long-distance triathlon journey. Here’s Jonathan’s own race report from a memorable day in France 🇫🇷👇

Swim 🏊‍♂️

What an amazing location for a swim, up and down the river Cher at sunrise. Initially upstream, had to work hard to get going but when I came back down the long back straight I was back on pace to hit an hour swim, getting out of the water in 1 hour 56 seconds.

Bike 🚴‍♂️

A flat fast course through the French countryside, including chateaus, vineyards, and villages packed full of people who came out to support. The final third of the course was surprisingly lumpy with a few short sharp climbs but happy enough to come off the bike with a time of 4:32:29

Run 🏃‍♂️

Coming out from the indoor transition area to 30+ degree heat to start to run a marathon was a shock to the system. Setting off at my target pace I thought I could work my way into the run and settle down. While this was somewhat true, the heat and effort level was always going to bite hard at some point. In the final few k’s the pace dropped off and a miscalculation on my part meant my 3:22:45 marathon gave me a finishing time of 09:04. Missing out on Kona qualification by 1 position in my age group.

But all round a lot of positives to take away, having PB’s across swim, bike, transitions and overall time.

Now on to Challenge Roth | Home of Triathlon in 2 weeks time, and plans are already in place for the next Ironman race and qualification shot, IRONMAN Americas perhaps 🤔

This is my third full distance race as an Olympian member, and the third time I have set the full distance record for the club (I think?)

Huge congratulations Jonathan — OTC is proud to follow the journey 🙌

20/06/2026

𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗻 – 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🏊‍♀️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️

A huge well done to Jill, who represented OTC at the stunning Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon in Co. Galway, taking on the Sprint Plus distance and coming away with 2nd place in the V60 age group 🥈👏

Set in the beautiful grounds of Lough Cutra Castle, the Sprint Plus kicked off the multisport weekend with an 800m swim, 40km bike and 8km run. The lake swim began with a treading-water start and, despite calm conditions on the way out, the return leg brought a noticeable current and waves to contend with — and a distance that felt a little longer than advertised!

The 40km bike course may have been billed as flat, but Jill would disagree, with several hills, a technical descent and a bit of head/side wind all making it a real challenge over two laps 🚴‍♀️💨

The race finished with an 8km trail run through the castle grounds, taking in two undulating loops before a fast downhill run to the finish line 🏰🏃‍♀️

Jill crossed the line in 3:32:46, with splits of:
🏊‍♀️ Swim – 25:07
🚴‍♀️ Bike – 2:07:28
🏃‍♀️ Run – 50:36

This result was made even more special as it marked Jill’s first race in two years, after having to step back from competition due to episodes of elevated heart rate. Returning to take on her biggest distance to date, and doing so with smart pacing and a steady approach, is a fantastic achievement.

As Jill put it so perfectly — it’s now finish lines rather than finish times, and she’s grateful she still can ❤️

A brilliant performance and an inspiring return to racing. Well done Jill! 🙌

16/06/2026

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗻 – 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🏊‍♀️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️

OTC had a lone representative in Galway on Sunday as Helen made the trip west to take on the Tribesman Sprint Triathlon 💪

Based at the University campus, the event featured a much-improved transition area compared to last year, while both the swim and run courses had been redesigned.

The biggest challenge of the day was undoubtedly the swim. Previously a straightforward downstream affair, the course now included an upstream section before turning and heading downstream. The crossing of the River Corrib proved particularly tough, with strong currents making it a real test of determination.

Despite experiencing some panic early in the swim, Helen regrouped, found her rhythm, and completed the course — a significant achievement having faced similar challenges at the same event last year. 👏

The drama didn't end there, with a broken wetsuit zip in T1 causing a moment of panic, although thankfully the suit still came off without too much delay!

The bike course remained largely unchanged but benefited from improved traffic management, making for a safer and smoother ride than previous years. The run was a new single-lap route through the university campus, taking in riverside gravel paths, sports fields and a grass finish.

Helen's Results:
🏊‍♀️ Swim – 17:20
🚴‍♀️ Bike – 43:30
🏃‍♀️ Run – 23:19

⏱️ Finish Time: 1:26:41
🏅 4th F45-49
🏅 10th Female (Intervarsity Category)

A fantastic performance and a great example of perseverance, overcoming a difficult swim and unexpected transition issues to finish strongly and just miss out on an age group podium.

14/06/2026

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗻 – 𝟭𝟯𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️

A fantastic turnout from OTC at the Beyond the Wall Sprint Triathlon, with a strong club presence and some excellent performances across the board 💪

The day began with a chilly 750m swim in Strangford Lough 🧊, followed by a 20km bike course featuring a tough uphill start and plenty of wind to keep everyone honest 🚴‍♀️💨. Athletes then finished with a scenic 5km out-and-back run along the coast and through the beautiful grounds of Castle Ward 🏰

Despite the challenging conditions, it was a brilliant day of racing and a great way to kick off the season for many of our members.

Age Group Podiums:
• Gavin – 🥈 AG (1:11)
• Anne – 🥈 AG (1:51)
• Desi – 🏅 AG Podium (2:01)

OTC Results:
• Gavin – 1:11
• Paul – 1:13
• Mirek – 1:14
• Jack – 1:19
• Paddy H – 1:21
• Nuala – 1:25
• John – 1:27
• Mark – 1:28
• Fion – 1:33
• Shane – 1:34
• Joanne – 1:34
• Tony – 1:35
• Adrian – 1:37
• Colin – 1:42
• Stephen – 1:43
• Ann – 1:51
• Catherine – 1:53
• Desi – 2:01

A huge well done to everyone who raced and represented the club so well. Here's to many more races, PBs and podiums throughout the season! 🙌

13/06/2026

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 – 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🚴‍♂️☀️

A great turnout of Olympians on Friday evening for the annual Titanic Quarter CC Summer Solstice Sportive 🚴‍♀️☀️

The challenging but enjoyable 60km route took riders over the climbs at Drumbo and the Castlereagh Hills, providing plenty of opportunities to test the legs while enjoying a beautiful summer evening on the bike.

The highlight of the night, however, was undoubtedly the burgers, beers and craic back at Harlequins Rugby Club afterwards 🍔🍻

A fantastic event and definitely one to pencil into the calendar for next year! 🙌

09/06/2026

𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗰𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗻 – 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️

A great day of racing at the James McManus Sprint Triathlon, with 3 OTC members taking on the course and representing the club brilliantly 💪

Special congratulations to John and Una, who both secured 2nd place in their Age Groups 🥈👏

Results
• John 1:18:09 🥈
• Colin 1:44:41
• Una 1:45:43 🥈

09/06/2026

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗔𝘁𝗵𝘆 – 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️

A huge weekend for OTC at TriAthy, with 18 club members taking part across the Sprint, Olympic and TA100 distances 💪

It was a long and challenging day for athletes and organisers alike, with the T100 race delayed due to a shortage of medical staff, causing a knock-on effect across the day. The Olympic distance event was also altered at the last minute, with the bike course reduced from 40km to 20km.

The day began with cold, wet and cloudy conditions 🌧 The swim proved eventful, with plenty of overtaking, battling for position and even swimming through heavy reeds before athletes finally turned with the current and settled into a smoother rhythm.

By the time competitors hit the bike course, the wind had picked up, making for a tough headwind on the outward section before a welcome tailwind home 🚴‍♀️💨

As the races went on, the weather completely changed, with the sun breaking through and temperatures rising quickly for a surprisingly warm run finish ☀️🏃‍♂️

After crossing the line, the OTC crew recovered in style with free food, ice cream and plenty of stories from the day 🍦👏

A special mention as well to Beth, Faye and Tony, who all completed their first Olympic distance triathlon — a huge achievement! 🔥

Results:

Sprint -
• Shane 1:32:04
• Anne 1:52:51

Olympic -
• Gavin 1:43:13
• Oran 1:47:49
• Scott 2:03:09
• Helen 2:05:40
• Dan 2:08:03
• Ciaran 2:13:38
• Faye 2:21:31
• Tony 2:23:34
• Beth 2:35:28
• Grainne 2:50:50
• Gary 3:00:15

TA100 -
• Michael 5:06:54
• Chris 5:07:38
• Nick 5:27:20
• Paul 5:40:18
• Kim 6:00:02

Massive congratulations to all 18 Olympians who represented the club so well across all distances 🙌

09/06/2026

Huge congratulations to Donal who became an Ironman this weekend at Ironman Hamburg!

Here's what he has to say:

IRONMAN Hamburg 🏊🚴🏃

🏊 Swim (3.8km) – 1:26:05
Murky Lake Alster, mostly calm waters with some chop at the turn. Focused on technique and stayed in my own race.

🚴 Bike (180km) – 5:52:56
Fast, flat two-loop course. Rain and wind for most of the ride, but the legs felt good.

🏃 Run (42.2km) – 4:16:53
Settled into a pace and delighted to hold it all the way. The German crowds were incredible!

⏱️ Overall: 11:58:12

Huge thanks to David for coaching me from non-swimmer to Ironman in two years. Grateful to the coaches and members of for their support and to for all the training miles. Go smash IM Frankfurt 💥💪

Amazing achievement Donal 👏

Olympian Triathlon Belfast

22/06/2026

21/06/2026

20/06/2026

20/06/2026

16/06/2026

14/06/2026

13/06/2026

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