Liam Ball triathlon restored to its former glory for 2023

This year’s Liam Ball Triathlon promises to be extra special as it represents the first time in four years the event will be at full capacity.

The Covid-19 pandemic not only saw the popular event cancelled two years running but meant that it was vasty reduced in numbers when it returned last year. Thankfully, the pandemic is now a thing of the past, and organisers have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that the popular event, held in honour of the late Olympic swimmer, is returned to its former glory.

Northwest Triathlon Club Chairman Johnny McClaren admitted it was good to be back.

“It’s a massive event,” he agreed. “This year we have approximately 180 competitors. After Covid last year we were unsure of the circumstances so we reduced the numbers just in case we had to cancel it. It had been postponed the two years prior to that so it’s good to have it up and running again.

The event went very well last year and this year we have planned a bigger event. We are grateful to everyone who takes part and makes this such a special event, year in and year out.”

Last year’s event had a local winner in NWTC’s Shaun McLaughlin, and there is set to be even more competition this time around as strong triathletes visit Derry from all over the country.  

“This year we have a very strong field this year in both the male and female sections,” McClaren explained. “Last year’s winner Shaun McLaughlin will be competing again. We also gave very strong contenders in the female section, the likes of Emme Jo McConnellogue and Amy Lundy. We also have the McCobe twins, who will be competing as part of the para-triathlon so we have a great variety of competitors this year.”

What makes the Liam Ball Triathlon so attractive to many is that it is open to all levels, and each of the 180 participants will have their own motivation for entering this Sunday.

“We have a Derry ‘A’ List celebrity in Micky Doherty doing it. It’s his first ever Liam Ball event,” McClaren added. “There are just so many. It’s unique for everyone and we do encourage beginners to get into the spot as well.

“This year sees us running the Try-A-Tri, which is the shortened version of the full Liam Ball Triathlon. We’re hosting about 20 competitors in that. If someone has done swimming before, or biking or running and they have just got into the sport, it does give them the opportunity and they are more than welcome to come down to the club to join in the training.”

Grateful

As with any sporting event, the triathlon would not be possible without the hard work of volunteers who dedicate their time and support to ensuring the Liam Ball goes smoothly.

“People give up their free time to help out with this,” McClaren continued. “There’s the organisation committee; Shauna Mullan, Gerard Lundy, Carl Venkins, Emma Leonard, Emmett Mullan and Sean McLaughlin. We also get volunteers from other sports clubs who help us with that as well as around 30 marshalls, swim lane counters, facilitators, the transition area and the bike and run route. We get so much help from volunteers to help make this a successful event. If we didn’t have their support then we would be unable to run this event.

“Templemore Sports Complex and Derry City Council have been very supportive throughout and we thank them for that. There are also the sponsors, to name a few – Claude’s Café, Joe Jackson’s Ice Cream, Pete’s Physio, The Bentley Bar Group, Carrowreaght Electrical, Tony Sweeney Tiling and Jobby Crossan who has supplied the trophies for us for years.”

This year’s Liam Ball Triathlon, which consists of a 750m pool swim, a 20km bike and a 5km run, begins on Sunday at 8am at Templemore Sports Complex and all are welcome to come along and support the triathletes.

“It’s good to see the numbers back up,” McClaren said. “We’ll continue on to making the Liam Ball an annual event and we are already looking forward to next year which will be the 40th Liam Ball event.”