Liam Ball Triathlon 'Hall of Fame'

Danny Sheerin - ‘I DID IT MY WAY’

Danny Sheerin will never be forgotten. The most famous amateur runner the city has ever produced ran more miles than most of us could ever dream. Marathons, half marathons, triathlons, Danny did it all, again and again and again and again and again, until he sadly passed away in August, 2022.

“I had a conversation with my father years ago and I asked him what he did with his life to pass the time,” he explained on the 30th anniversary of the Liam Ball Triathlon.

“He told me he loved to play football and he was quite good by all accounts. I looked through the papers to see if I could get a snapshot of him but I was never able to find any. I thought that was a missed opportunity so I became determined to make sure that I catalogued whatever I did so that my children and great-grandchildren could look back and see that their great-granda had a record in a small town called Derry and that no one could touch that record. That’s what keeps me coming back.”

Reaching the 30 year milestone was never an ambition of Sheerin’s, but he revealed that as the years went on, he became more and more dedicated to the Liam Ball event.

“I’ve taught myself and I’ve kept myself going,” he added. “I remember years ago a man saying to me at the Liam Ball that he had seen me the year before and the year before that. He said I must have done every one and I realised that he was right. At that stage it was eight or nine years but I never dreamed that I would reach 30. I’m very proud of it. I’ve done it all for my great-grandchildren. I’m just adding a bit of a legacy.”

Terry Donnelly - "'I WOULDN'T MISS IT'

Terry Donnelly still remembers training with Liam Ball in the gym, long before the Triathlon became a permanent fixture in his sporting calendar.

Sunday will mark a significant milestone for Donnelly, as well as North West Triathlon Club, but at this stage, it is just another race for Terry, who has been there from the very start back in 1985.

“Did I think I would do it for 40 years? Naw, no way," he laughed. "We started the club in '83 and after Liam died one of the two triathlons at the time was named after him. It was always one of the early ones in the season, so you knew that was the one you were aiming for and the one you had to get ready and fit for. and the fact that it was our local event, for Northwest Triathlon club, meant it was one we tried hard to get in shape for.

"It's great for Northwest Triathlon club to reach 40 years. A lot of triathlons have come and gone since then. I'm starting to feel old," he laughed. "It's great I still have a bit of strength and health about me. I have always enjoyed training, so why not do it? I knew Liam through school and other stuff and he was always a gentleman, so I've always kept going for him."

Roisin Lynch - '‘Liam was a special person’

A Liam Ball Triathlon without Roisin Lynch wouldn't seem right, and she will be there again this Sunday to continue a remarkable run of appearances in the event.

1993 is significant for Roisin for two reasons; the birth of her son, and the only year in the past 30 she has not participated in the Liam Ball event.

The former St. Cecelia’s teacher returns on Sunday to take her usual place in the triathlon and she revealed that a long-standing friendship with members of the Ball family keeps her coming back each year.

“I can't believe that I'm still going, but I would prioritise this triathlon over all others because of Liam and who he was," she said. "I'm lucky that I'm able to keep going despite being dogged by injuries this past year.

"I think I'm able to do this by continuing to be actively involved in sport to keep myself in good shape. If you get a good physio and make sure you look after your body well, by eating well and exercising well and not overdoing it and continue to work hard. It takes a lot of time and dedication and you have to be prepared to give the dedication and forgo other things, such as socialising and partying. If you prioritise your training, everything else is subsidiary."

"I never would have envisaged the Liam Ball still going after 40 years. It's good to see the people of Derry are still supporting it, because he was such a wonderful person."