Cork Triathlon club’s King of the Hill triathlon makes a welcome return to the Triathlon Ireland National series and is also one of the 5 Junior National Series races for 2012. The 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run are set in the picturesque town of Kinsale and certainly lives up to its name. The Bike is an out and back with the first 10km predominantly uphill and the run starts and finishes on a hill with an unforgiving gradient to say the least.
For the ladies, defending champion Deirdre Casey returns once again having finished third in the national Olympic distance championships at the start of the month and second in the Lough Ine challenge 2 weeks ago. However, she will face stiff competition in the form of Jennifer O’Connell, winner of the 2012 Hell of the West and Andree Walkin, another triathlete who has finished on the podium this season. Cork Tri Clubs Karina Teahan, who placed third last year will also be in the mix as will Katie Fitzgerald (third place in the Lough Ine Challenge) and Kim Hickey (winner Carrick-on-suir sprint). Promising Junior Emma Sharkey will also look to put her mark on the race.
The men’s race will be a case of experience versus youth with Juniors Con Doherty, Aichlinn O’Reilly, Stephen Rooney, Shaun Hennessy, Rory sexton, Damon Crowley and Harry Speers racing against the ‘slightly older’ triathletes, Cork triathlon Clubs own Trevor woods, Eric Wolfe and Philip King who placed first, second and third respectively in last year’s race! Bjorn Ludick also makes the trip south to race as will Limerick Tri Clubs Ross Higgins and Midleton Tri clubs Tim Mahoney.
The 2012 King of the Hill Triathlon promises to be a close fought battle and we look forward to seeing who will be crowned King and Queen of the Hill(s)!
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