Scout Triathlon Starts on the Sea Wall, Malahide

 

The preparation for the Scout Triathlon goes back a number of weeks and never stops until the race is run and the den is cleaned up. We were ready for the 163 bookings made by last Thursday. Scouts from 24th Galway Sea Scouts (Port of Galway) arrived early on Saturday night and stayed over in the den. By 10.30hrs on Sunday morning other sea scout groups started arriving for check in. In came Sea Scouts from  Dun Laoghaire, Dun Laoghaire Fodhla, Dollymount Wednesday, Dollymount Valkyries, Bray, Donabate and all three of the Malahide sections.

All types of bases needed to be set up from rescue, to recorders, to starters, to chefs for the barbecue and most important a tea station serving hot drinks should competitors get cold. On the sea wall a marquee is erected for changing and shelter. Clearing the slipway, scouts are brushing the broken shells and seaweed away to clear the surface for when the swimmers arrive.

An ever increasing popular event now in its 12th year the triathlon began after check in at noon and first race at 12.30pm. The first race run is the under 17 relay. First scout swims from the Marina Pontoon to the slip way, tags his second team mate who sprints the 1000 metre course along the Coast Road and back to the slipway and tags the third team mate who kayaks the 800 metres

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Following on from here,relays are run over the same course for  the under 13 and under 15. In the background tension is building all the time as the large turn out checked in  for  the Iron Lady and Iron man . Here all three disciplines are competed for, swim, run and kayak. This race in the pass has being run as one but had to be split due to large entry.

The popularity of the event on the scout calendar has gone from strength to strength. Skipper Clancy and his crew of Malahide Wednesday night leaders and scouts have made this event the success it is today.

In conclusion, Group Leader Robert McKernan at the presentation of prizes reiterated his thanks to the Wednesday Night troop and their co-helpers from the Malahide Neala troop and Friday night section.

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