Foreword Dany B: I only met Erin for the first time a few weeks ago at a circuit race in Bishopscourt (Ulster women’s commission series) and was impressed by her win that day…as a triathlon athlete Erin spent some time concentrating on her cycling part of the sport and does this with panache…we have another connection with belonging to the same cycling club Ards CC and living in the same town. When I asked Erin to do a bit of a report about her latest European Championships she was pleased to do so…she also sends me her Competitive CV since her involvement in the sport at the young age of 7 with Ards Swimming club…Well …at 21 years of age producing such results at the highest level is amazing!! Erin is also a student at the Ulster University and has the joggle studies with training which is already hard work as so many young sporters have to do! I will add her to my 2022 selection pool for a bursary possibility, the same I will do for Maeve Gallagher from Mayo who is at such a high level too… these girls working hard and need to get support as much as possible, as they reward you with world level results and promoting Irish sport in full. Here below Erin’s story about her latest accolade in Austria…thanks for helping me with this blog Erin, yours in sport Dany B
The European Triathlon & Aquathlon Elite/U23 Championships review >> On the 11th of June I headed to Austria to compete at the European Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships in Austria, my first international competition in 2 years. On 18th June was the semi-final of the super sprint European championships held in Kitzbühel which consists of a 500m swim, 12km bike, and 3km run. With a good semi-final race and finishing within the top fastest 30 athlete’s elite/U23, the result allowed me to qualify into the B-final on Saturday where I finished up 15th U23 athlete. Sunday 20th June was an Elite European mixed relay championship, the Irish team competed against the best in Europe and finished up in 16th. The European Aquathlon Championships were held in the beautiful Walchsee, Austria about40mins from Kitzbühel on 24th June 2021. The race consists of a 1km swim and a 5km run. I came out of the water 2nd and was able to stay at the front for the run coming in 2nd U23 athlete and 3rd elite woman. I am over the moon with my debut elite and U23 medals and looking forward to the next block of training and competition. As always, I’m eternally grateful for my coaches, friends, and family who support me 24/7 and overwhelmed by the support and kind comments from everyone, yours, Erin McConnell
Competitive CV of Erin Mc Connell
2007-current Ards swimming club progressing through squad structure (2007) to elite performance level
2015/16 represented Swim Ulster at an interprovincial gala
2016 represented Ireland at School Games
2016 selected onto triathlon Ireland emerging talent program
2017 represented Ulster at Scottish Nationals 1500 f/c, 200 b/f
12/08/17 – Lady of the Lake open water – 1st
July 2017/July 2019 – Rostrevor to Warrenpoint open water – Overall winner
2018 district school’s cross-country medallist
2018 ulster school’s cross-country medallist
2018 London Mini-Marathon
25/03/18 European triathlon cup Portugal – 13th
(first international call up)
23/06/18 European triathlon cup Bucharest – 3rd
20/07/18 – European Championships Tartu – 53rd
08/09/18 – Irish Nationals Dublin City Triathlon – 3rd
28/04/19 European triathlon cup Portugal – 47th
13/07/19 – Triathlon Ireland National series – 1st
03/08/19 – Triathlon Ireland National series – 1st
17/08/19 – Irish National Championships – 1st
01/09/19 – Triathlon Ireland National series – 1st
14/09/19 – Triathlon Ireland National series – 1st
2019 – National Duathlon Champion
2019 – National Aquathlon Champion
2019 – triathlon Ireland junior athlete of the year
09/02/20 – African Triathlon Cup – South Africa – 19th
05/09/20 – WTS world championships Hamburg – lapped
13/09/20 – World Cup Karlovary – lapped
09/05/21 – Bishopscourt series 1 – 1st
29/05/21 – Bishopscourt series 2 – 1st
18/06/21 – European triathlon Elite Championships semi-final – 15th
19/06/21 – European Triathlon Championships B final – 20th U23
20/06/21 – European triathlon elite Championships Mixed Relay – 16th
24/06/21 – 19/06/21 – European Championships Aquathlon – 2nd U23 / 3rd Elite woman
