Valentia Predictions

TriWazza

Hey Guys,

Second national champs of the year following the stellar race up in Burnfoot. Do we have any predictions?


Great to see this today
http://thescore.thejournal.ie/tri-time-noble-set-for-nervous-wait-as-olympic-countdown-begins-444602-May2012/

Huff n Puff

I can't imagine very many of the top lads actively targeting this race as a priority. It's just way too early in the season for most. Therefore, making predictions can be tough. I wouldn't disagree with the Journal's top 2 though.

If I had to predict a top 10 men............

1st Mark Nolan - going strong early in the season. Has a number of important races under his belt and is looking sharp. He will come through the field to take it on the run.

2nd Bjorn Ludick - strong swim and bike but loses too much ground to Mark on run

3rd Stephen Early - neck and neck with Bjorn the whole way but just not able to catch, as Bjorn holds out on the downhill

4th Joe Lynch - Has a lot of racing done already this year. He has been holding it all back in most of them. You get the feeling he can put in a fast one if he wants. If it was Olympic distance I would nearly put him into 1st.

5th Trevor Woods - Blast from the past but still a top performer. Would beat all four of the above back in the day, but might just not have enough to break onto the podium in this one.

6th Mark Horan - a lot of base work done over the winter. Might not have his racing legs fully going yet. I'm sure he is targeting longer races later this summer. Should do well though

7th Stephen T Lynch - Showed good form in winning the North Tipp Sprint and will be better having done that race. Swimming and biking very well but the hilly run will all be about damage limitation.

8th Noelie Kavanagh - good result there last year - good form this year - but has the swim improved??

9th Paddy Quinn - plenty of races done already this year - has improved on all aspects from last year

10th Shane Scadding - veteran of this course - strong biker - but too much to make up after the swim

They were all the names I could spot. There will probably be a surprise late entrant on the day or someone I missed that will throw a spanner in the works.

couerdelion

Huff n Puff wrote: »

I can't imagine very many of the top lads actively targeting this race as a priority. It's just way too early in the season for most. Therefore, making predictions can be tough. I wouldn't disagree with the Journal's top 2 though.

If I had to predict a top 10 men............

I don't think you'll be far off with those. Still too early in the season to know who is stronger this year than last and who's pre-season has not gone well.

peter kern

huff n puff could you also do a female prediction as the male guide seems quite good.

Apart from the fact that no one knows which Joe Lynch will turn up.

Huff n Puff

I don't know the women's field in depth so this will no doubt be miles off!

Here is a wild stab in the dark.....

Aoife Lynch - I don't think she lost to Jennifer in any race last year so I expect that to continue
Jennifer Duffy - close but not close enough. She won here last year so will push Aoife very close.
Sinead Roche - fine win in North Tipp Sprint against some good girls so she has every chance of getting the last place on the podium
Rachel Glendon - good performance at the Joey Hannon.
Andree Walkin - training hard and going well but it's probably a year too early for a top 3 finish
Barbara O'Hanrahan
Derval Devaney
Katie Cooke
Suzy McCann
Julie Anne Bowden

peter kern

good stuff I make a few add ons in your text then

Huff n Puff wrote: »

I don't know the women's field in depth so this will no doubt be miles off!

Here is a wild stab in the dark.....

Aoife Lynch - I don't think she lost to Jennifer in any race last year so I expect that to continue. Not quite right Jennifer won Athy last year ahead of Aoife and in both sprint and oly nat champs there was hardly anything between them.
Jennifer Duffy - close but not close enough. She won here last year so will push Aoife very close. Has not done any multi race the only result i know was a 1.30 half Ironman in end of january . was injured. I assume it will be her first race this season.
Sinead Roche - fine win in North Tipp Sprint against some good girls so she has every chance of getting the last place on the podium
Rachel Glendon - good performance at the Joey Hannon.
Andree Walkin - training hard and going well but it's probably a year too early for a top 3 finish
Barbara O'Hanrahan
Derval Devaney 4that last year at the sprint champs and most likley v serious podium contender. the bike and run should suit her .
Katie Cooke maybe not quite her course but defo in top 3 of the bike and should be at least top 4 at the end .
Suzy McCann
Julie Anne Bowden

littlemsfickle

where are you getting the start list from?

Huff n Puff

active europe - click on the 'Am I registered' link and type in different letters into the search boxes.

Fazz

Provisional..

1st Mark Nolan
2nd Stephen Early
3rd Trevor Woods (I think)
4th Bjorn Ludick
5th Mark Horan

Rest of top 10 (not sure order)
- Shane Scully, Noelie Kavanagh, Niall O'Grady,

I came home in 11th, pretty happy overall for a high standard race.
Race report tomorrow.