Search
shop

McNamee and Lewis earn IRONMAN 70.3 Dublin victories

Congratulations to Sarah Lewis on a first IRONMAN 70.3 title in Dublin. David McNamee had to run very hard for a second victory in Ireland.
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

David defends in Dublin; Sarah stops a Susie three-peat…

The third edition of IRONMAN 70.3 Dublin (which we had previewed recently) saw some close racing to the finish. Scotland’s David McNamee was able to add a second consecutive win in Ireland, but Susie Cheetham’s attempt to extend her winning run to three was ended on the run course with a first IRONMAN 70.3 victory for Sarah Lewis.

The Men

Second earlier this year at IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire, Romain Guillaume (FRA) – a regular visitor to UK-based M-Dot events – set his stall out early on the bike to try and build a lead. 30 seconds up at 30km, he extended that significantly to two and half minutes by 55km (over McNamee and Sean Donnelly (GER)). By T2 his efforts had earned him a 4:45 lead over McNamee, Donnelly and the always hard-riding Bryan McCrystal (IRL). McNamee is a fine runner and was always likely to be the fastest of Guillaume’s chasers… but would it be too much to bridge?

By 6km the gap was down to three minutes and at 13km, 1:24. 10-miles was passed just 35 seconds down on the Frenchman and shortly after the pass was made – but he had been made to work for it, finishing with a 1:11:42 split. Donnelly took third, McCrystal fourth and Elliot Smales was once again the fastest of the ‘chase pack’ to run through to fifth. In his first Pro season, he’s gaining valuable experience – and will be well aware that a step-up in his TT riding over the winter should net him some even better results in 2018.

DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 20: Athlete David McNamee from Great Britain celebrates winning the men race of IRONMAN 70.3 Dublin triathlon at the finish line on August 20, 2017 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images for IRONMAN

The Women

Possible expected to be a head-to-head between two-time champion Susie Cheetham and Lucy Gossage, that prediction was off the cards before the race even started, with Lucy ill overnight and unable to start.

Cheetham and Sarah Lewis exited the swim together in just over 28 and a half minutes. Cheetham built a lead of a minute and a half during the middle section of the cycle, but Lewis was able to reduce that buffer to barely 30 seconds by the time the half marathon run started. The race was on.

By 6km Lewis had was on the shoulder of the reigning champion and was clearly having a great day, pushing on and building a lead of over two and a half minutes by the 10-mile mark. With third place well back, Cheetham was not under threat for second place, but the day would belong to Lewis who has overcome a horrendous early season bike crash to reach the top step of an IRONMAN 70.3 podium for the first time.

IRONMAN 70.3 Dublin – Sunday 20th August 2017
1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

PRO MEN

1st – David McNamee (GBR) – 3:48:14
2nd – Romain Guillaume (FRA) – 3:48:44
3rd – Sean Donnelly (GER) – 3:56:06
4th – Bryan McCrystal (IRL) – 3:58:44
5th – Elliot Smales (GBR) – 3:59:14
6th – Fraser Cartmell (GBR) – 4:02:51

DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 20: Athlete David McNamee from Great Britain celebrates winning the men race of IRONMAN 70.3 Dublin with Romain Guillaume from France (L) second and Sean Donnelly from Germany (R) third at the finish line on August 20, 2017 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images for IRONMAN

PRO WOMEN

1st – Sarah Lewis (GBR) – 4:23:12
2nd – Susie Cheetham (GBR) – 4:26:26
3rd – Amanda Wilson (AUS) – 4:34:44
4th – Aine Donegan (IRL) – 4:36:23
5th – Emma Deary (GBR) – 4:36:40
6th – Magdalena Nieuwoudt (RSA) – 4:44:16

DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 20: Athlete Sarah Lewis from Great Britain celebrates winning the women race of IRONMAN 70.3 Dublin with Sussie Chetham from Great Britain (L) second and Amanda Wilson from Australia (R) third at the finish line on August 20, 2017 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images for IRONMAN
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
Alistair Brownlee - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
Olympic triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee completes iconic Gralloch race in latest gravel test
Jeanne Lehair Beth Potter WTCS Yokohama 2025
From Olympic heartbreak to joy of first WTCS win as emotions flow for Jeanne Lehair
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...