My over-riding reasons for getting involved in coaching were simply to try to give something back to our great sport. With this in mind in November having collaborated with friends and sponsors the possibility of supporting two athletes was realised.

Friends and sponsors include:

Magnetti Foods:
The Magnetti brothers of Sean and Marco (www.magnettifoods.com). These lads are true followers of triathlon. They have completed many triathlons and after-race parties (!!), while Sean and I spent many a morning killing one another up and down the pool of Leisureland in Galway! I can personally say, having experienced many a fine meal in Galway that their foods are worth checking out. They fuelled many a big session of mine over the years!

Sean doing his thing back in the day in Galway

Cycleways, Runways and Base:
Shane & Brian Connaghton and Philip Cassidy from Cycleways (www.cycleways.com), Runways (www.runways.ie) and Base (www.base.ie) came on board via their stores and importation business. It was great to have such reputable people on board coupled with being some of the heroes talked about in Irish Cycling circles!

Shane working with Art in Cycleways

Blue Seventy:
Bren Smith current chairperson of Belpark Triathlon Club offered the athletes Blue Seventy Wetsuits (www.blueseventy.com), for which he is the actual importer into Ireland. Wetsuits can be costly and sponsorships hard to source, but having Blue Seventy on board was certainly appreciated.

Bren Smith at one of Bobby's camps in Laois
 

The Athletes:

It was certainly a hard decision choosing who the athletes were going to be, but Keira Eva Mooney’s and Art MacManusa’s applications stood out, not purely measured on results but in the sheer time taken to complete. Keira Eva took the time to mail a copy of her profile to every associated sponsor, which gained a lot respect from everybody involved. These are the type of athletes sponsors want to be working with.

Bobby biking with Keira Eva at one of his camps in Laois