Jack pays tribute to top triathlete

FORMER Irish Triathlon Association President and Chair of Triangle Triathlon Club in Limavady Peter Jack admitted he was shocked and heart-broken when he learned of the news that Londonderry triathlete Colm Quigley died suddenly, on Sunday.

The father of five was found dead at his home in Carrowreagh, Burt Co Donegal. Mr Jack paid this tribute to one of the North West’s top athletes.

“I’m shocked, I am heart-broken for his family, his friends. He will be a very sad loss to everyone in the triathlon community and most of all his family and friends,” he said.

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“The triathlon community is a very small one and everyone knows everyone; and everyone loved seeing Colm at the races. He brought a real professionalism when he came to a race and he was a breath of fresh air. The thing I will remember about Colm was the smile on his face.

“He always had time for you, he always had a bit of craic and he always had interest in what other athletes were doing and an awful lot of athletes looked up to Colm because they knew that he succeeded at the highest level.

“He was very highly regarded in the North-West Triathlon Club and in Triathlon Ireland and he loved racing, he loved training and he loved putting back into the sport that gave him so much.

“What I will always remember is that he always wanted to do so well in Liam Ball - which is the big race in memory of the late Liam Ball - and Colm a few years won the Liam Ball and I was just delighted for him because that was the highlight of the season and he gave that race absolutely everyone. He’s going to be a sad loss to everyone in our wee sport.

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“He loved our sport, he was great for our sport and I think our sport was loved by him and I know his club - the North-West Triathlon Club - will pay a fitting tribute to him. We in our club, the Triangle Triathlon Club, have a race this Saturday and we will be having a minute’s silence for Colm on the start line.”

City of Derry Spartans member Gerry Lynch said Mr Quigley was a “terrific athlete who competed with distinction over the years.”

Mr Quigley’s funeral Mass is to take place St. Columba’s Church, Long Tower tomorrow (Thursday) at 10am.