Boher’s Tierney-Bugler wins Gold in multi-event World Championships
By Shane Brophy
A Boher woman became a World champion at a multi-event competition earlier this month.
Theresa Tierney-Bugler, a Clare native but recently moved to Boher, competes in the singlet of Derg AC in Ballina/Killaloe, and represented Ireland in the World Ultra Multievent Championships in Turnhout, Belgium and won gold in the Over 35 category.
The extreme event which is called a Tetradecathlon for women consists of 14 events over two days taking in all sprints, long and short hurdles, middle distance, Shot Putt, Discus, Javelin, Long Jump, High Jump and finishing off with a 3km run.
Conditions were very tough as temperatures reached 33 degrees leaving athletes zapped for energy as both days consisted of ten hours or more on the track between warming up and down in between each event, followed by thunder and lightning and torrential rain on the Sunday.
The Irish team consisted of three women with Theresa joined by Rosemary Gibson and Geraldine Finnegan both from Louth and Aidan O’Donoghue from Westmeath who completed in the Isocathlon which is a 20 event competition for men. All completed the extreme event taking home three gold medals.
Theresa had wanted to attempt this event as a bucket list challenge for the past few years since returning to athletics, but life and ill health got in the way so this year she decided to do it before any more injuries and ill health took the opportunity from her.
While her performance wasn't to her usual ability, coming just thirteen months post-partum after the birth of her third baby girl, she also has an under lying Pituitary Tumour and is currently experiencing a psoriasis flare up so given those challenges she still very determined to attempt it and was delighted to have completed it but to medal was the icing on the cake.
“All of the athletes participating are phenomenal in terms of both their physical and mental strength,” Theresa reveals.
“But what really stuck out for me was not just the level of support from my teammates but also from the athletes from the other countries to each other. It’s like no other event I have ever participated in, and everyone wants everyone to finish no matter what as you must finish each event to complete it.”
Theresa was given a well-deserved great welcome home from her husband Andrew and three girls, the two eldest, Andrea and Orlaith, are also keen athletes and run with Derg AC.
The Tierney-Buglers are quite a sporty household with her husband Andrew having previously represented Ireland in Clay Shooting and hurled in his youth while their young girls also play camogie and ladies football with Ballina, and the family can be found many a weekend hiking or going to the beach.
“I have always tried to show our girls the importance of being resilient both in life and in sport,” Theresa added.
“I want so to show how important it is to have women represented equally in sport and how it's especially important to have outlets and facilities for mothers who want to return to sport when they feel able and ready.
“The campaign ‘can't see can't be’ really hit home in our house a few years ago and it was one of the things that kept me going when I was back playing a bit of ladies’ football and doing some running.
“When I was tired or didn't feel like training, I had to remember there are small people watching my every move and my attitude.
“Your health is your wealth and while I don't think everyone has to challenge themselves to the levels that I do I think everyone should find something for themselves that they really enjoy, gives them an endorphin hit, keeps them active and provides a social outlet, be it walking, hiking dancing etc.
“Athletics provides me with all of those things, and I have made great friends from all walks of life and life challenges along the way.
“Special thanks to my club Derg AC who have made me very welcome since moving back from Cork and to the Irish master’s athletics community who are very supportive and encouraging regardless of the level you are at.”