Fionnuala And Felix Are Big In Japan

ith Carolyn Hayes having done her adopted home Newcastle proud in the triathlon last week, we have two more Olympic hopefuls stepping up to the plate this weekend.

Tonight, all eyes on Kilcoole’s Fionnuala McCormack for the Women’s Marathon at 10PM – moved from 11pm, due to the heat.

No doubt all of Kilcoole, Wicklow and Ireland will be cheering Fionnuala on, but the loudest screams around here this weekend might just happen early the following morning – courtesy of proud grandparents Fred and Josephine Gygax.

The Hillside couple will be whooping and hollering over their oatmeal and banana when their cycling legend grandson, Felix English, takes part in the men’s Madison – happening from 8.55am to 9.55am – as part of Team Ireland.

We wish both Fionnuala and Felix the very best of luck. And Elvis speed, of course.

Our sympathies too go out to any of Fred and Josephine’s neighbours who had been banking on a quiet Saturday morning lie-in.

All going well, Ireland might just have a little more gold at the end of the rainbow this weekend…

Update: Fionnuala came in 25th on her gruelling marathon; Team Ireland shared 12th place in the Madison, alongside United States, Austria and Canada.