Tony Harper

Haven't posted one of these for a while so time to introduce and get to know more club members. A recent transfer to us from Tullamore Harriers have a read and get to know Tony

Name: Tony Harpur

Age: 40ish

Work: Chief engineer for P&O Ferries on mv European Causeway, school: went to CBS Wexford,

College etc: Did an apprenticeship in Rosslare ship repairs (very hard work, but a great adventure) then off to college in Cork institute of Technology followed by a cadetship to become a Marine engineer.

Menapians: I started training with Menapians 2 years ago. I'd been running xc with Tullamore Harriers because my brother was in that club, but I wanted to improve by training with a local club, and I wanted to run local races.

Interests and achievements outside athletics: I've been there seen it and done it all😂. Nowadays it's cycling and triathlon. Probably my best ever tri event was September 2016 1/2 Ireman near Belfast where I had never done the 1.9km swim before, came out of the water last but still finished 10th overall and won my age group.

My biggest ever life achievement was surviving a blood clot in November 2016. I'd two operations in the space of a few days. Thank you to the great team in Wexford general, especially Mr Schmidt❤. I've now only got  40% of my small intestine. I made a great comeback from this, and haven't let it hold me back one bit. I guess you don't really need the other 60%. I trained real hard after it to get back in shape and back to work, and in March 2017 I ran my best half marathon at 1:26.

Events competed at. In athletics: Mostly xc, my best result being an Offaly county champs team medal, on the roadsI've run 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon and marathon. Just last summer I ran 400m, 1500m and 5000m on the track for the 1st time. The absolute best fun I've had in years, and that's including almost passing out after 5 laps on the 5000m when I tried to run with the good guys at supersonic pace.

Favourite event: probably 10k, it's short enough to run  really hard, but long enough to be an endurance event.

Least favourite: Thats a tough one, because I just love racing. I havent found one I don't like yet.

Biggest athletic achievement: on paper its1500m county masters champ 2021. In reality it's the time I caught my speedy brother Mark with about 10m to go in a Sprint tri in Cavan after a guy crashed into me on the bike leg, I stopped to make sure the poor chap was ok, it made for a tough time catching Mark,  who was improving to the point where now I can't beat him at a sprint or Olympic distance.I still make him work for it though.

Other athletics  achievements: won the lake region race a few years back at jfk park.

Records: Run kom on Whiterock hill (I had run and bike for years but lost the bike one last year)

Favourite moment of athletic career: running that 1:26 half marathon after nearly dying and thinking I'd never be able to endurance events again. It told me I was back to normal and could move on.

Favourite track: Gowran xc.

Least favourite: I dont dfislike any, I just love racing. There was xc in Galway a few years ago, it snowed on the way there, it was the muddiest coldest race I'd ever done.  I still loved it, but the track was horrible that day.

Inspiration: I've been real lucky, a lot of people have taken me under their wing at different times and I have fantastic parents and extended family, and have worked under some great people. Outside Athletics I'd have to say my Mentor Tony Hall, who gave me a great apprenticeship and had a real never give up attitude to everything. He's probably made the biggest difference of any one person to how my life turned out.

For athletics, I remember watching Steve Cram race in the 80's. I liked the way he hung in  and to me he never looked comfortable then kicked clear towards the end of races.

Favourite food: steak ,no competition there.

Drink : these days it's probably coffee, I love the stuff, but I am partial to a gin and tonic every now and then.

Post training snack: well cycle training is about coffee stops, so coffee and a scone with jam and cream when halfway through. Anyway nearly always coffee plus whatever carbs are lying around.

Unusual facts: I've been round the world twice.

I love 1980s tv shows, movies and rock music.

(Pic 1 with my Wife and kids.

Pic 2 with my Mentor Mr Tony Hall and my daughter.

Pic 3 at Ironman Barcelona 2021 with my Nemesis, best friend and brother Mark.

Pic 4 with 400m relay team at county champs.

Pic 5 with club mates after County Senior road race (I think) in ferns 2021.

Pic 6 at work proving a point after climbing into a space someone said it wasn't possible to access.

Pic 7 with my Wife in Disneyland as Han and Leia .

Pic 8 2016 ish county team tt 3rd place with my team mates, absolutely turning ourselves inside out to hang onto James Maddock.

Pic 9 in ICU in 2016, the photo was taken to say hi to my kids who d given me big bird to keep me company.)