Saturday saw the Dambuster Duathlon, which this year incorporated the
National Duathlon Championships at Rutland Water. A top quality field
of 800+ competitors lined up from all over the UK to compete for
National Honours in their Age Group. Distances were: run 10k, bike 26
miles, and run 5k.
The first run was out from Whitwell, over the Dam to the old church
near Normanton, and back.
The bike course was 1 lap around Oakham (slightly uphill and into a
head wind to start with), Uppingham (over the 3 nasty hills of the
Rutland Ripple), Morcott (tail wind on the A47), Ketton (up Steadfold
Hill) and Empingham (plenty of undulations and again into a head
wind).
Run 2 was straight out to the Dam and back.
Competitors set off in 4 waves at 5 or 10 minute intervals. This is the
second year that the event has taken place, and with National
Championship status and a reputation for being very well organised,
competitors came from all over the country to compete for National
Honours.
Their was a good tussle between Mark Ingram and Robin Brookes, with
Mark just edging it. PACTRACs best Age Grouper was Wendy Gooding who
came 4th and just missed out on a medal.
Results: (T1 and T2 in with bike)
91. Paul Spain 36.06 75.15 18.03 = 2.09.24 AG= 14
141. Mark Ingram 38.55 75.39 19.00 = 2.13.34 AG= 14
143. Robin Brookes 38.04 76.29 19.12 = 2.13.45 AG= 8
285. John Wright 40.03 84.46 20.25 = 2.25.14 AG= 42
337. Steve Hope 44.59 82.36 21.05 = 2.28.40 AG= 35
338. Wendy Gooding 42.49 85.45 20.11 = 2.28.45 AG= 4.
448. Richard Nixon 46.03 89.53 22.53 = 2.38.49 AG= 65
475. Kate Armstrong 45.52 93.52 21.34 = 2.41.18 AG= 7
522. Ryan Woolf 45.39 98.57 23.47 = 2.48.23 AG= 78
572. George Prodrick 54.47 96.44 27.27 = 2.58.58 AG= 5
George was very pleased to finish in his first ever Duathlon at the age
of 71. He had some good competition in his Age Group with nine (9)
athletes, all fairly close together.