PACTRAC had 24 competitor's in the local Dambuster Triathlon at Rutland Water.
This was a big National event with over
1,000 entrants taking part. It was also a qualifying race for the World
Triathlon Championships to be held in Auckland, New Zealand later on in
October. PACTRAC had 3 competitor's qualify for these World
Championships: Chris Jordan, Simon Hoppe and Robin Brookes. All 3 also
finished 3rd in their respective Age Groups.
Distances were:
swim 1,000 meters in Rutland Water. This was reduced from the advertised
1,500 meters due to safety reasons, i.e., the water temperature was a
measly 12 degrees C. Wetsuits were compulsory. The water was also a bit
choppy in places due to the wind.
bike 26 miles on a hilly course around Oakham, Uppingham, Morcott, Ketton and Empingham. This included
the triple hill of the "Rutland Ripple" between Oakham and Uppingham.
It also included Steadfold Hill at Ketton, and a headwind on the
undulating roads around Empingham.
run 6 miles - out, cross the dam and back twice, and then return.
At least being in the lake, the event
was still able to take place. The Windsor Triathlon, in the River
Thames, had to become a Duathlon (run,bike.run) due to the recent rain
flooding the river; whilst the Sprint Triathlon in the River Ouse at St.
Neots was completely cancelled for the same reason.
Results:
19. Simon Hoppe 13:17 68:45 36:25 = 1.58.27 AG=3
112. John Murray 14:45 78:32 34:51 = 2.08.08
115= David Wagstaff 15:39 72:47 40:05 = 2.08.31
115= Robin Brookes 16:20 74:22 37:49 = 2.08.31 AG=3
126. David Allsop 15:46 75:46 37:49 = 2.09.21
137. Steve Coward 16:21 73:58 40:02 = 2.10.21
179. Giles Cooper 15:52 77:35 40:16 = 2.13.43
240. Alastair Etchells 17:54 79:02 41:19 = 2.18.15
246. Daniel Fitzjohn 18:00 79:52 40:31 = 2.18.23
256. Steve Hope 16:15 81:34 40:53 = 2.18.42
284. Nick Richards 20:57 76:54 42:31 = 2.20.22
295. Simon Pauffley 15:25 81:54 43:36 = 2.20.55
348. Richard Nixon 14:47 81:56 46:49 = 2.23.32
353. Steve Skelhon 16:24 82:38 44:47 = 2.23.49
409. Simon Gull 20:06 82:19 44:15 = 2.26.40
419. Will Pearson 14:33 87:11 45:29 = 2.27.13
466. Damian Wilkins 17:11 87:48 45:08 = 2.30.07
503. Tracy McCartney 18:40 92:40 41:26 = 2.32.46
541. Chris Jordan 16:57 84:34 53:37 = 2.35.08 AG=3
592. Paul Jephcott 20:52 92:28 45:52 = 2.39.12
604. Tony Moran 19:28 91:02 49:21 = 2.39.51
631. Simon Taylor 20:18 94:00 48:15 = 2.42.33
632. Jeremy Lloyd 19:30 89:47 53:20 = 2.42.37
679. Adrian Chambers 19:49 98:13 51:01 = 2.49.03
-----------------------
Meanwhile, Matt Gunby continued his recovery from a recent injury, with a solid finish
in the Banyoles ITU Triathlon World Cup in Spain. Matt was one of 7
Elite athletes representing GB in this Olympic distance triathlon.
49. Matthew Gunby 1:53:32
-----------------------
Roger Canham, chose to go all of the way to Wimbleball in Somerset
to compete in the 70.3 half-Ironman race. The distances were swim 1.2
miles, bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles. This is part of a series of
70.3 half-Ironman races around the world, and is considered to be one
of the toughest, with plenty of climbing. Roger was 9th in his Age
Group after the swim, moved up to 6th on the bike, and then gained a
further 4 places on the run, to finish 2nd in his Age Group. Roger has,
therefore, qualified for the 70.3 half-Ironman World Championships in
Las Vegas in September.
PACTRAC's other representative was Jaap
Flikweert who himself moved from 16th in his Age Group after the swim
to 8th off the bike and 5th at the finish. Unbelievably the two of them
both started the run together, having tussled on the bike for 3 hours.
Roger writes:
"Wimbleball was my fifth race in seven weeks and the
third half Ironman, my performances getting progressively better. The
strategy to race and not ease up on the training was working but I had
some unfinished business from Wimbleball 2011.
The weather forecasts
for the weekend were looking dreadful with high winds and torrential
rain predicted to hit race day hard. I toyed with the idea of not
making the 5hr road trip to Somerset and just doing a hard brick
session from home, albeit in the rain. Anyway, the plans had been made
and I had paid my entry fee so it was time to show a little Iron
spirit.
Race day I was up at 0400 for my porridge and banana and then
just worked through the normal routine, arriving in the water at 0730
composed, focussed and ready to race. It was a deep water two wave swim
start, one thousand competitors in each wave, and the water was a balmy
14oC. I don’t think anyone even waited for the B of the Bang, we were
off in the usual melee of thrashing arms and legs but I quickly broke
free of the main pack and found a good line for the first buoy. From
there I locked onto some friendly feet and drafted pretty much the
second half of the swim, exiting in good shape and under my target 30
minutes.
It was a long run up the hill into the mud bath T1 had
become. A quick change and out onto the bike, desperately trying to
navigate round the previous wave that were strewn across the road,
walking or wobbling or zigzagging as they attempted to set off. It was
chaos but I tried to keep a cool head, run up the road a little further
than usual and then jump on and put the power down. Since I was in the
second wave it was almost half way into the two lap ride that I started
to get some clear road but it was always a challenge to safely pass
whilst pacing a very hilly course. Over the 56 miles it is said there
are 56 hills, testing the riders with over 6000ft of ascent. I metered
out my efforts as best I could but on some of the steeper hills there
is no choice but to just concentrate on turning the cranks as hard as
possible. Having grabbed a couple of minutes on the swim compared to
last year I was determined to do the same on the bike but leave my legs
fresh enough to nail a really hard run. I was really excited to roll
into T2 having completed the toughest bike course on the Ironman 70,3
circuit on plan, a total of nearly 5 minutes ahead of 2011 and ready to
go to work on the run.
A smooth T2 and out onto the toughest run on
the Ironman 70.3 world circuit, a three lap trail run with not only a
challenging terrain, some 1500ft of ascent, but now crammed with
runners running at various paces on muddy footpaths. I spent lap 1
shouting at runners to move to one side so I could get through whilst
trying to keep upright on the deteriorating running surface, clocking
28 minutes. Lap 2 I completed n 30minutes, reigning back a little to
conserve energy for the final lap. Lap 3 I just let rip and ran as hard
as the conditions would allow and as I approached the 11-mile mark I
realised that it would be possible to go under 5 hours if I pushed
hard. I shut down the sensors, narrowed my vision and went for it,
crossing the line with only 20 seconds to spare!
I had swum well,
biked well and executed a great run. I was thrilled with breaking 5
hours and had finished high up in the overall standing in a very
competitive field. I am now ready for the real deal, Ironman UK (twice
the distance) in 5 weeks."
---------------------
At the Northampton Olympic distance Triathlon, PACTRAC had 7 entries,
including 6 individuals and 1 team.
Distances were:
swim 1500 meters in the lake.
bike 23.5 miles undulating on local roads.
run 6.25 miles on rough, wet, muddy, pot-holly track.
Results:
9th overall. TEAM Mike Chapman 24.29 67.35 38.08 = 2.10.12 FIRST TEAM.
38. Steve Hope 25.13 70.44 45.28 = 2.21.25 AG = 2nd.
79. Charlie Brookes 25.56 77.18 49.23 = 2.32.37
103. Bruce Donald 29.18 77.30 51.38 = 2.38.26
133. Pedro Polson 23.09 86.09 56.10 = 2.45.28
137. Paul Jephcott 33.30 83.21 50.37 = 2.47.28
155. Adrian Chambers 31.32 91.51 54.16 = 2.57.39
--------------------------
The British Standard Distance Triathlon Championships took place last Sunday
(24 June) at the TriUK Shropshire Triathlon at Ellesmere, as almost 500
athletes competed, all aiming to win the coveted British titles.
All 3 PACTRAC athletes acquitted themselves well coming home in the top 12 in
their respective Age Groups.
Distances were:
swim 1500 meters in the Lake.
bike 25 miles on undulating roads.
run 6.25 miles on quiet country roads and track.
Results:
117. Neil Tandy 20.00 65.42 46.02 = 2.11.44 AG = 9th.
344. Chris Jordan 24.34 73.35 55.57 = 2.34.06 AG = 8th.
283. Simon Gull 29.01 73.21 44.35 = 2.26.57 AG= 12th.
--------------------
Matt Gunby competed in the Elite Canary Wharf triathlon over
a very short sharp course. Matt came 3rd in this race last year, but is
on his way back from a recent injury, and came 22nd out of 49 Elites in
the heats. Unfortunately only the top 20 qualified for the final,
around the Canary Wharf Business Area. Matt finished in 17 minutes and
18 seconds, only 35 seconds behind the heat winner. The racing was all
very close with Aaron Royle of Australia just pipping the USA's Jarrod
Shoemaker in the final after Jarrod had only just qualified in 20th
position.
--------------------
Half-Ironman 70.3 in Lake Zurich, Switzerland.
Distances were:
swim 1.2 miles.
bike 56 miles.
run 13.1 miles.
428. Dave Patmore-Hill 33.12 2.50.08 1.35.15 = 4.58.35
---------------------
The Outlaw Ironman-Distance Triathlon
took place at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham on Sunday over the classic
distances of:
swim 2.4 miles in the Lake. Out and Back.
bike 112 miles on 2 separate legs with a circuit at the end of each.
run 26.2 miles. A full marathon involving 3 circuits of 3 miles with a dog leg
on each.
900 athletes started this race with 61 not finishing.
Results:
64. Paul Spain = 10.44.13
199. Steve Skelhon = 11.37.30
---------------------
The Rob McLean Cambridge Junior
Triathlon attracted 193 entrants, including PACTRAC's Neve Hattee (11)
and Tom Hattee (8).
In the TriStar Start Category, Tom had the
fastest bike split of 15 competitor's and was well up on the run, but
unfortunately, he had a problem in the swim leg which meant that he was
down on where he should have been. Nevertheless, a promising one for
the future.
Results:
15. Tom Hattee 3:17 4.44 2.54 = 10.55 TriStar Start Category.
14. Neve Hattee 4:12 18.33 9.56 = 32:41 TriStar 2 Category.
-----------------
Meanwhile in the Derby Junior Triathlon, 3 of PACTRACs promising Juniors acquitted themselves
well amongst some fierce competition. Matthew Wouldham recorded a good
3rd place in his Age Group, whilst the other two were 4th and 5th respectively.
Results:
4 Damian Rutterford 5:05 8:37 7:43 = 21.25 Tristar 3 category.
3 Matthew Wouldham 4:22 7:11 6:52 = 18.25 Tristar 2.
5 James Cooper 4:17 5:10 5:03 = 14.30 Tristar 1.
----------------------
Tracey McCartney competed in the Deva Triathlon in Chester.
Distances were:
swim 1500 meters in the river.
bike 25 miles
run 6.25 miles
Results:
359. Tracey McCartney 22.31 88.19 43.45 = 2.34.35
---------------------