PACTRAC held their first Novice only Mini-Series race of 2013
at Oundle. This was originally set for 2-weeks earlier, but due to road
repairs, the course was deemed unsafe, and the event put back.
Distances and course were the same as usual.
Paul Vernon confirmed his transformation from runner into triathlete with a
super-fast time of 51:30 to win the race by over 2 minutes from Wayne Stainsby.
Matt Allsop was first out of the water in a very fast 4:15 minutes, nearly 2
minutes up on Tayo Willett in 6:02. Tayo led a stream of swimmers out,
just ahead of Wayne in 3rd.
Matt managed to hold everybody off on the
bike, with Paul coming in just 3 seconds down, and Wayne a minute
further back. Paul then had the fastest run of the night to win the
Bristows Cycles Vouchers by over 2 minutes. Wayne moved up into 2nd and
Matt held onto 3rd from a fast approaching Frank Homes.
6 athletes
beat the hour on the night, whilst Claire Piercy came home first lady
in 1:06:05 to win the ladies Bristows Cycles Vouchers. 14-year old Josh
Mould competed in his first triathlon coming home 31st in 1:15:08.
40 triathletes competed on the night, many in their first ever triathlon's
and others within 1-year of starting in the sport. The rain didn't put many off.
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The following Wednesday saw a
return to the normal Mini-Series with experienced athletes once again
competing for the honours and the Bristows Cycles Vouchers. Simon Hoppe
competed in his first Mini of this season and took the honours ahead of
a fast improving Nathan Tweedie, who recorded yet another Personal Best
time on this course. Paul Vernon, last weeks winner had the fastest run
of the night, but couldn't quite catch the 2 in front, coming home 3rd
in a new PB time.
Nathan led Matt Allsop out of the water in 4:10 (the
record swim split is 4:08), with Simon 3rd in 5:05, 20 seconds ahead of
Jon Cox in 4th. 12 swimmers were out in under 6-minutes, with Steve
Giles showing a much improved swim performance, 14th in 6:04.
11 athletes then came into T2 in under 31-minutes, with Steve Coward 13th
in 31:19, on a fast evening. Simon caught Nathan on the bike and the
pair came in together for a quick transition, Nathan leading the way
out. They ran together, before Simon broke away around the half-way
turn and pulled ahead by just 14 seconds at the end. Paul Vernon had
the fastest run of the night to move up into 3rd, with Steve Giles
catching Matt Allsop for 4th and Matt with a new PB by nearly 5 minutes
from last week's effort, coming in 5th.
16 athletes beat the hour, 5 with new PB times. Fanchon Wright was
the first lady home, also recording a new PB.