Sean Beard competed in the Duathlon at Althorp over the distances of:
Run 6.75 miles.
bike 27 miles
run 3.5 miles.
No times have been published yet, but ...
Sean qualified for next year's European Duathlon Championships to be held in Alcobendas in April.
Sean said:"Woohoo I've Qualified for next years Age Group Duathlon Championships.
I finished 17th overall and 3rd in my Age Group.
What a race. Most of the run was off-road, but if you look at the state of my bike you would think that was all off road too. A very tricky course and glad to get round safe and in one Peace. Happy days."
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PACTRAC's Sam Fielding has been awarded the Eastern Region Official of the Year. This is for her work as a BTF Race Referee. Sam takes the PACTRAC Junior Sessions held at Stanground twice a month, and has an enthusiastic group of youngsters coming through the ranks. She is out refereeing races in the Eastern Region most weekends.
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PACTRAC had 4 competitors racing in the European Middle Distance Championships held in conjunction with the Challenge Paguera Majorca Triathlon over the classic half-Ironman distance.
Distances were:
swim 1900 meters in the sea - 1 lap at 23 degrees C.
bike 56 miles - 2 laps in the South of the island.
run 13.1 miles - 4 laps. The expected air temperature was 21.3 degrees C but turned out to be 35 degrees C on the day which decimated the field.
Paul said: "I never want to run a half marathon in 35 degrees again ! Everyone I spoke to ( maybe 20 or so ) said it added c 35 minutes to their expected half marathon time and it says something when I say the swim ( non wet suit !) was my best discipline. 4 of the GB team went to hospital with heat exhaustion, ( 2 stayed in overnight) and our leading UK lady pro was very close to a dnf. Proud, happy and shattered !"
Giles said: "Considering the conditions I went surprisingly well. 10th in Age Group (5th Brit in my Age Group). The run was brutal in the afternoon heat. I was 17 minutes slower than my last half IM run. Delighted to finish today and now time for some end of season rest!"
Dave said: "Surprisingly I was 12th in age group ...and over 25 people DNF'd ...mostly on the run. That was a brutal race. I need to sit on the beach all day after that."
"Thank goodness that is over. Well I finished and that was about the only plus point. The heat today made it too tough for me and I guess it was a race too far. I'm not sure what my finish time was but I guess it was 5.20ish. The temperature hit 31.4c on the run course and my little body overheated ... never mind. I'd like to say I enjoyed it, but I feel like chucking my bike in the sea!!"
188. Giles Cooper.............33:16....2:51:54....1:53:18..=..5:18:28 AG 10.
200. Dave Patmore-Hill.....33:29....2:54:47....1:51:58..=..5:20:14 AG 12.
687. Paul Jephcott............42:43....3:23:39....2:28:33..=..6:34:55 AG 16.
786. Adrian Chambers......45:49....3:35:54....2:41:30..=..7:03:13
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Roger Canham competed in the World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
Distances:
swim 2.4 miles in the sea.
bike 112 miles.
run 26.2 miles.
Roger said: " The toughest conditions this year for a while, but the good news is that it was tough for everyone. Super chuffed to get a top ten to round the year off. very lucky to be out here competing and plan to be back!"
341. Roger Canham....1:13:14....5:25:01....3:15:33..=..9:53:48..AG 8th.
The Ironman World Championships in Kona is the blue ribbon event in the triathlon calendar and the 6th time that Roger has qualified and competed. The field is deep, as the best athletes in the sport converge on this race.
The usual carnage ensued in the swim, but Roger was largely unimpeded. Turning for home, the growing height of the waves meant sighting the buoys marking the route was only possible as each wave crested.
By 25 miles, he was ahead of target but then came a wall of wind bringing the speed down to a relative crawl, although he was still passing people.
On the way down the head wind turned into a gusty side/tail wind but as is the way of the island, it ultimately swung round to become a head wind. This was "a vintage tough year".
On the run, he was concerned at having a high heart rate, but put this down to being insufficiently acclimatised to the Kona heat and humidity. It was 90 degrees F on the day. Later on the run, athletes go through "the Energy lab" and back. This is where the heat reflects off the black top with nowhere to hide from the sun’s midday intensity.
With 7-miles to go, he got a searing quad cramp but fortunately this only lasted 100m to the aid station, where some more salt tablets were taken.
"The brutality is what makes this race special and unlike any other" said Roger.
"I was ecstatic with my result having spent a good deal of the race thinking I was out the game. A great end to the season and now time for some rest and recuperation."
Roger is now planning to race at Ironman South Africa next March in determined mood to qualify again for a 7th time. Hawaii is a really tough race to qualify for, with many of the best athletes in the world disappointed each year.
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Antony Brown managed to get 2nd place in his Age Group at the British Age Group Duathlon Championships at Olney, near Milton Keynes - SILVER MEDAL.
Antony was 8th in his Age Group after the first 6.25 mile run, but moved up to 2nd on the 25 mile bike, and held 2nd over the final 3 mile run.
48. Antony Brown........ 42:01....65:33....23:28..=..2:11:02 AG 2.
57. Wayne Stainsby.... 38:18....72:38....22:03..=..2:12:59 AG 10.
65. Robin Brookes...... 38:44....73:22....23:06..=..2:15:12 AG 7.
Next Sunday 26th October sees the PACTRAC Duathlon and AGM at Woodnewton where all of the year's Prizes will be presented.