Sept: 4 PACTRACers in ETU Middle / Paul L wins Gold / Kate exorcises her Ghosts / Steve completes the Eeyore Challenge / 5 in Mexico where Georgina wins SILVER / Dave in Croatia / James runs over100

Simon Hoppe won the North Norfolk Triathlon and hasa separate report. Some details can be found here http://www.wellsharbour.co.uk/northnorfolktriathlon.htm
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The Austrian Tyrol provided a stunning backdrop as the Challenge
Walchsee-Kaiserwinkl Triathlon hosted the 2016 European Middle Distance
Triathlon Championships in Austria.
More than 250 British triathletes were representing their country,
including 4 PACTRACers. Unfortunately, Robin Brookes was injured and
knew that his leg wouldn't hold out for the run; so he wisely went out
their knowing that he would only be competing in the swim and bike
legs. The other 3 all finished. Andy Gregg was the fastest of the trio
in 4:56:16 whilst Tristan Matthews had the best Age Group position in
35th. Christina Cork was happy and very pleased to finish. She was 5th
off of the bike in her Age Group, before "cramp put paid to anything
more than a shuffle".

swim 1.2 miles in the lake.
bike 50 miles in the mountains.
run 13.1 miles in melting hot conditions around the lake.

Tristan Matthews 32:51 2:39:43 1:49:07 = 5:01:41 AG 64.
Christina Cork 35:10 2:53:53 2:18:36 = 5:47:39 AG 33.
Andy Gregg 39:14 2:38:50 1:38:12 = 4:56:16 AG 33.
Robin Brookes 32:02 2:43:57

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The Vitruvian Triathlon at Rutland Water at the weekend took place in
not so friendly, rather sodden conditions.

This race was the Triathlon England National Middle-distance
Championships, and attracted a top field from across the country.

Paul Lunn won a GOLD Medal at the Vitruvian in
the English National Championships in his Age Group.

The distances were:
swim 1.2 miles in Rutland Water.
bike 56 miles - 2 laps around Oakham, Uppingham and Ketton.
run 13.1 miles around parts of the lake.

Paul Lunn finished 6th overall just 1:37 minutes from a podium place,
and easily winning his Age Group.

6. Paul Lunn 30:52 2:09:58 1:21:14 = 4:02:04 AG 1st.
108. Giles Cooper 33:55 2:30:55 1:33:29 = 4:38:19 AG 5.
162. Steve Coombes 41:01 2:37:43 1:34:33 = 4:53:17 AG 25.
199. Daniel Fitzjohn 42:25 2:41:37 1:34:10 = 4:58:12 AG 35.
358. Adrian Whitby 39:54 2:51:30 1:48:02 = 5:19:26 AG 68.
466. Robin Laukaitis 32:08 3:07:09 1:58:01 = 5:37:18 AG 30.
656. Simon Taylor 53:52 3:02:13 2:16:37 = 6:12:42 AG 22.

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Kate Armstrong competed in the Chillswim Coniston End-to-end 5.25 mile
swim. Kate tackled this event last year, but did not finish it due to
the cold conditions. This year the event took place in a much better 16
degrees, so the elements were much more favourable. She hadn't even
noticed that it was raining, until she got to the second feed station,
and the volunteers were all wearing rain ponchos and were soaked
through.

349. Kate Armstrong 3:20:51 AG 7.

509 finished with another 7 starting but not finishing. Thankfully,
Kate managed to exorcise a ghost this year.

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Steve Hope competed in a couple of running races on the continent:
04 Sep. Haarlemmermeer, Holland. 1/2 marathon - 1:39:02.
11 Sep. Ypres, Belgium. marathon - 3:59:45.

Both were on flat courses, with the Ypres marathon being all one-way
from the coast at Niewport, following the WW1 front line to Ypres.

The next two races in the "Eeyore Challenge" to complete 4 races in 4
weekends, all abroad, are:
18 Sep. Belfast, NI. 1/2 marathon.
25 Sep. Basel, Switzerland. marathon.

Other running results:

Greater Cambridge 10k
52nd. Aaron Godden 40:45

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PACTRAC had 5 members competing for Great Britain in the World Age
Group Triathlon Championships in Cozumel, Mexico, at the weekend.

Georgina Jennings added a SILVER MEDAL to her collection. She was a
minute down after the swim, and although she had the fastest bike leg,
it wasn't enough to hold off the challenge from the top American
athlete, on the run. Georgina was over 10-minutes ahead of the Bronze
medal winner. The heat and humidity took it's toll on all of the
athletes, but Georgina had a good race and won a well deserved medal.

Simon Hoppe came 11th in his Age Group, just outside the top ten and 2:
18 from a Podium spot. Fresh from his recent win in the North Norfolk
Triathlon at Wells, Simon is back on form.

3 members competed in the Sprint Distance over a 750 metre swim, 12.5
mile bike and 3 mile run:

11. Simon Hoppe 10:49 32:47 19:55 = 63:31
16. Susie Freeman 12:15 36:32 24:42 = 73:29
2. Georgina Jennings 22:11 43:47 33:14 = 99:12

2 members competed in the Standard distance over a 1500 metre swim, 25
mile bike and 6.25 mile run:

35. Simon Pauffley 31:20 73:21 53:42 = 2:38:23
43. Abi Schofield 24:21 81:05 55:36 = 2:41:02

Both Susie Freeman and Simon Pauffley were competing for GB for the
first time.

Abi said "Today was amazing but incredibly tough." She had a great swim
with a strong current making it difficult. Some swimmers in later waves
didn't finish in the choppy conditions. Abi then suffered in the heat
on the run, as did many others, and found herself taking ice at every
opportunity.

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Dave Patmore-Hill competed in the Ironman 70.3 in Pula, Croatia.

The distances were:
swim 1.2 miles.
bike 57 miles.
run 13.1 miles.

Dave got quicker as the bike went on, and held a very good pace on the
run.

He said: "Well that was pretty scary today at Ironman Croatia. The swim
was terrible with tough sea conditions; we had thunder and lightning on
the bike with a deluge of rain and the run course was part river with
the torrential rain! But for a bad swim I am happy with it." Dave had
one of his better bike rides and yet again pulled out a great half
marathon. He said that it was "great fun but one of the hardest races
I've done and one of the most enjoyable."

119. Dave Patmore-Hill 40:36 2:47:33 1:31:15 = 4:59:24 Age Group 21st.
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Steve Hope completed the Belfast half-marathon in 1:40:09. He competes
in the Basel Marathon this weekend to complete 4 races in 4 weekends,
all abroad.

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From 255 entries, PACTRAC's James Steventon finished 19th in the
Equinox 24 hour Solo run at Belvoir Castle nr Grantham. James completed
16 laps

"I was so pleased with my performance as I didn’t know if I was going to
reach my goal of 100 miles until just 6 miles to go. I had a pretty
rubbish triathlon season this year, but this is what I’ve been working
towards. Definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done."
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Amy Hayes swam the Oxford lock to lock 10k swim in 3:22:45.

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In the Rutland Water half-marathon:

65th. Nick Park 1:50:32

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Tony Moran completed his first Ironman at Ironman Wales in Tenby.

swim 2.4 miles in the sea.
bike 112 miles on an undulating course.
run 26.2 miles.

1285. Tony Moran 1:19:42 8:01:11 5:26:20 = 14:47:13 AG 201.

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The BRJ Duathlon took place from Abbots Ripton, over the sprint
distance of:
run 3 miles
bike 12.5 miles
run 3 miles.

The event took place on quiet roads and tracks, with an out and back,
flat run.

37. Paul Jephcott 77:09.
48. Rob Stokes 79:36.
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3 PACTRACers competed in the Roade Triathlon, near Northampton. The
distances were swim 414 metres in the pool, bike 12 miles and run 3
miles.

96. Nicholas Partridge 8.25 42.04 26.17 = 76.46
103 Adrian Chambers 9:23 44:58 23:08 = 77:29
165. Debora Leininger 11.02 51.43 27.18 = 90.03

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Steve Hope completed the Basel Marathon, in Switzerland, in 3:46:47.
This completes his personal "Eeyore Challenge" of 4 races in the 4
weekends of September - and all abroad. It was supposed to be 4 half-
marathons, but somehow I got persuaded to turn two of them into full
marathons.

04/09 Harlem half-marathon, Holland 1:39:02
11/09 Ypres marathon, Belgium 3:59:46
18/09 Belfast half-marathon, N.Ireland 1:40:09
25/09 Basel marathon, Switzerland 3:46:47.

2 laps around the city streets, mostly flat. Enjoyable, but hanging on
towards the end and ran all the way.

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Amy Mellor competed in the British Long Distance Swimming Association's
2.8 mile Swimming Championship's in the River Great Ouse at Lynn Regis,
Kings Lynn. Returning to competition after over a year off, Amy was the
2nd female, and just 20 seconds behind the winner.