The Southport Triathlon hosted the English National Standard Distance
Championships and two of the three PACTRACers came away with National
Medals. Tim Fletcher, in his first season with the club, having moved
down from Manchester, continued his fine early season form with a GOLD
Medal in the 40-44 year Age Group. Bill Haslam picked up a great BRONZE
Medal in the 60-64 Age Group, whilst his wife, Sarah was fourth in her
Age Group, missing out on a medal by just 1 place.
The event was also a qualifying race for the World Championships in
Australia this September. Bill qualified at the event at Grafham Water,
just the week before, but would have qualified here anyway. Sarah came
fourth in her Age Group, and with only 3-places available from this
race, will have to wait and see if that is enough. Tim is not trying to
qualify, but was racing for the Championship medal only.
The standard distance is 1500m swim, bike 25 miles - out and back x2.
run 6.4 miles - 2 laps around the lake. The cycle course takes place on
closed roads and the run course is based around the marina on tarmac
paths.
7. Tim Fletcher 21:57 63:36 35:47 = 2:01:20 AG 1st. GOLD MEDAL.
120. Bill Haslam 25:37 73:00 45:11 = 2:23:48 AG 3rd. BRONZE MEDAL.
284. Sarah Haslam 26:51 82:09 53:31 = 2:42:31 AG 4th.
-----------------------
The Sprint Triathlon on Saturday at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham, was
all on closed roads/paths around the lake perimeter over the distances of:
swim 750 metres, bike 12 miles, run 3 miles.
158. Jon Crowley 12.08 33.33 20.48 = 66.29 AG 16.
255. Steve Hope 13.02 35.35 21.47 = 70.24 AG 9.
----------------
Dorney Lake in Eton hosted a World Championship qualifying race on
Sunday, with Simon Hoppe QUALIFIED for the World Sprint Championships
in Australia in September. This was over the draft legal format, where
cyclists are allowed to compete directly against one another. (swim 750
metres, bike 13.25 miles, run 3 miles).
60. Mark Weathersby 13.07 33.53 18.41 = 65.41 AG 8.
160. Simon Hoppe 12.32 35.43 21.32 = 69.47 AG 24.
317. Steve Hope 14.12 38.25 23.58 = 76.35 AG 18.
Neil Tandy competed in the accompanying draft illegal race, in his
comeback race, having taken a year out:
95. Neil Tandy 12.06 41.06 26.24 = 79.36 AG 12.
---------------------------
The Newmarket Sprint Triathlon took place from the Leisure Centre and
covered the distances of:
swim 300 metres, bike 12.5 miles, run 2.5 miles.
The PACTRAC pair of Georgina Jennings and Ros Goatly both won their
respective Age Groups, with Ros winning hers by nearly 2-minutes.
42. Ros Goatly 5:36 46:07 20:45 = 72:28 AG 1st.
67. Georgina Jennings 7:21 47:25 26:39 = 81:25 AG 1st.
-------------------------
We had 5 competitors finish the half-Ironman distance triathlon at
Grafham Water, known as the Grafman half; with both Giles Cooper and
Terry Murphy coming 2nd in their respective Age Groups. Terry commented
afterwards that it was "hard work running in 21c today."
42. Giles Cooper 32.33 2.41.57 1.28.39 = 4.43.09 AG 2nd.
122. Charlie Brookes 33.08 2.47.28 1.45.34 = 5.06.10 AG 20.
164. Simon Guerin 30.39 2.49.51 1.57.11 = 5.17.41 AG 32.
217. Simon Mead 41.43 3.17.37 1.33.52 = 5.33.12 AG 40.
357. Terry Murphy 47.02 3.26.38 2.26.54 = 6.40.34 AG 2nd.
---------------------------
Just the one PACTRACer joined 1,300 other athletes at the Outlaw half -
half-Ironman distance triathlon in Nottingham on Sunday, over the
distances of:
swim 1.2 miles in the lake at Holme Pierrepont, bike 56 miles on
country roads and run 13.1 miles around the lake perimeter.
555. Louise Alexander 44:03 2:58:47 2:04:59 = 5:47:49 AG 16.
------------------------
The Moore team ventured a bit further this weekend to the East
Grinstead Junior Triathlon, straying into the southern area. This venue
was voted the best junior triathlon 2017.(in their region).
The weather started misty and damp but developed into a sunny hot day.
After a gradual build up of 2 x duathlon’s and 2 x Aquathlon’s so far
this year, this was their first full Triathlon.
"A bit different to what we were used to, i.e. (swim /polythene bags
with their numbers on, issued in their race pack) were taken poolside
with their towels running shoes and race numbers, after the swim they
had to put everything in the bag (swim hat, goggles, towel, etc) and
take it out of the pool and on exiting give/throw it to a marshal who
would then store it in an area for collection after the race.
(different, but it worked)
The swim was a snake start (switch lanes after every two lengths),
starting from youths downwards.
The bike course was on grass (just mown) and hard work, a short course
with a few twists and turns, meaning a lot of laps to count, the youths
and TR3 were doing 9 laps.
Quote of the day was from Chloe Moore who shouted a supporting “Come on
Josh I feel your pain” to her brother on his bike, after she had just
completed her gruelling 9 lap bike. (Priceless)."
Chloe Moore competing in Tr3, (swim 300m Bike 3.75 miles, run 1.5
miles), found it tough (as did a lot of youths doing the same
distance), and came a commendable 15th out of 21.
Josh Moore competing in Tr 1, (swim 150m Bike 1.25 miles, run 0.75
mile), finally overcoming his pre-race nerves and really enjoyed the
race, but found the bike tough, coming 32nd.
----------------------
The Wednesday night Mini-Series Triathlon's start on 23rd May and cover the
next 8 weeks. Distances are:
swim 400 yards - 8 lengths of Oundle pool.
bike 10 miles - 1 loop around Glapthorn and the Benefield's.
run 3.5 miles - out to Glapthorn and back.
The events are open to non-members with specific Novice races on May
30th and June 20th which can also be done in a Relay format of 1
swimmer, 1 biker and 1 runner, or a combination. More details are on http://www.pactrac.co.uk
Just turn up on the night.