On a cold morning, threatening rain and blowing a gale, Clumber Park near Mansfield hosted the British Duathlon Championships. Newmarket Cycling and Triathlon Club had one athlete, Gordon Irvine, contesting this year in the Sprint event covering 5km run, 20km bike and a final sharp 2.5km finishing run. Read more →
Keith McCarthy opted for a muddy event this weekend. Walden Tri hosted their Off-Road Duathlon at Carver Barracks (near Saffron Walden) on Sunday.
Recent rainfall made for an interesting off-road event, consisting of a 5km run, 18km bike, 3 km run around the disused airfield. However, the variety of terrains, obstacles and even nearly losing his shoe on the run didn’t slow McCarthy down. His first run took 00:27:29 and covered 6.25km. A swift 40 second transition saw McCarthy out on the bike to complete the section in 01:39:33. Another fast change and McCarthy was back out on the second run. The final 3.25km took 15:51 giving him a total time of 02:24:11 bringing him back in 19th place.
Two club members battled it out at the Althorp Duathlon this weekend. With Karl Proctor taking on the Sprint distance and Clare Fleming storming through the Olympic distance, the pair gave fellow competitors a run for their money at the European Championship Qualifier for 2015.
Despite poor conditions and a tough 5km run, 20km bike, 5km run, Proctor dominated his age category (v45-49) and came 24th overall finishing in 1:27:07. His triumph has resulted in qualifying to represent GB in his age category at the European Championships which will be held in Horst (Holland) in 2015.
Fleming came up trumps once again in the 10km run, 40km bike, 10km run, and secured third in her age category despite being given wrong directions on the bike leg, covering more km than required. Finishing in 2:56:56, Fleming has qualified for the World Championships in Spain, April 2015 but now has the tough decision on whether to run the London Marathon which is on the same day!
Taking on his first Duathlon at the weekend, new club member Karl Proctor performed well at the Oulton Park Sprint Xtra Mile event held at the Race Track. The duathlon started off with 4.3km run around the racetrack, a swift transition in the pits before 5 exhilarating laps (21.55km) on the bike and finished with another 4.3km run. Proctor finished in a respectable time of 01:06:06, coming 5th in his age group (45-49) and 28th overall. As the Duathlon is a GB Qualifier, Proctor waits anxiously for an update as to whether he has secured a place.
After retiring from Triathlon, Maxine Lane, true to form took on the Great Notley Duathlon in Essex. Starting off with a 4km off-road run, Lane got in to her stride coming into the first transition in 00:16:54. With a swift transition, Lane was out on her wheels with perfect race conditions and destroying the two-lap course at an average speed of 21.2mph. Coming in three minutes under the course average Lane was back out on the second run. Even with tired legs from her triumph at Ely Half Marathon last weekend, she still managed to knock 24 seconds off her first 4km. Finishing in 01:13:26, Lane was on the podium once again with 3rd lady.
Ollie Trent, one of our youngest members at just 14 years competed in The Clacton Triathlon Weekend in the Senior Children’s Off-Road Duathlon for Tristar 3s! Out of 81 entrants, he came a brilliant 9th overall and 5th in his age group. His family and friends are really proud of him as he is new to the sport having only started at the beginning of the summer. Ollie said he loved every minute of it and can’t wait for his next Duathlon at the beginning of October at the Queen Elizabeth Park in London.
The Clacton Triathlon Weekend is in aid of the Brain and Spine Foundation, and is based at the Holland Haven Country Park, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
It was a busy weekend for the club as we played host to our annual duathlon staged at the Ellsmere Centre in Stetchworth. With gale force wind and rain on the menu the challenge of competing was made extra difficult for the event which includes a 2.5 mile run, 14 mile bike and further 2.5 mile run.
Nine club members lined up for the event and it was Gemma Irvine who proved to be in fine form to finish third female overall recording a time of 1 hour 25 minutes 31 seconds, while her husband Gordon Irvine who is usually on the podium had to settle for fourth place in the mens race with a creditable 1 hour 11 minutes 53 seconds. The rest of the newmarket contingent was made up by new members of the club. Ryan Figgins crossed the line in 1 hour 24 minutes 09 seconds, he was followed by Ian Cunningham in 1 hour 34 minutes. Keiron Shepherd showed plenty of promise stopping the clock on 1 hour 35 minutes 06 seconds with Xaviour Campbell hot on his heals in 1 hour 36 minutes 46 seconds. Glenn Fruish finished strongly in 1 hour 42 minutes 51 seconds. Sam Crockett and Gillian Green made up the female team with Crockett finishing in 1 hour 48 minutes 15 seconds and Green dipping under her target time of 2 hours in 1 hour 59 minutes 56 seconds.
New club member Gordon Irvine flew across the water to compete at the World age-group Duathlon Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. Irvine, who was flying the flag for Team GB showed he has what it takes to mix it up with the best in the world. The 10K run, 40K cycle and 5K run saw him finish 37th in his age category (35-39) with an excellent time of 2 hours 13 minutes and 30 seconds.
Former club members Anna Blackwell and Angela Joiner-Handy also showed the world what they are made of. Blackwell taking on the sprint distance of a 5K run, 20K cycle and 2.5K run put on the performance of her life to take the bronze medal in the 40-44 year age category, just 4 seconds away from gold. Joiner-Handy who is no stranger to competing at world championships tackled the standard distance (10k, 40K, 5K) and despite having a mechanical during the bike course she still managed to finish 6th in her age category (45-49) with a brilliant time of 2 hours 27 minutes 17 seconds.
23 year old Jockey Ross Birkett left his horse in the stable as he headed to the capital on Sunday morning to tackle The Virgin Money London Marathon. Ross – who was the lucky winner of the clubs only official entry – was not only racing in the streets of London for the first time, he was running the 26.2 mile course dressed in jockey silks, a Skull cap and carrying a riding whip in a bid to break the world record for the fastest runner dressed as a jockey. After galloping to the finish line he achieved his goal and set a World Record with an incredible time of 3 hours 08 minutes 30 seconds.
Three other members also completed the 26.2 mile course in style. Maxine Lane running her 11th marathon recorded a personal best with a creditable 3 hours 28 minutes 54 seconds, Lane’s training partner Clare Fleming put on a super performance to finish her 8th London Marathon in 3 hours 32 minutes 12 seconds despite having her training hampered with hamstring problems and new member Sam Raithatha who was injured for 2 months leading up to the marathon completed the course in 6 hours 26 minutes 05 seconds.
Meanwhile, back on local turf two members of the club took on the challenging Cambridge Duathlon staged at Bottisham. The 7.5K run, 40K cycle and further 7.5K run saw over 200 athletes line up for the ultra competitive event which was being used as a qualifying race for the European Duathlon Championships. It was Tracey Villano that led the way home for the club as she cruised around the course to finish Third female overall recording a stunning 2 hours 22 minutes 32 seconds. Team mate Sarah Wells put on a fine display as she shaved a massive 9 minutes 40 seconds off her time from last year. Wells who produced the fastest bike split of the day finished second in her age category with a fabulous 2 hours 30 minutes 09 seconds.
Club member Tracey Apperley was in Holland last weekend, competing in the Powerman European Duathlon Championships (Age Group) after qualifying for the event at the Grafham Duathlon last November.
Tracey said “My biggest challenge was to qualify for the GB team as qualifying standards were of a high standard with many athletes trying to make the GB team”.
She managed to finish 12th in her age group, saying “It was a huge honour to represent GB and Newmarket Cycling and Triathlon Club whilst enjoying the special atmosphere of international competition where 28 countries were represented. It was also great to meet other GB team athletes”.
