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!

Kate Harman came back to Triathlon with a vengeance at this weekends’ HaverTri in Haverhill. 2010 saw Harman sustain an injury which put a stop to her competing for the past four years. Getting back into the swim of it, Harman took to the pool for the 400 meters in a modest approach. Exiting in 7 minutes 49 seconds, Harman was onto the bike leg after a swift 49 second transition. Fellow club members were chasing the fresh legged Harman out of the pool, Gillie Green (11:20), Pearl Fay (11:56), Sheila Shead (12:34).

After just two minutes on two wheels, Harman was the leading lady. Thriving in the competition, Harman maintained the lead through the 20km bike section coming in at 00:46:46. It was wheel to wheel between Fay and Shead with Fay coming off the bike 00:57:04 and Shead hot on her wheels in 00:58:13. Green came in at 01:05:11 after unfortunately taking a wrong turn costing her approximately four minutes. But with another swift transition for Harman, our returning triathlete was out on the 5km run. Suffering from stitch in the first 1km, Harman pushed on but unfortunately was overtaken by two ladies. Despite not being able to settle into the distances, Harman made an incredible comeback with a finishing time of 01:26:58 seconds, securing 3rd lady and 9th competitor overall. The tracking trio came in on form within their age category (51+) Shead at 01:49:44 coming 2nd , Fay 01:50:38 (3rd ) and Green 01:57:51 (5th).

Ollie Trent also took on Havertri Super Sprint (200m swim, 8km bike, 2.4km run), performing exceptionally well securing 1st place in a time of 36 minutes 57 seconds.

Ian Storey was the only NCTC member to take on the Sprint+ which consisted of 600m swim, 40km bike, 10km run. Coming 3rd in his age category, Storey finished in a very respectable 03:17:51sec.

Oulton Park Sprint

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.

Great Notley Duathlon

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.

This weekend, Mick Lowther took on what is known as the World’s hardest Half Ironman distance Triathlon, Wasdale. The Wasdale attracts the most hardened of triathletes, boasting it’s swim as the deepest, it’s bike section as the steepest and it’s run as the highest. It is not one for the faint hearted.

Lowther, who had been struggling with illness lately started the swim in the cold, dark waters of Wastwater. With only light from lamps provided by the team, Lowther donned his wetsuit and entered the lakes chilly waters (approximately 13 Degrees Celsius) for the beginning of an incredible day.

Completing the 1.2 mile swim in approximately 32 minutes, Lowther ran to transition and prepared for the 56 mile bike section, containing the steepest category climb in the country. It wasn’t long before Lowther was tackling the severe ascent of Hardnott, the steepest mountain pass in Britain at 2.2 miles with an average 25% incline and the last two bends at over 30%. Wrynose pass would ease the legs compared to what they had just endured, however the downhill would keep Lowther switched on knowing there is a 500ft unprotected drop along the side of the road. More and more miles came under Lowther’s two wheels as he pushed on and as if once up Hardknott wasn’t enough, he had to take on it’s return pass. Peaking at an incredible 33% incline for 200 yards and then 30% for mile, Lowther was pushed to the limit. The bike section racked up a total 7,217 ft of climbing over the 56 miles in approximately 5 hours.

Still, Lowther was not to be defeated. In to transition and with his trainers on, Lowther began the final leg of the journey. Starting the athletes off steady through Styhead Tarn and the Corridor Route, it wasn’t long before Lowther was at the base of Scarfell Pike. Scaling one part of the rock face took half an hour and only achieving a 75m gain in distance was both mentally and physically challenging. However once at the rocky summit of England’s highest mountain, it was the horrendous descent with zero visibility, sheer drops and large loose rocks to negotiate that stick in Lowther’s mind. This was no “run” at all, even the flat bits were through marshlands but Lowther completed the final leg in approximately 5 hours 20 minutes.

Lowther may be suffering after taking on Wasdale, but he is proud to have completed it in 10 hours and 50 minutes (approx) with some incredible competitors.

Angela Girgis took on the Hever Castle Half Ironman once again! But the challenging Gauntlet was taken in the seasoned triathletes stride.

Girgis fought her way through the 1900m swim, battling against fellow competitors in the narrow river to come out in 35 minutes 54 seconds.

The Gauntlet is renowned for its challenging sections and the transitions are not left aside. Making her way up to the bike transition, Girgis was out on the bike in 4 minutes 30 seconds and onto the two lap undulating bike course. Going up through Ashdown Forest and through some very pretty villages, Girgis took on the many hills finishing the two wheeled section in 3 hours 30 minutes 39 seconds.

With a swift transition, Girgis took on the two lap run, and again none of it flat! An almost completely cross country, down bridle paths, gravel, ploughed fields and a horse cross country course. This course is not for the faint hearted. Girgis came home from the half marathon run in 2 hours 50 seconds.

Despite being disappointed with the run time, Girgis still challenged the field and scooped up 3rd in her age category (40-50), 15th lady and 87th overall. A great effort!

Several Club members took to the City of Ely for the Monster Runfest on Sunday 28th September, and with a choice of Half Marathon, Marathon and the Ultra Marathon, there was enough challenge for all.

Lisa Redman took on the Ultra, a 42 mile run to Cambridge and back. Packing her kit with Babybels, Jelly Babies and some Pepsi, she was ready to rock. Starting at 8am outside the Ely Cathedral Redman was the first NCTC member to set off. With one ultra marathon already under her racebelt, a predicted time of 9 hours was in her sight. The day was surprisingly warm and at times Redman, like many of the other competitors, contemplated a dip in the river!

9am saw Clare Flemming start the Marathon. A seasoned marathon runner, Flemming was on for a great day.

Finally 10am saw Maxine Lane, Lee Dickinson and Francesca Rust tackle the Half Marathon.

All three distances took the same route, out past the Cathedral, down Cherry Hill and across Jubilee Gardens to the river. Negotiating the A142 crossing and picking up Cyclepath 11, all runners began the journey towards Cambridge. With Lisa and Clare well on their way, Lane, Dickinson and Rust made their way to the halfway turning point at Wicken Fen. Lane taking up the lead of the trio, Dickinson not far behind for the first few miles, Rust was struggling having slightly over-trained the day before. Lane reached the turning point first, doubling back for the 6 mile run home. Dickinson and Lane passed Rust coming the opposite way, in true team spirit exchanging high-fives and words of encouragement.

The sun was beating down and with the only water stops at the half marathon turning point, the marathon turning point and the ultra turning point, all NCTC competitors had to take on water.

Lane was first NCTC member home for the Half Marathon, finishing in 1 hour 38 minutes and scooping 3rd lady overall. Next was Dickinson in 1 hour 57 minutes and finally Rust in 2 hours 11 minutes also picking up another PB this year.

Flemming, despite the heat, put in an incredible effort and was the first lady home in the Marathon distance, running through the winner’s banner in a time of 3 hours 39 minutes.

Redman took the Ultra in her stride, coming in well under her predicted time with an incredible 7 hours 50 minutes.

Kerry Brown proved she has what it takes to be crowned an Ironwoman this weekend by competing in her first Ironman distance Triathlon.

Taking on the mass start at Tenby’s North Beach in Wales for the 2.4 mile swim followed by the very challenging 112 mile bike route only to then be faced with a full Marathon (26.2 miles) run, this Ironman race is not for the faint hearted. Brown started her journey last year after winning her entry to the race in a competition. A year long training plan and the support of family and friends have helped her secure her goal.

Brown got off to a great start in the swim, coming out of the two lap loop in 1.38.50. Taking her time in transition to prepare for the long ride, Brown’s two wheeled journey began. Completing the 112 miles in a very respectable 7.40.18 and with two disciplines successfully under her race belt Brown halved her transition time to the run and was on her way in under 9 minutes. Trainers on and Brown was running like she hadn’t even taken on the two previous sections, not letting her split time go above 10km/m she was churning up the Tarmac around the Pembrokeshire Coast. Before long she picked up the pace and crossed the infamous finish line hearing the words “You..Are..An..Ironman” in an incredible 14 hours, 51 minutes and 21 seconds. A huge congratulations to Kerry Brown! What a journey!

Down in Dorset, our very own Joe Richer took on the Ironman distance of Challenge Weymouth! The swim was cut short due to what can only be described as surfing conditions but Richer completed the sea swim off Peston Beach in 47 minutes.

On to the bike course which started off flat then provided a leg testing climb out of Weymouth peaking at 13%. Richer nailed the undulating route as he came back to transition in 5:36. A swift turnaround and he was on his last leg of the triathlon. The flat marathon run course challenged Richer’s determination to cross the finish line and after digging deep and pulling himself back up on the second lap of the Marathon his stride was back. Richer finished strong with a time of 3:42 for the run and producing an incredible time of 10:12:17 overall and an Ironman PB! Coming 6th in his age category and 47th out of 364 men on the day.

It was a warm one for club members taking on the Grunty Fen Half Marathon over in Ely.

Eugene Husband and Peter Williams teamed up and ran two strong runs, coming in together at 1:29:02, followed shortly by Lee Dickinson at 1:48:14. Bringing it home for the ladies was Francesca Rust who supported friend Georgie Campbell. The duo came in together at 2:14:39 and 2:14:41 with Rust securing a strong PB knocking 3 minutes off her last Half Marathon race.

On Saturday Ian Hawkins, Sarah Wells, Natalie Scott, Hayley Brewis, Eliot Bentley and Linda Hones travelled to Bray Lake Water-Sports Centre in Berkshire for The Big South Swim.

Taking part in both the 10k and 5k challenges they arrived early for registration and eagerly prepared for the racing to commence. Just after first light the 10k challenge was underway with the 5k starting shortly after. Bentley and Hones, opting for the 5k, were first home out of the six. Bentley was 10th Male home in a superb time of 1:16:51 and Hones wasn’t far behind as 16th Lady in 1:37:07.

With the 10K race still in progress Wells and Hawkins swam on, having trained together they spent the race very close. Wells came home as 4th Lady in a fantastic time of 2:43:24 with Hawkins following closely behind as 10th Male in an equally impressive time of 2:44:04. Coming in as 9th Lady Natalie Scott was next in with a great time of 3:24:38. Hayley Brewis came in 12th Lady despite having very little time to train, and recorded a solid time of 3:35:37, reconfirming her Ironman status.