July has been absolutely packed with local action and fortunately we have been around a few races so hopefully we can give a good overview of how we found em. First though we can’t ignore the international success, that set the month alight from Fyn Multisport World Championships
Paige Mcleod has stepped up the distance this year and took silver in the standard Duathlon for Cleveland and GBR!!
Dan Jenkin of Durham won the 30-34s
In the Aquathlon:
Lara Greggs of suncitytri took 3rd in the 16-19s
Kay Stokes of Cleveland took silver in the 60-64s
In the Aquabike:
Kris Whitelaw won the 35-39s taking 7 mins out of 2nd place on the bike
From Tartu ETU champs
Dan Jenkin was at it again with a win in the 30-34 sprint
Don Shotton took the win in the 75-79s (Wallsend Harriers?)
There were loads of local athletes from the clubs, well done all and keep doing those qualifiers!
The first race of the month we got along to was Ponteland Sprint, the second race in the area, this time organised by the local Tri Club raising money for the Sally Allen Fund. The first thing that struck me was how well organised and helpful the marshals and helpers were, a club official felt that this could be an established race and maybe open up to more next year, it made perfect sense to me.
What was really interesting was “The Dead Zone” basically there was a bit foreseeable congestion at the first junction and therefore your bike split time was taken after you passed that zone, T1 time was still recorded. How sensible! how many times have you been caught in traffic? and caught up by slower riders? it meant keeping a good route and the athletes happy.
Harry Walker took the top spot with a super fast bike split and run for the supervet. Luke McCormack or suncitytri was just 38 second behind him with Sean Kennedy of Northumberland just 4 seconds from him!
Elaine Stroud of Ponteland runners took the ladies with Stephanie Robson and Becky Coleman just behind coming from further afield.
The moment of the day however goes to Paul Henshaw who stopped mid race to give a youth a hand in getting her chain back on and away on her bike, what a great show of sportsmanship to round off a really good day.
Triology midweek supersprint #1 has lost none of it appeal since winning race of season a few years back. It was a boiling hot evening and just like Ripon earlier this month, it was none wetsuit. Something that strikes fear into the likes of me, but the younger athletes seemed to relish the idea having trained for this with the academy. In race, this set the scene with Juniors just beasting the swim getting ahead very early on. The ladies was slightly different, Lara Greggs coming out with her Junior fish like mates and then a glut of mixed ages.
The lads came back similar to how they went out and in the end it was a photo finish between Will Dixon or Ryton and James Morris, Will’s left leg was first by 0.1 sec and that’s how it counts, Tom Whelan of Suncitytri was 3rd.
Olivia Neal, now York but once Durham Tri was not the fastest swimmer or runner but what she lost there, she made up on the bike to finish 1st. Helen Ballard of Tricademy was 2nd and Sarah Seymour of Muckle came in 3rd but a big shout out is appropriate for Patricia Bell of Cleveland who posted the 2nd fastest bike split to win the 60+ and come 4th overall.
The event itself really is spectacular in my opinion, to have an evening midweek race that is accessible in our area is something special and the volunteers and Triology put on a fine show.
The British 70.3 champs should have been a doddle to win for Tom Whelan being one of few athletes in his age group, however it wasn’t quite plane sailing. Splits – 26:24 (good but expected) 3:05:22 – seems slow, 2:30:37 (What on earth is he doing) were my thought as I tracked him. He did win the champs and when I caught up with him he explained that the Hever Castle course really is that slow, it just never seems to level out!!
Get Set North Washington Tri The second event to be held in Washington, very accessible and actually very cheap. The race appears to be growing with age and if your after a fast course with little fuss, this is the one. Daryl Oguona of Triology took top spot away from Luke McCormack of Suncitytri with Peter Roddam in 3rd. Vicky Gibbs was 1st lady with Cristina Tyley and Jackie Phillips of Suncitytri just behind.
Castle and Derwent Tri sprint and standard Apparently Derwent reservoir has seen Triathlon action in the past in the guise of “Prince bishops” and Castle Tri club brought back the joy in partnership with the sailing club. The first impression was that the event just felt “propa country” out in the sticks! All was good, quite a few local clubs were there and Castle Tri members were great, keeping it all well organised and slick.
The spring went off and I joined the rest of the standard distance folk in the water, as we joined the line the sprint lot were almost coming round and tension ran high for some. Someone panicked and unnecessarily swore at the water safety, it was all in goof humor and they asked “Who said that?” the lad next to me replied “Him in the green hat” and with that we were off! The swim was fine, with little chop and we were soon out and on the bikes.
What a course it really is rounding the lake, the views are spectacular and I didn’t see a single car. There was constantly something to distract the mind from just going hard, shallow drags, sharp kicks and sweeping bends made fantastic entertainment. I can see why they use this a cycle race course. The decent back down to the lake was fast and we were flying back to where we started on good roads, the sprint race was in full flow by now with the runners returning back.
The run section of a Tri can be a rather painful, less interesting affair however I really enjoyed this one. A steep decent took us down to the lake and the 2nd lady put me behind her once gravity was not on my side! Through the woods on a track, nicely surfaced from the dropped pine needles, took us to a wooden platform protecting the ground. A few friends from Wearside Tri gave a high 5 as they came back at me and I headed to the dam. We crossed the dam and turned back round more or less the same way, jellies and drinks were offered as the marshals encouraged us along. The downhill finish was a pleasant end to a great day. For me this was an excellent return of a great race; quiet roads, clean water and an interesting run its in an ideal setting for anyone in the North East or further afield.
Michael Hindmarch of Muckle won the sprint but it was a battle – him and Toby Routledge of One life racing came out the water near each other but Lee Tait from VO2 max smashed the bike to draw close. Toby was out in front from T2, Lee kept up the catch up and passed on the run, but it was Michael who ran hardest and was worthy of the win.
Ellen Roberts from Heaton Harriers won the ladies who out ran Hellen Ballard of Tricademy and Helen Orrell of Castle Tri. Both Hellens made time up on the bike but it appeared that Ellen left her best til last running a 22:53 split at the end.
Speaking of good running Hannah Mattinson ran a 42:42 in the standard to stay well in front of Karen Wood, but not quite enough to catch Lindsay Turnbull who took the win.
Double bubble for Muckle as Craig Boggon put in a well rounded performance with possibly the 2nd fastest split in each discipline! Paul Robson of Wearside outran Stephen Knight of Ryton to 2nd place, with Stephen hanging on to 3rd.
Woodhorn Sprint – National Champs Its an established race in a place that lends itself well to Triathlon. VO2 Max events have been around for quite some time and know how to run a big event, hence why I was not surprised that they got to hold the British Championships – well deserved and the feedback was great. To top it all, it was a canny day for the North East!
James Wilson of Loftus and Whitby AC won the day
Daniel Jenkin 2nd overall winning AG
Graham Crammond of Physiohaüs took 2nd in AG
Garry Walker took the 40s
Paul Robson ‘Rocker’ took the win for Wearside Triathlon in 45s
Nick Zissler of Triology Multisport Solutions took 3rd on the 30s and team mate Scott Wardman the same n 35s
Paul Brown of Cleveland Triathlon 3rd on 40s
Steve Carragher of Alnwick Tri Club was 3rd in the 45s
Gavin Sword of Press Sunderlandstrollers 3rd in 55s
Jane Hodgson of Morpeth Harriers & Athletics Club won the ladies.
Stephanie MacLean won the 40s for North Shields Polytechnic Club with team mate Christine Burns taking 3rd in 35s
Emma Dixon of Ryton Tri won the Junior 19s
With Zara Bailey of Team Newcastle Triathlon in 2nd
Carol Page of Alnwick Tri Club took 3rd in 55s
Fantastic!!
Hetton Super Saturday – Part of the Junior super series brought the very best to Hetton Lyons Country Park, possibly something we take for granted with its warm shallow water, dedicated cycle circuit and running paths. The results are ample and complicated so I will simply leave you the link regardless of results I was bursting with pride to see our youngsters compete in a race that would easily scare off many. The standard in unbelievably high, the swim was none wet suit for most and its drafting on the bike! The attitude of our young athletes was excellent enjoying the fun side of the sport and competing against the best. Hats off to all the volunteers and the North East Region Triathlon for bringing this to our doorstep yet again.
Redcar Sprint Triathlon (Draft Legal) For some, it was refreshing to get the wetsuit back on after a number of races without. With qualification for GB on the table, this provided a really tough race. Draft legal does through a slightly different and interesting spin on things, coming out of the water early gets you in the all important front pack on the bike and from a North East perspective Will Dixon of Ryton did that so well, coming first of our lot and 2nd Junior with Matty Phillips of Suncitytri in 3rd
AG winners: Steph Maclean Dann Of NSP, David Cunningham of Physiohaus, Steven Carragher of Alnwick, Lisa Thornley of One Life, Gavin Sword of Coalfields and Scott Wardman of Triology.
2nd’s Lara Greggs of Suncitytri, Kris Whitelaw of Muckle and Will Dixon
3rds Matty Phillips, Nick Zissler of Triology, Paul Brown of Cleveland, Kath Blakey of Cleveland, Harry Robson of Triology, Jem Lawson of Tyne Tri and Emma Dixon of Ryton.
It was difficult conditions but fortunately the swim went ahead in the end, probably one of the higher risk events and its a real credit to the North that Trihard run this event.
So July really has been a month to remember, results at the top end have been fantastic – National and international success but the event organisers too have proven that we can more than hold our own when it comes to putting on an event for everyone to enjoy. As always if there’s anything you would like us to cover or if you have something to contribute – just drop us a line we are on Facebook @northerntrier or email northerntrier@gmail.com
What caught her eye? Smell the anxiety and fear of the none wet suit swim!
What caught his eye? Still got it when she’s not volunteering!
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