Team Trisports duo Mark Harris and Steve Metcalfe resumed their personal battle at the St Albans Fred Hughes 10 ,both earning PBs in the process. Mark Harris survived a sprint for fifth with an identical time to the next placed runner, just taking it on the dip in a new best of 58:35. Close behind, Metcalfe also won his sprint finish for 7^th in a new best of 59:35. Rolling back the years, super vet Brian White(pictured) was an excellent 5^th in the M50 category in a seasons best of 1:06:20.

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Pictures Provided by Mark Easton

Helen Shulver continued her series of Park 5K runs completing her 9^th Sheffield Hallam Park 5k with a 9^th position in the women’s event and winning the W35 category in a time of 22:19

On a bright crisp Sunday morning, Team Trisports put out their strongest team this season in defence of their title at the fourth Sunday League Cross Country match at Tewin.

The Team Trisports Men’s Team had three top ten finishers led by Steve Harrison  3rd  (pictured), Mark Harris 5th just ahead of Steve Metcalfe in 6th with Steffan Ford, Pete Harris, James Bedford, Brian White and James Cox completing the A Team scorers. The B Team of Tony Ward, Jon Budge, Sean Storey, Mark Young and Chris Baxter also performed well as a team to consolidate their position in the league.

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The women were led home by new members Caitlin Murphy and Leslie Andrew with Anna Holden, Kay Finch and Elodie Levis scoring well. Super vet Jackie Perry headed the B Team with Heather Storey and Clemmie Forrester finishing strongly.

Team Trisports enter the  final fixture  at Royston in February with an excellent chance of retaining the League title for the third season running.

Last week Mark Harris raced the Herts Senior Cross Country and finished 19th in 42:03 on the 12k course around Fairlands Valley.

All Pictures Provided By runherts.com or view at flickr Stream

Hitchin based Team Trisports members were in running action over the holiday period with a mixture of racing and festive battling!

Mark Harris (pictured)raced twice over the holiday period with an excellent 6th overall at the Aylesbury Boxing Day 5k in a time of 17:05 followed by a 59:52 in the Pednor 10 on New Years Eve.

Also competing on Boxing Day, Helen Shulver raced her 5th Sheffield Hallam Park 5K and managed a 22:50 for 6th lady from a field of 220.

Stuart and Alyson Sprawson completed the Pirton Boxing Day Run in 30:30 and enjoyed running off a mince pie. Graham Perry was back in competitive form with a PB in 26:50, behind Tony Shortland in 25:59 and Kate Turner who raced to first place for the club in 23:16.

Steffan Ford was first home for the club at the Buntingford 10 in 1:02:40 with Sam Tophill managing to ease ahead of Jackie Perry to finish in 1:17:49 and 1:118:09 respectively for 6th and 7th in the super vet category.

Team Trisports were in off road action again this weekend as they continued their defence of the Sunday Cross Country League at the third match at Watford’s Cassiobury Park.

The women led the way again with wins in the A and B Team competitions, consolidating their lead in both competitions overall. Kay Finch was first home for the club with new member Caitlin Murphy, Elodie Levis, new member Oli Kacigova and Anna Holden scoring for the A Team and Sabrina Verjee, Jackie Perry and Heather Storey scoring for the B Team. Clemmie Forrester, Sam Tophill, Lesley Dutton, Alyson Sprawson and Brenda Bozwood Davies made up the full complement of women in support.

The men were 3rd in the A Team and 2nd in the B Team competitions to consolidate a 2nd overall in A and 3rd overall in B. Steve Metcalfe was first for the club with Mark Harris, Pete Ryan, Steffan Ford. Mark Robertson, Brian White. Jon Budge and Chris Baxter making up the scoring 8 for the A Team with Ben Turner, Steve Chalk, Steve Moakes, Richard Thomas and Craig Tribe scoring for the B Team. Drew Lowrie and Paul Dutton also competed for the men.

The story of the day is Heather Storey (pictured) who competed in the cross country at 10:30am at Watford over 6 miles and then travelled to Hillingdon for the cyclocross finale at 1:00pm in which she won 3rd women overall for the series. A truly committed and inspiring effort very much in the spirit of Team Trisports.

Last Sunday saw nine athletes from Team Trisports CX take to the final round of the Central Cyclocross League Championship at the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit.

On a brisk and breezy day, those racing were met with a highly technical and challenging parcours that levelled the playing field between the strength merchants and those with a flair for bike handling in challenging conditions.

Showing himself to be a class act in both areas, Sean Storeyfinished first for the club once again ahead of Mic Clark, who is showing his race heritage and pedigree through cyclocross, and Simon Douglas who once again made it into the club top three.

Also competing were; Tony Shortland, Mick Humphris, Keith Perry, Sean Bradley, Heather Storey and Joel Farrow (DNF).

After nine highly competitive rounds the overall standings show that Heather Storey finished a fantastic 3rd overall in theWomens Championship and that husband Sean was the top club finisher for the 2012 season and also won a prize for his 5th place in the Vets Champioship.

Joel Farrow and Mic Clark were 2nd and 3rd placed club finishers respectively in the championship.

Eleven members of Team Trisports CX made their way over to Reading on Sunday to compete in the penultimate round of the 2012 Central Cyclocross League Championship.

Held on a parcours that favoured the strong rider, mother nature also added her own twist with strong headwinds that made the long drags along sections of leg-sapping grass even tougher for all concerned.

Proving himself the strongest rider on the day, Joel Farrow overcame a spectacular crash on the opening lap to cross the line as the first club finisher and underline his increased competitiveness this season.

And enjoying a race long battle, Mic Clark and Simon Douglas pushed each other to the limits as they swapped places numerous times throughout the race as they attempted to chase down Farrow.

In the end it was Clark who proved the better rider on the day as he pulled away from Douglas on the last lap to claim the second club finisher spot, with Douglas in third.

Also enjoying the challenge were; Tony Shortland, Tim Smith, Mark Beaver, Keith Perry, Ian Hobbs, Mick Humphris, Heather Storey and Dave Welch (DNF).

Team Trisports celebrated the 2011 season and a successful year at their recent awards night in Norton. Reflecting on a year where the club retained the Sunday League Cross Country Trophy for the third year in succession and hosted their first cycle-cross fixture at Hitchin Boys School. club chairman Keith Perry presented awards and special club triathlon bags to seven members.

Tony Shortland was a popular winner of the Teammate of the Year which was decided by public vote. Tony is a committed and caring coach who covers all three disciplines and also finds time to maintain the club photo gallery which he does with great humour.

Most Improved female triathlete was Alyson Sprawson (pictured)who completed all three events in the club championship and proves that age is no barrier to success. Most improved male was Richard Thomas who smashed his Ironman PB with a super performance at Frankfurt.

Club Sprint champions were Anna Holden and Ian Mackerness, who also won the clubs inaugural cycle time trial league.

Triathletes of the year were Helen Shulver and Rob Wilson who received a special send off to mark his leaving the club as he has now settled in the North.

Team Trisports took on the Hereward Relay with 2 teams battling the windy conditions over the 39 mile 4 stage multi terrain relay event between Peterborough Cathedral and Ely Cathedral.

The A Team of Steffan Ford (6.5 miles), Pete Ryan(10.5 miles), Steve Metcalfe (11.4 miles) and Mark Harris (10.4m) completed the event in 3:56 for a creditable 7th overall. The mixed vets team of Jackie Perry, Richard Thomas, James Bedford and Brian White were 34th overall from 114 teams in 4:36 with White making up several places in an uncharacteristic grandstanding sprint finish!

Team Trisports Veteran athlete Brian White returned to his favourite venue at Box Hill to win his age group in the super tough RG Active Winter Ballbuster Duathlon. The 8 mile run/24 mile bike/8 mile run event takes in Box Hill on each 8 mile loop and has recently benefitted from resurfacing in preparation for the Olympic Cycle Road Race . Winning the V55 category in a time of 3:13:42 was good enough for 81st overall.

Helen Shulver returned to run action at the Sheffield Hallam Park 5K and recorded a PB of 22:55 with her 3rd run in the series in as many weeks. Also out of area, new member Jon Budge completed the Marlow Half Marathon in 1:30:27 for 64th overall from 952 finishers.

Team Trisports return to cross country this coming weekend with Round 2 of the Sunday League to continue the defence of their title.

Last Sunday saw twelve members of Team Trisports CX resume their season at Round 6 of the Central Cyclocross League series at Icknield High School.

Welcoming athletes back was a fiendishly technical course that required speed, strength, smart race tactics, superb bike handling and the ability to run up steep banks whilst carrying a bike. And all at heart rates approaching 200 beats per minute!

Finishing first the club, Sean Storey showed himself as the man to beat once again as he fought with the overall front runners throughout the race to consolidate his status as the club’s strongest ‘crosser.

Simon Douglas overcame a crash in warm up, and resulting mechanical issues, to finish second for the club and continue his strong 2011 cyclocross season.

And Tony Shortland secured his first top three finish for the club much to his team-mates delight.

Also competing were; Mick Clark, Andy Mussett, Keith Perry, Tim Smith, Sean Bradley, Dave Welch, Mark Beaver, Mark Robertson and Heather Storey.

This Sunday sees the series move to Box End Park and another race that will push athletes to their absolute limits.