25th June 2007

European Bronze for Katy

FVS TRI’s Katy Pike won a Bronze Medal in the Belgium based ETU European Long Distance Triathlon Championships in the 30-34 age group. Katy completed the 3k swim, 80k bike and 20k run in 5:19:16 which was good enough for 257^th overall. Also competing for GB was Kevin Smart who completed the race in 4:43:03 and was 25^th overall in the 35-39 age group. Kevin will now rest up before competing over the full IronMan distance in Austria in early July.

IRONMAN SWITZERLAND

Marc Trussell became the latest member of FVS TRI to claim his IRONMAN status completing the Switzerland race in an excellent first time of 12:32:41. The 3.8k swim was completed in 1:15:35, 112mile bike in 6:35:08 and the full marathon to finish in 4:22:11. Marc is delighted with his performance in the ultimate test for a triathlete.

DAMBUSTER

9 members of FVS TRI competed in the Rutland Water based Dambuster Olympic Triathlon which doubled as an age group  world championship qualifier for 2007 and 2008, ensuring a high quality field.  Charles Harris was first home for the club in an excellent 2:10:28 for the 1500m lake swim, 42k bike and 9.6k run. Seasoned GB age group campaigner Richard Melvern achieved a qualifying slot in the 60-64 age group with an excellent 2^nd place in age group with a 2:26:18.  First female was Samantha Tophill in 2:38:23, just beating Chris Yuill who finished in 2:39:37.

CYCLING

3 members of FVS TRI completed the tough Dragon Ride, taking in 200k of Welsh scenery and over 2800m of climbs including 3 UK category 1 climbs, all great preparation for the upcoming Etape event which is a race over one of the hardest stages of the 2007 Tour De France. Paul Gibb was first home in 7:03:52, Steve James 7:15:09 and Pete Timmins in 8:05:54

John Burgess was 2^nd in the Ashwell Mid Week 10 mile TT in a time of 25:44, slightly slower than previous due to newly gravelled road surface.

RUNNING

Brenda Bozwood Davies was 3^rd FV55 in the Marston Forest 5k in a time of 27.21

18th June 2007

EUROPEAN DUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS

FVS TRI’s Lesley Dutton represented GB in the 45-49 Age Group at the European Duathlon Championships hosted in Edinburgh. The tough, technical, windy and wet course saw many seasoned competitors retiring before the finish. Lesley finished 9^th overall in the competitive veteran’s age group for the run/bike/run event but found the 25 mile bike circuit tough having to climb Edinburgh’s famous Arthur’s Seat 4 times in wind and driving rain. With the ambulance out on the course to attend to a number of incidents, Lesley was pleased to negotiate the bike safely and finish the event with a strong 5 k run placing her 7^th in age group, the same as for the opening 10k run. Particularly pleasing were her fast transition times between the run and bike sections which gained her invaluable time with 2^nd and 4^th fastest times in age group for the 2 transitions.

WINDSOR OLYMPIC

Kerri Renshaw continued her excellent form with a win in the 30-34 age group and 3^rd place overall in the women’s event at the Windsor Triathlon. The 1500m swim was in the River Thames and was followed by a 40k bike and 10k run around the grounds of Windsor Castle. Kerri completed the event in 2:22:15 just behind Mike Utton who was first home for the club in a PB of 2:20:27. Chris Baxter earned a PB with a 2:24:36 just ahead of Jeremy Lintott (2:26:21) and Darren “Woody” Woodhall (2:27:40). Christina Meade made her debut at the distance and finished in an excellent 3:13:18 for 1489^th from the 1600 entrants.

 HALF IRONMAN UK

Penny Wylie and Mark Robertson competed in the UK Half IRONMAN championships on Exmoor, part of the World 70.3 Series and a qualifier for the Florida based World Championship finals. The 70.3, so called as it represents the number of miles competed (1.2 swim, 56 bike, 13.1 run) is a tough event that attracted over 1200 starters. Mark Robertson was an excellent 163^rd overall and 10^th in the 18-24 age group with a time of 5:46:56. Penny Wylie continues to show form over the longer events with a 6:21:21 which placed her 6^th in the very competitive 40-44 age group and 369^th overall, only just missing out on qualification for the World Championship final later in the year.

TOUR OF COTSWOLDS

Tanya Morris-Jones completed the 102 mile Tour of the Cotswolds which included 2500m of climbing in 7hours and 12 minutes

11th June 2007

FVS TRI WINNING WEEKEND!

FVS TRI’s Steve Harrison had a big weekend winning the second Trisports Bedford Sprint on Sunday morning having competed in the British Elite Championships at Tredegar in Wales on the previous afternoon.  Steve managed 23^rd overall in a time of 2:00:30 for the National Championships racing against the best triathletes in the UK and won by current World Champion and Olympic Gold Medal hopeful Tim Don. The race was a tough 10 lap bike circuit and fast 4 lap run following a 1500m swim in lake previously used for coal and iron ore mining before regeneration and redevelopment. Steve hopes to qualify for the final showpiece event of the Corus Elite Series based around the 2012 Olympic course in Hyde Park in July. 

Despite the exhaustion of competing in Wales, Steve drove home in the evening to represent his Club the following morning at the 2^nd of 3 Trisports Bedford Sprint events. He won for the second month running over the 400m pool swim, 24k bike and 5k run and now leads the series sponsored by Letchworth based triathlon retail specialist Trisports who also support Steve with a full triathlon package including bike.  Kerri Renshaw was 2^nd female overall for the second month and consolidated her second place in the Series. Anna Priestly and Brenda Bozwood Davies continued their excellent form to take age group wins in the veterans. Mark Robertson improved to gain a second in the competitive 20/24 age group with 8^th overall. New member Peter Bardell was 23^rd overall just behind returning member Kevin Holt in creditable 16^th. FVS TRI supported the local race organiser with marshals and officials as well as entering 20 competitors for the event.

 Full Results

Simon Hall recorded his fastest time in 5 years to finish 7^th in the Wantage Triathlon over a 800m pool swim, 30k bike and 12k run. The event also incorporates a “King of the Hill” competition on the run to the top of the Ridgeway and Simon was a best ever 3^rd. Sam Tophill won the female vet category and Helen Shulver was 10 minutes faster than her previous best despite a slower swim.

Mike Russell was 13^th from 206 finishers in the St Albans Sprint Triathlon and Mark Young was 46^th in a time of 1:38:58 for the St Albans Half Marathon held on the same day. Also competing over the half marathon distance was John Burgess who finished the Southend Half in 1:35:40.

FVS TRI cyclists Dave Hard ,Kev Smart, Kev Ash, and Tim Smith completed the 118 mile Highclere Castle Victor Ludorum Sportive, in 6:50:03 including over 6400 feet of climbs in 80 degree heat through the countryside of Hampshire and Berkshire.

2nd June 2007

FVS TRI WINNING WEEKEND!

Athletes from Hitchin based FVS TRI triathlon club recorded 4 wins over the weekend with members racing at 9 competitive events at 5 venues.

Martyn Hynes won the Blenheim Male Supersprint event beating 162 other males over the 400m lake swim,12.9k bike and 2.6k run all based in the grounds of Blenheim Palace.

Kerri Renshaw was 2^nd female overall and winner of the 30/34 age group in the Weymouth Middle Distance Triathlon over 1.9k sea swim, 54 mile bike and half marathon run over 13.1 miles.

Ian Mackerness (40/44) and Richard Melvern (60/64) were both age group winners at Milton Keynes Sprint in the World Championship Qualifier over the 750m lake swim 20k bike and 5k run

MILTON KEYNES TRIFEST

The main competition over the weekend was at the Milton Keynes TRIFEST with 4 separate events held over the weekend culminating in the main World Championship Qualifier Sprint Triathlon Event.  Jon Gillham took up the challenge and completed all 4 events coming 2^nd overall for the combined times for the Aquathlon (750m swim/5k run), Open Water Swim (1k), 10k run all completed on the Saturday with the Sprint Triathlon finishing off the weekend events! Not only did Jon complete all 4 events in style he also managed to have the 2^nd fastest transition from swim to bike in the Sprint event completing the changeover from wetsuit to bike in just 40 seconds!  FVS TRI was well represented in the sprint event with 25 members competing across all the age groups from 364 starters. In addition to the age group winners of Ian Mackerness (1:02:54) and Richard Melvern (1:09:34), Chris Yuill was first female for the Club in 1:15:42 over 5 minutes faster than the May event over the same course. Charlie Harris was 2^nd home for the club in 1:03:33 in 24^th overall and 6^th in 35/39 age group. Mark Robertson was 3^rd with a 2 minute improvement from May with a 1:05:09 for 45^th and 7^th in the 20/24 age group. Coach Mic Clark made a welcome return to form in his 40^th year in which he intends to compete over all the triathlon distances from sprint to Ironman. He finished 106^th in 1:10:05.

In the Aquathlon event over 100 competitors raced the 750m lake swim and 5k run.  Anna Priestly achieved qualification for the World Aquathlon Championships and received her Bronze Medal from British Triathlon Federation President Sarah Springman

Jon Gillham times for the other 2 TRIFEST results were 40:52 for the 10k road run and 16:25 for the 1000m open water swim race.

WEYMOUTH MIDDLE DISTANCE TRIATHLON

Kerri Renshaw didn’t quite mange to achieve her aim of winning the 2007 event, repeating her 2^nd place overall and age group win from 2006. The event was tough with a 1.9k sea swim to start followed by a 54 mile bike and half marathon to finish. Kerri finished in 4:39:24 just behind Mike Utton who was first home for the club in 4:34:40 for 52^nd overall from the 299 starters. Simon Patenall was 01^st in 4:50:22 and distant members Katy Pike and Pete Timmins also flew the FVS TRI colours in Dorset finishing with 5:15:25 for 179^th and 5:27:24 for 220^th respectively.

 BALA MIDDLE DISTANCE TRIATHLON

Also competing over the middle distance event, Robbie Laughton travelled to Wales and completed the Bala event in 5:05:17 for the 2k lake swim, 78.5k bike and 20k run. Robbie was 170^th from 385 starters

BLENHEIM SPRINTS

In addition to Martyn Hynes lifting the overall win in the Blenheim Supersprint event, 3 members of FVS TRI also competed in the Sprint event over the longer course of 750m lake swim,19.3k bike and 5.2k run. Ed Corbett was first home for the Club in 1:25:37 with Tony Hewitson making his debut with a 1:32:05. Distant member Neil Rose recently returning back to the UK  from California finished in 1:32:46.  All Blenheim events are famous for their long transitions with a 600m run up hill from the lake in your wetsuit  to collect your bike form within the palace courtyard before heading off to cycle on the closed road circuit, 

HITCHIN NOMADS 25 Mile CYCLE  TT

Alex Turner continued his good form in the build of to the Etape with another sub hour 25 mile TT performance. In the Hitchin Nomads A1 based event Alex managed a 59:06 to average over 25 mph despite riding too and from the event!