Sunday saw four athletes from Hitchin based triathlon club FVS TRI compete in the British National Duathlon Championship at Emberton Park in Milton Keynes. The race, which is also part of the British Ranking Series and a qualifier for the European Duathlon Championships, saw a highly competitive field take to the start line in ideal weather conditions. Club coach and duathlon specialist Brian White was first home for the club in a time of 2:10:49, which was good enough to see the veteran athlete finish 110th overall out of the 308 finishers.
Fellow veteran athlete Andy Chatterton was next to cross the line for the club in 171st position overall, in a time of 2:17:36. A great result for Andy, as the race marked his duathlon debut. Michael Russell (2:21:14) and Chris Priestley, also veteran athletes, finished the 10km run, 40km two lap bike leg and final 5km run in 190th and 194th places respectively. Chris’s time of 2:21:36 saw him finish 4th in the 55-59 age category.
Seven athletes from the club took part in the Bedford Harriers Oakley 20 on Sunday, with FVS TRI’s very own ‘Ironman Legend’ Gavin May first home for the club in a time of 2:10:13, which resulted in a fantastic 12th place finish overall out of over 780 competitors.
Next to finish for the club and 160th overall was women’s veteran Samantha Tophill in a time of 2:33:47.Also competing were Kevin Smart (243rd in 2:42:16), Suzy Hawkins (261st in 2:43:53), Richard Thomas (462nd in 3:00:30), who described the course with tongue firmly in cheek as “undulating”, Naomi Woodland (508th in 3:04:51) and Drew Lowrie (525th in 3:05:59).
Also in action on Sunday was club athlete James Foy, who recorded a personal best time of 37:42 at the Cambridge Cambourne 10k to finish in a highly impressive 14th position overall out of 822 finishers.
Husband and wife club athletes, Richard and Lynn Allen, travelled to Norfolk on Sunday to race in the Diss Duathlon. The race, held over a 5km run, 30km bike and second 5km run, took place in ideal weather conditions on the gently rolling country lanes around Diss. Richard recorded a time of 1:43:51, with wife Lynn crossing the line in 2:00:28.
