Wilson Wins
Saturday saw the second round of the FVS TRI club championship take place at The Beaver Middle Distance Triathlon. The event, which is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the toughest middle distance triathlons in the country, took place in hot and humid conditions over a 2km swim, 80km bike and 20km run that tested the resolve of all who competed on the gruelling multi-lap course in the grounds of Belvoir Castle and surrounding area.
In total; 27 athletes from the club took part, with Rob Wilson finishing first for the club in a superb time of 4:51:36 for 29th place overall and 1st male in the club championship, as well as 1st male in the 40-44 age group. Chris Baxter was 2nd male for the club in a time of 5:00:17, with Kevin Smart rounding out the club championship podium in 3rd; recording a time of 5:16:35 in the process.
1st woman in the club championship was Suzy Hawkins, who was victorious in a superb time of 5:16:58, followed by Helen Shulver in 5:30:27, who finished 1st female in the 35-39 age group, with a great 3rd place going to Penny Wylie in a time of 5:42:31.
The race also marked the middle-distance debuts of; Chris Priestley, who set a highly impressive time of 5:40:07, Mick Humphries in an equally impressive 5:47:01, Stuart Sprawson (5:53:55), Simon Douglas (6:02:53), Ian Hobbs (6:16:59), Pete Eames (6:25:30), Steve Mussett (6:32:29), Ed Manson (6:35:30) and Anna Priestley who set a time of 6:47:23 to finish 2nd female in the 50-54 age group.
Full results: Rob Wilson (4:51:36), Chris Baxter (5:00:17), Kevin Smart (5:16:35), Suzy Hawkins (5:16:58), Simon Shaw (5:17:06), James Grierson (5:19:59), Chris Suckling (5:22:55), Mark Young (5:28:51), Robbie Laughton (5:29:41), Helen Shulver (5:30:27), Greg Evans (5:37:19), Shawn Reader (5:37:30), Chris Priestley (5:40:07), Penny Wylie (5:42:31), Samantha Tophill (5:44:39), Mick Humphries (5:47:01), Richard Thomas (5:48:04), Stuart Sprawson (5:53:55), Simon Douglas (6:02:53), Tony Shortland (6:04:44), Andrew Lowrie (6:07:18), Mark Beaver (6:11:42), Ian Hobbs (6:16:59), Pete Eames (6:25:30), Steve Mussett (6:32:29), Ed Manson (6:35:30), Anna Priestley (6:47:23).
As part of the same event weekend there was also an Olympic distance race taking place, with the aptly named Little Beaver Olympic Distance Triathlon. The race, a qualifying event for the World Championships, was held over the same course but with the shorter standard distances of 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run.
First home for the club, in her debut over the Olympic distance and only her second triathlon, was Gemma Sargent in an excellent time of 2:35:57. Pete Ryan was next across the line for the club in 2:40:05, with Naomi Woodland completing the club’s presence in the event with a time of 2:44:22.
Also on Saturday; Ironman Legend Gavin May lived up to his title by completing Ironman Lanzarote in an awesome time of 11:05:22. The event, which is recognised as being the toughest Ironman event in the world, took place over an epic 3.9km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run and also saw fellow FVS TRI member Adam Laycock take part. Adam’s race was massively compromised by a puncture on the bike leg that meant a finishing time of more than 13 hours.
On Sunday, six athletes from the club took part in the Big Cow Sprint Triathlon. First to complete the 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run was club coach Simon Hall, who set a rapid time of 1:11:29 to finish in 41st place overall out of 253 finishers. Also competing were; Will Long in a PB time of 1:20:11, Sean Bradley (1:22:49), Anna Holden (1:25:12), Kevin Bradley (1:28:11) and Greg Blount (1:34:23).
Bank Holiday Monday provided six members of the club a chance to stretch their legs in the Hatfield Broad Oak 10k Road Race. First home for the club was Mike Russell in a great time of 39:23. Fresh from her Olympic distance triathlon debut two days before; Gemma Sargent set a new PB time of 41:47. David Welch crossed the line in 44:15, with Jackie Perry impressing with a time of 44:40 for 3rd in the Super Vet category. Making a great recovery from injury, Club Chairman Keith Perry was next home for the club in a time of 45:44. And finally; Graham Perry improved his previous Personal Best by over 6 minutes with a superb time of 48:38.
Saturday saw Ryan Johnson take part in the North Road Cycling Club Memorial Trophy Sporting 25. Ryan completed the undulating 25 mile cycling time trial in 1:26:35.
Five members of the club took part in the Stevenage Cycling Club Evening 10 Time Trial Series on Wednesday night, with Rob Wilson finishing 1st in an excellent time of 23:53. Also competing were; Tim Smith (26:11), Mike Russell (26:30), Dil Wetherill (27:05) and Suzy Hawkins (27:34).
Last Sunday saw veteran athlete Brenda Bozwood-Davies win her age group at the Eton Super Sprint Triathlon in a time of 1:35:16.
| Position | Name | Swim | T1 | Bike | T2 | Run | Total |
| 29 | ROBERT WILSON | 00:36:54 | 00:01:50 | 02:36:58 | 00:01:00 | 01:34:53 | 04:51:36 |
| 41 | CHRISTOPHER BAXTER | 00:39:20 | 00:01:07 | 02:40:40 | 00:00:55 | 01:38:13 | 05:00:17 |
| 76 | KEVIN SMART | 00:37:15 | 00:02:14 | 02:46:28 | 00:01:17 | 01:49:20 | 05:16:35 |
| 78 | SUZY HAWKINS | 00:38:52 | 00:01:55 | 02:51:32 | 00:01:21 | 01:43:16 | 05:16:58 |
| 79 | SIMON SHAW | 00:38:36 | 00:01:07 | 02:54:45 | 00:00:56 | 01:41:41 | 05:17:06 |
| 85 | JAMES GRIERSON | 00:38:10 | 00:01:48 | 02:54:13 | 00:01:43 | 01:44:04 | 05:19:59 |
| 106 | MARK YOUNG | 00:47:43 | 00:02:31 | 02:52:41 | 00:02:00 | 01:43:54 | 05:28:51 |
| 110 | ROBBIE LAUGHTON | 00:40:24 | 00:01:53 | 02:54:03 | 00:01:35 | 01:51:45 | 05:29:41 |
| 112 | HELEN SHULVER | 00:40:53 | 00:01:57 | 02:51:55 | 00:01:05 | 01:54:37 | 05:30:27 |
| 126 | GREG EVANS | 00:42:01 | 00:02:00 | 02:59:48 | 00:01:45 | 01:51:43 | 05:37:19 |
| 129 | SHAWN READER | 00:43:57 | 00:02:24 | 03:04:35 | 00:01:28 | 01:45:04 | 05:37:30 |
| 137 | CHRIS PRIESTLEY | 00:46:48 | 00:02:03 | 02:58:38 | 00:01:32 | 01:51:04 | 05:40:07 |
| 142 | PENNY WYLIE | 00:37:07 | 00:01:59 | 03:00:54 | 00:01:27 | 02:01:02 | 05:42:31 |
| 148 | SAMANTHA TOPHILL | 00:43:39 | 00:01:19 | 03:15:08 | 00:02:01 | 01:42:31 | 05:44:39 |
| 153 | MICHAEL HUMPHRIS | 00:45:14 | 00:02:42 | 03:07:00 | 00:01:57 | 01:50:06 | 05:47:01 |
| 159 | RICHARD THOMAS | 00:42:02 | 00:01:33 | 03:04:29 | 00:01:46 | 01:58:13 | 05:48:04 |
| 174 | STUART SPRAWSON | 00:43:08 | 00:01:53 | 03:06:02 | 00:01:48 | 02:01:03 | 05:53:55 |
| 189 | SIMON DOUGLAS | 00:44:31 | 00:01:54 | 03:01:02 | 00:02:01 | 02:13:23 | 06:02:53 |
| 191 | TONY SHORTLAND | 00:37:17 | 00:03:07 | 03:05:37 | 00:01:44 | 02:16:58 | 06:04:44 |
| 193 | ANDREW LOWRIE | 00:45:36 | 00:02:18 | 03:20:04 | 00:02:17 | 01:57:00 | 06:07:18 |
| 200 | MARK BEAVER | 00:42:49 | 00:01:46 | 03:13:09 | 00:01:13 | 02:12:44 | 06:11:42 |
| 207 | IAN HOBBS | 00:35:00 | 00:01:22 | 03:08:32 | 00:00:59 | 02:31:04 | 06:16:59 |
| 214 | PETE EAMES | 00:45:35 | 00:03:22 | 03:15:07 | 00:05:38 | 02:15:45 | 06:25:30 |
| 220 | STEVE MUSSETT | 00:48:05 | 00:01:59 | 03:16:46 | 00:04:34 | 02:21:03 | 06:32:29 |
| 223 | EDWARD MANSON | 00:45:50 | 00:02:09 | 03:30:01 | 00:02:38 | 02:14:49 | 06:35:30 |
| 228 | ANNA PRIESTLEY | 00:46:21 | 00:02:41 | 23:57:20 | 03:45:35 | 02:15:24 | 06:47:23 |
Race Report: Bam
