LAUGHTON IS THE (VITRUVIAN) MAN
With the 2009 triathlon season drawing to a close, athletes from Hitchin based triathlon club FVS TRI made the most of this season’s remaining events to secure some great results at the weekend.
On Saturday, Robbie Laughton clocked a superb time of 5:12:17 at The Vitruvian triathlon to finish in the top third of the field. The event, considered a classic race on the British triathlon calendar, is held over the middle distance of 1.9km swim, 85km bike and 21km run and took place at Rutland Water, Leicestershire.
Sunday saw female member Nina Pitcairn join the jet-set as she took to the start line of Ironman 70.3 Monaco. Making her debut over the half-ironman distance of 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run, Pitcairn set a time of 7:19:27 on the Principality course.
From the harbour of Monaco to the harbour of Norfolk; Pete Ryan competed at the North Norfolk Triathlon on Sunday and went below the 2:30 mark to record an excellent time of 2:25:10 for the Olympic distance race of 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run. Also racing at the event, veteran athlete Penny Wylie secured a great result to finish 2nd female overall, as well as 2nd female-vet, setting a time of 2:33:04 in the process.
Club athlete Graham Perry continued his strong 2009 season by clocking 1:22:40 at the Blackwater Sprint Triathlon on Sunday. The race, held over a 400m swim, 23km bike and 6km run, saw Perry go 14 minutes quicker than his first time at the event in 2007.
Sticking to a single discipline, James Bedford raced the Welwyn Garden City 10 road race on Sunday and set a time of 1:05:24 to finish 45th overall. Also competing were husband and wife Richard and Lynn Allen, with Richard finishing in 1:08:56 and Lynn coming home in 1:26:14.
Sunday also saw the grand finale of the Aquasphere Long Swim Series at Dorney lakes. Competing were Darren Woodhall and Greg Blount, who both achieved PB’s over the 3.8 kilometre swim. Woodhall finished 7th in his age-group in a time of 56:23, with Blount 6th in his age-group in 1:17. The four race series has taken place at various venues around the country this summer, with all races being over the 3.8km Ironman distance. Having completed all four swims, Blount placed 7th overall for the series in the super-vet category.
Ensuring club representation at a variety of event types, Dil Wetherill ran the Totley Exterminator on Sunday; a Category A fell race of 16 miles, including a 4000ft ascent and descent of the White Peak between Sheffield and Hathersage. Wetherill’s time of 2:52 saw him finish in 54th place overall.
And finally; Chris Suckling raced the famous Big Woody long distance triathlon on Saturday 29th August. The event, held over the full Ironman distance of 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run, saw Suckling set a great time of 12:02:19.
Race Report: Bam