Clear and crisp conditions met athletes from Hitchin based triathlon club Team Trisports (competing under former name FVS TRI) on Sunday as they took to the startline of the penultimate round of this Winter’s cross-country championship at Royston Heath.
Returning refreshed from her recent trip down-under, Sarah Stimpson was once again in peerless form as she won the women’s event in a superb time of 35:42, a margin of nearly two minutes over her nearest female competitor! Her time also meant a finishing position of 18th overall and the third club member to finish, male or female.
Kate Turner and Gemma Sargent finished in second and third for the club in the women’s event, with times of 40:13 and 40:23 respectively.
In the men’s event, elite athlete Stephen Harrison produced a fine display to finish 3rd overall, and first for the club, in a time of 32:07. James Foy was also in strong form as he recorded a time of 35:07 to finish 15th overall and second club male. The third male to cross the line for the club was Steffan Ford in 36:16.
Another strong display by the club’s female athletes meant that they finished in 1st place in the Women’s A Team and Masters Team events; a position they also hold in the championship overall.
In the men’s events, strong running secured 2nd place in the Men’s A Team and B Team events and 3rd in the Masters Team event. In the overall championship, the men hold 1st place in the A Team and B Team events and 2nd in the Masters Team event.
With the club also winning the overall competition, Team Trisports will be looking for a big turn out from its athletes at the final round of the championship held in Watford on 21 February, to ensure the best possible chance of winning the trophy for the second year running.
Full Results: Stephen Harrison (32:07), James Foy (35:07), Sarah Stimpson (35:42), Steffan Ford (36:16), Andy Chatterton (36:34), James Grierson (36:45), Gavin May (37:29), James Bedford (37:30), Mike Russell (37:33), Steve Chalk (38:57), Charlie Harris (39:33), Chris Baxter (40:03), Kate Turner (40:13), Gemma Sargent (40:23), Andy Mussett (41:10), Ed Manson (42:06), Rob Davies (42:11), Jane Chappell (42:31), Darren Greene (42:39), Mick Humphris (42:48), Rachel Armstrong (42:57), Katy Jinx (43:25), Lesley Dutton (43:47), Max Lapoutre (44:33), Mark Beaver (44:37), Pete Eames (44:38), Drew Lowrie (45:15), John Wilson (45:16), John Rose (45:20), Ian Hobbs (45:40), Simon Douglas (45:48), Anna Holden (46:29), Paula Adams (47:19), Steve Rust (47:23), Keith Perry (47:52), Karen Dodsworth (48:02), Will Long (48:29), Darren Woodhall (49:23), Tim Smith (49:26), Jackie Perry (49:35), Richard Thomas (49:36), Steve Mussett (50:18), Kim Humphris (50:28), Tony Shortland (51:23), Lisa Dunne (51:37), Paul Dutton (52:13), Anna Priestley (52:30), Alyson Sprawson (53:22), Meline Fletcher (62:56).
From cross-country to crossbars; club coach and cycle ace Alex Turner raced in round five of Imperial Winter Series at the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit on Saturday and finished a superb 6th overall in the 3rd Category race.
Race report by: Simon Douglas