Race Report W/E 26th August

Whilst some of us have been sizzling in the heat, others have been producing some sizzling results in last week’s races – forget the Vuelta and the Cricket. Athletics, triathlon, sportive and swimming filled the results hopper this time around.

But first, a reminder that we have a big September coming up. We have 3 London League races (1st, 8th and 22nd of September) and we need as many of you as possible to enter these. It doesn’t matter whether you’re winning trophies or chasing down the stragglers, we NEED THOSE POINTS! We also have the Fix Relays on the 21st September (great fun, and a chance to race alongside other club members in a team and push each leg with the unusual luxury of a break before the next one!) And NOT forgetting our own club event the Legs of Steel (29th September). We still need Volunteers to help run and marshall this great Surrey Hills sportive, and the more you can market it to cycling friends and clubs the better – it’s in a great cause!

 

 

Civil Service National Athletics Champs

Xavier Faux was competing out east in the Lee Valley Athletics Stadium in this year’s Civil Service track and field competition. Running the 5,000m, he finished in a cracking 18’29”, 8th overall and 2nd in his age group! Apparently he also took a punt at the 800m and 4x100m mixed relay.

 

 

Mad Hatter Events – Polkerris 3km Swim Cornwall

On Saturday, Rob Argles joined the Bank Holiday crowd and travelled down to Cornwall for a 3km Swim in Polkerris. Located on the South Coast, Polkerris enjoys the slightly calmer waters of the English Channel (and is a stone’s throw from St Austell and Fowey).

We’ll keep an eye out for the results, but Rob’s form so far this season should have put him in a good position versus the competing swimmers.

 

 

New Forest Rattler 2.5km swim (Ellingham Lake)

Still South-west, but slightly closer to home, Ruth MacDonald was swimming in the New Forest – 2.5km swim in Ellingham Lake (in the Ringwood corner of the national park, and the start of the main Middle Distance triathlon there).

Again, results aren’t up, but hopefully Ruth continued her strong set of performances so far this year – and found a good New Forest pub lunch!

 

 

Thames Turbo Race #2

The Thames Turbo sprint triathlon series offer one of the best nearly-local races money can buy. You don’t need a wetsuit; you’ll be familiar with the bike leg from club rides; and, the run is a nice flat 5k in Bushy Park. Comparing sprint tri times over the last 3 years, it is also one of the fastest sprints on offer!

Taking a break from longer distance triathlons, Sophie Kirk was our sole club member on the course today. She absolutely smashed it. Sophie came 21st overall, 2nd woman, in a great time of just under 1hr 5min!

 

 

Castle Tri Series – Chateau de Chantilly

The Castle Triathlon Series may be expensive, but they do offer some pretty cool venues to race at. James Bond aficionados, and anyone watching films in the 1980’s, will recognise the Chateau as the one where Roger Moore encounters Christopher Walken’s supervillain. Chantilly is also the original starting point for the Paris Roubaix bike race.

Castle Tri weekends are great in that they offer a broad range of race types and distances. This weekend, club member Sharon Booth was racing the Olympic Triathlon. A swim in the carp-filled moat is followed by a fast cycle around the rolling countryside (with a hint of pave in places), before a trail and cross-country style 10k finishes things off back at the Chateau.

Sharon had a strong swim followed by a tough run and bike in the heat to finish in just under 3hr 50min! This is her first race of the season, so a great platform to build on, and we look forward to more of her racing over the end of the season (come and do the Fix Relays in September!) and in 19/20.

 

 

Ironman 70.3 Dun Laoghaire

In dense Irish sea fog, Shane McCauley was racing Ironman’s middle distance event on the Emerald Isle. A swift 5hr 16min time saw him finish in the top 10% of his Age Group, and just outside the top 10% of the field overall. Great racing!

 

 

Ironman Vichy (Full and 70.3)

Finally, out in Vichy (home of spa products and spring water, amongst its more beneficial gifts to society), we had our long distance triathlon of the week. The weather was oppressive for this latest Ironman event. Temperatures hit 34’C by lunchtime, with high humidity in the morning and very little breeze to cool things down.

In this broiling atmosphere, Calum Williams and Daniel Venn ventured out racing in the full distance event.

Both achieved some great results. Calum was first in, finishing just over 11hrs, well within the top 20% of the field, and 20th out of a large age group! Daniel also had a great race, crossing the line in 12hr 50min!! Fantastic racing, especially in the conditions.

In the 70.3, we had Alistair Chappelle and former club member Luke Carey. Alistair continued in fine season form to finish in 4hr 31min, 35th overall and 5th in his age group! Emerging from the swim in 23rd (A/C) position, a monster of a bike leg and a rapid T2 saw him in 1st place. Sadly it wasn’t quite enough to hold off some stiff running competition, but Alistair did qualify for the 70.3 Worlds in Taupo!!

 

 

That’s it for another glorious week / weekend. Don’t forget that the club needs you (fast or less fast) for the 3 London League races in September, as well as the Fix Relays!

As usual, if I’ve missed you out or you have upcoming races please email me on fixtures@fulontri.com

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