Race Results August 2004

29^th August 2004

Bedford Classic Triathlon

1500m River swim/40k Bike/10k run

FVS TRI was out in force at the well supported local Bedford Olympic distance event with 13 members racing and a full quota providing great vocal support.

Jon Gillham, a member of the coaching team, was the first FVS TRI member home and finished a fantastic 17th out of 272 starters. This was a big improvement on his 25th position last year and also improved on his time from 2003 despite the course racing slower this year due to the conditions.

The 1500m out and back swim course in the River Ouse was particularly weed strewn this year causing some difficulties particularly for the less experienced swimmers.

Simon Patenall and Ed Manson chose this event for their Olympic debuts and raced very well despite the difficult swim and windy conditions on the bike course.

Mike Utton, still recovering from his bike accident at the London triathlon, was a welcome addition to the support squad and acted as team photographer for the day. Not so good news for Mike Blanden who also had a bike problem with spilt diesel on the first roundabout which lead to his early retirement from the race. This was a great shame as he had the 3rd fastest swim for the Club on the day and looked to be performing strongly as he has all season.

The Club Sunday ride was organised to coincide with the event and with all the supporters dressed in Club kit, FVS TRI certainly made a big impression.

Official times for the Club  

Sunday 22nd August

Milton Keynes Duathlon  

10k run/40k bike/5.4k run 

FVS TRI took honours in the 35-39 and 40-45 age groups with Sam Tophill and Jackie Perry winning Gold Medals at the National Age Group Duathlon Championships held in Milton Keynes. Brian White and Gavin May were 6th and 8th respectively in the 45-49 and 35-39 age groups. 

The tough run/bike/run multi sport event was held at the same venue as the recent Milton Keynes Triathlon and so both Sam and Jackie had the benefit of having raced over the bike course only last month. 

For Jackie this crowns a successful year in Duathlon having represented GB in her age group at the World championships in Belgium.  

Sam and Brian, better known for their outstanding running performances with Fairlands Valley Spartans, both had great races and consolidated their presence in the multi sport event. The Club look forward to great things in 2005! 

Although Gavin was disappointed with his performance, following a 2 week lay off with illness; he can now focus on the hard work ahead in the next few weeks as he starts the build up for Ironman Hawaii in October. 

The official times 

Sunday 22nd August

Milton Keynes Sprint Triathlon

750m lake swim/20k bike/5k run 

Russ Harwood made a welcome return to competitive triathlon with an excellent 8th in the 35-39 age group in 1:13:35.

Rolly Tabiliran was 12th in the same age group in 1:18:39. 

The run was held on the same course and at the same time as the Duathlon which was a little confusing for the supporters! 

Official times

Sunday 22nd August

Half Ironman UK Sherborne Castle

1.2m lake swim/56m bike/ 13.1m run

Fantastic 4^th for Penny!

Penny Wylie moved up a distance to compete in her first Half Ironman event and finished in a fantastic 5:28:57. This was much faster than she expected and meant that she finished a remarkable 4th in her age group. 

Penny attributes her success to keeping it easy on the hilly bike section which preserved her legs for the outstanding half marathon to finish the event. 

Jim Rees continued his excellent performances with a 15th in the competitive 40-45 age group and 115th overall from 1419 finishers.  

Andrew Forster finished well in 371st and all credit to Andy Colville who finished in 6:02:15 having struggled in the run.  

Sunday 15th August

HITCHIN NOMAD OPEN 25

25 Mile Cycling Time Trial 

Early Sunday morning start for the 8 members of FVS TRI who competed in this cycling event held up and down the A1 north of Baldock. 

The strong headwind on the southern 1^st leg proved a little testing but the northern home leg was boosted by the same wind and helped provide PBs for Jon Gillham and Keith Perry with all members of the team beating the magical 20mph average speed. 

Brian White, had an impressive debut  with a time of  1:08:15 (21.98mph) setting him up nicely for the National Age Group Duathlon Championships (Run/Bike/Run) next weekend at Milton Keynes. Brian has adjusted well to the multi-sport event having suffered injury problems last year which prevented him from running competitively at his usual high level. 

FVS TRI had the biggest team entry and all raced in the Clubs new impressive race kit. 

Saturday 14th August

ETON GOLD CUP

800m lake swim/30k bike/7.5k run 

Michelle Pratt returned to great form after a well needed holiday to record an impressive 5^th from 42 female starters at the Eton College Rowing Lake based event. 

Total time of 1:51:06 was made up of an 18:19 swim, 55:08 bike and 37:39 run.

CAMBRIDGE TRIATHLON

1500m lake swim/38k bike/10k off road run

4 members of FVS TRI braved the muddy off road run to compete in the Cambridge triathlon.

Sam Tophill recorded an Olympic PB with a time of 2:20:06 and partner Simon Hall also improved on his 2003 time with a 2:09:59. Andrew Forster finished in 2:12:08

Darren (Woody) Woodhall was the 4^th FVS TRI member and his time will be confirmed when the official results are published.

Sunday 8th August 

Norseman Xtreme Triathlon

Probably the toughest triathlon in the world!

3.8k Fjord swim/180k bike/42.2k run – finish up a mountain! 

*** Adam Laycock 1^st Brit home ***

An Ironman distance event with a difference! Adam Laycock and Michael Clark, both GB internationals over the long course event were attracted to this ultimate challenge when they read a review of last year’s race in 220 triathlon Magazine. 

This was only the second time the Norwegian event has been held and it is the world’s northernmost iron-distance event being on the same latitude as Anchorage Alaska 

On Saturday the 92 competitors were taken by boat the 3.8k onto the 400m deep Hardangerfjord and then had to swim back to change over to their bikes. There were originally 120 entrants but some failed to start the race when they viewed the severity of the challenge. Only 83 were to finish the event 

The 180k bike leg started with a brutal 1200m climb in the first 20k and being a point to point event, incredibly the bike course was into a headwind for the whole way. This was topped by the marathon distance run leg finishing with 17k up a mountain and the last 4k scrambling up scree to finish at the mountain top before taking the cable car home! Total ascent for the race was 5000m. 

Adam Laycock was an incredible 20^th overall and 1^st Brit home in 14:35:20. Mick Clark was 36^th and 4^th Brit in a time of 15:32:04. The results are even more remarkable as most competitors took advantage of the special concession allowing supporting vehicles providing aid along the way. Adam and Mick completed the event unsupported taking advantage only of the aid supplied by the organisers.  For the record the winner was former 9 times World Mountain Bike Champion Rune Høydal who won in a time of 11:30:08.  

Adam completed the Longest Day iron distance event last month in just over 10 hours which demonstrates how hard the guys were working this weekend! 

Official times 

Sunday 8th August

SWANAGE OLYMPIC TRIATHLON

1500m sea swim/40k bike/10k run 

Penny Wylie suffered in heavy seas to record a time of 2:36. Disappointed by her time she still managed to finish 12^th lady (provisionally) in a field containing 60 female competitors.

Penny will now concentrate on the Half Ironman Distance in her build up to Sherborne later this month. 

Tuesday 3rd August

MILTON KEYNES Summer Duathlon

2mile run/5 mile bike/2 mile run 

Brian White completed his first event for FVS TRI and came home 1^st vet and 5^th overall.

The normal 10 mile bike had to be reduced to 5 miles due to the heavy rain on Tuesday evening.

Brian’s time of 40:20 was made up of 11:46 run/16:59 bike/11:35 run. Pretty impressive debut!

Sunday August 1st

LONDON TRIATHLON

OLYMPIC 1500m open water swim/40k bike/10k run

Mixed fortunes for FVS TRI at London with Kevin Holt a superb 4^th in his age group (17-24) and Mike Utton rushed off to hospital after being forced off his bike.

Kevin Holt, fresh from International duty over the Long Course, finished in 2:12:05, just outside the medals in his debut Olympic distance triathlon. A strong swim meant Kevin was leading out of the water. Being used to racing a much longer bike course, he fell back a little only to catch up again on the run section. Great result for Kevin and FVS TRI.

Strong swimmer Mike Utton was also well placed when he was forced into the kerb as he avoided another bike. Mike broke his collar bone and was also concussed.

Colin Cumberland competing in his 2^nd Olympic triathlon improved his time to 2:39:06 with Mike Arnott completing his first ever triathlon in 2:55:16. 

SPRINT 750m open water swim/20k bike/5k run

New member Guy Adams completed his first triathlon for FVS TRI in 1:20:50 with a 11:17 swim, 41:29 bike and 23:00 run.

Sue Gipson, returning from injury, improved on her time of last year to finish in 1:33:49

Sunday August 1st

St Albans Triathlon

400m pool swim/20k bike/5k run

FVS TRI were out in force at the St Albans Triathlon organised by local rival Club Tri-Force Herts.

Dave Brown in his first triathlon was 1st FVS TRI member home in 1:10:45. Lesley Dutton also completed her first tri event in a time of 1:22:29. 

Returning for a second year the Perry family all earned 3 minute+ PBs showing the effects of good training!