ROUND-UP

A quiet month on the UK calendar saw numerous Brits heading overseas to race in warmer climes, and nowhere was the standard higher than Ironman 70.3 Dubai on 27 January. While the pro race saw a triumphant return for five-time ITU world champion Javier Gomez and yet another comfortable win for Kona course record holder Daniela Ryf, Brits dominated the age-group ranks with nine winners across all AG categories. Of special mention is Brian Fogarty, who outsplit Gomez on the bike with a blistering 2:02:45 for the 90km on his way to winning the 30-34 category in 4:04:01; and Aimee Wright, who finished a huge 9mins clear of second place in her 25-29 category in 5:15:12. Back in Blighty, the sprint-distance Westhill Duathlon on 22 January was won overall by Lewis Champion in 58:01, with Ian Russell and Davie Williamson also breaking the hour to complete the top three male finishers. In the women’s race, Katie Bain crossed the line a comfortable 2mins clear of second place to take the win in 1:03:57. At the first event in the Windsor Duathlon Series on the same Sunday, Roman Lacko and Tash Jackson won the standard-distance race in respective times of 1:57:34 and 2:14:44, while in the sprint event Hugh Mackenzie won the men’s race in 1:05:23, and pro Alice Hector was the women’s winner in 1:10:35.