INSIDE TODAY
Robert bags a Euro spot in Austria
Rattray’s Robert Harrison put in a strong performance at the European Middle Distance Triathlon Championship.
He completed the gruelling test of endurance, held earlier this month in Walchsee, Austria, in four hours and 20 minutes. The time – which comprised 30 minutes for the 1.2-mile swim, two hours 20 minutes for the 56-mile bike ride and one hour 26 minutes for the 13.1-mile run – was good enough to finish fourth out of 51 competitors in his age category.
Robert’s benchmark, just three minutes shy of securing a bronze medal, meant he was the highest-placed British athlete in the field, which means he has already booked a place at next year’s event.
Reflecting on the result – his best-ever performance on the European stage – Robert said: “Preparations for travelling to Austria had been going well. Two weeks prior to the race, I had taken part in the Scottish Middle Distance Championships – winning the 4049 years category and placing sixth overall out of 264.
“On the day of the race in Austria, I paced the swim fairly well, managing to stay in the middle of a pack most of the way round.
“I tend to find the swim my weakest element of the triathlon and, having collected my bike, was keen to make up some places quickly. However, while trying to overtake some slower riders just after the start, I had to weave to the outside of the lane clipping three traffic cones at speed in the process.
“As I struggled to maintain my balance I realised I would be given a time penalty if I strayed to the other side of the cones potentially into oncoming traffic.
“Thankfully, I managed to stay upright – missing the next cone – and continued on my way, analysing the road ahead very carefully.”
Robert continued: “I rode strongly through the Austrian hills and noticed that I had managed to drop a couple of my rivals in the British team who have scored podium finishes at the Europeans in previous years. This gave me some confidence and I realised that I was fairly high up in the field.
“When I reached the start of the run the temperature had risen into the high 20s and I made sure that I drank and poured water over myself at every aid station to try to keep my core temperature down.
“Despite just missing out on a bronze medal, I was really happy with my performance on the day. I really felt I had got the best result possible on the day and was pleased to see that – having been beaten by an Italian, a German and an Austrian – I was the top-placed finisher in the British team.”