Kentish Express Ashford & District
Records fall at Castle event
Duathlon
Records tumbled in the Chilham Castle Duathlon meeting on Sunday.
Named Club Event of 2016 by Triathlon England South East Region, it attracted hundreds of multisport athletes, runners and cani-cross (running with dogs) competitors running in a variety of events headlined by the duathlon.
Tri Spirit event director Liz King said: “We are proud and honoured to have received the award, because it gives a huge and well-deserved pat-on-theback to all of our Tri Spirit team who consistently help make the events friendly, fun and run smoothly.
“Without them our sponsors and volunteers, it would not be possible for them to even happen, let alone become awardwinning.”
Medway Tri’s Rory Hopcraft was first to run himself into the record books, winning the Men’s Sprint Duathlon in 1hr 18.03sec.
He finished a shade over four minutes ahead of runner-up Ian Reid (1:22.01), with Joel Hodges third, 28 seconds behind.
Jenny Benson, of Canterbury Harriers, followed up her victory in the Givaudan Ashford 10k, by winning the ladies’ event, in a record time of 1:33,16, ahead of Becky Morrish (Paddock Wood AC (1:36.08), and Davina Greenwell from Suffolk-based Hadleigh Hares (1.38.38).
Team winners were Team Buckley in 1:39.24.
Tri Spirit members involved were George Whelan, (1:42.09), Mike Blacker (1:44.36), Julie Bradford (1:52.15) and Steve Maxted (1:52.38).
Top age grouper and World Championship bound triathlete Claire Shea-Simonds made the trip from Leicester a rewarding one in a rare duathlon outing to win the Ladies’ Standard event in 2:40.46.
Tri Spirit’s Tara Symonds was second (3:05.04) with Karen Wale third (3:14.52).
Simon Shaw won the men’s race (2:17.07), followed by late entry Richard Arthur(2:22.14) and Steve Castle third (2:27.29).
Andrew and Richard Magro, with Rod Archibald won the team prize – in a record time of 2:12.06.
Tri Spirit’s Victoria Kenny won the 10k Challenge, in another course record, of 41.58, with Helen Bellerby-Brown, (Swale Tri Club) second lady home, ahead of Melina Matzawrakos in third (59.56).
Ashford & District RRC’s Jon Wells, won the men’s event and was second overall (45.33). ahead of Greg Wood,(Hythe Active),(46.47) and Oliver Riches (46.47)
Another Canterbury Harrier Yiannis Christodoulou, set a 5k Challenge record, winning in 20.48, ahead of Scott Lynch, Ashford & District RRC 21.26, with Simon Parrin, 20 seconds behind (21.46).
Clare Berostad (30.50) won the ladies’ race, with Olivia Windle (35.34) and Hannah Baker (36.12).
New this year was cani-cross event – running with dogs.
Natalie Songhurst (Kent Canicross) won the 10k (1.10.32) and Hayley Empett (Dogfit Ashford) was first in the 5k in a time of 22.46.