Adam leads way for club triathletes
TRIATHLON GRAEME COURTNEY NO fewer than 10 Rossendale Triathlon club members benefitted from the glorious weather conditions last weekend while competing at events throughout the country.
Three members travelled to the seaside resort of Southport to compete in an Olympic distance triathlon. The 1500 metre swim took place in the Marine lake, the next discipline is the bike and this event benefits from a closed road bike section so there were no vehicles to trouble competitors on the 40 km route.
The 10 km run route followed tarmac paths around the marina. Adam Todd took club honours finishing with an overall time of 2 hours 23 minutes. Toby Hamer was next with an overall time of 2 hours 31 minutes. Club secretary Rob Quinn finished in an overall time of 2 hours 45 minutes.
Ashley Smith was just down the road competing in the Liverpool Marathon.
This was Ashley’s third marathon and the warm weather conditions didn’t prevent him from doing himself proud with a finish time of 3 hours 49 minutes.
Further South was Ian Greenwood who was at the Slateman Triathlon based in the Snowdonia National Park. This seriously tough event starts with a 1000 metre lake swim.
The bike route of 50 km takes in some steep mountain passes before the 13 km run ●● climbs up through the disused slate mines.
Ian posted a time of 3 hours 14 minutes, beating last year’s time. Ian was extremely pleased with his performance as due to injuries this was his first race since September last year.
Five members travelled to Nottingham to compete in the Outlaw Half event. The distances involved in this triathlon are a 1900 metre swim, 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run.
This well established event based at the excellent facilities of the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierre-point is very popular and normally sells out within hours. All five members achieved such great results it is difficult to know where to start!
Club head coach Patrick Walkington was the quickest with an astonishing sub 5 hour finish time of 4 hours 58 minutes.
Club press officer Graeme Courtney returned to beat his 2015 time and smashed it completely finishing in 5 hours 6 minutes. Another club member returning to the event and beating last year’s time was Mark Mounfield in 5 hours 20 minutes.
Both Mike Foran and David Smith had not competed at this distance previously, Mike finished in a respectable 6 hours 45 minutes.
David Smith however goes from strength to strength and added another trophy to his cabinet by finishing in a superb time of 5 hours 46 minutes placing him 2nd in his age group. ●●