Weekend Round Up - Ironman 70.3 UK, Windsor, Brownlee Tri and the Cotswold 113

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Some fantastic results from this weekends races around the UK!

The calm before the storm! L to R: Andy, Nikki, Philip, Fi, Jason, Chantal and Alan.


Danny (lapping Fi) posting the 2nd fastest run split of the day!
Jason on the run
Firstly, at Ironman 70.3 UK we had our team athletes racing, Danny Russell (PRO) and Jason Walkley (30-34 AG). Danny had a brilliant race (4.35), with a PB swim, a swift bike and the 2nd fastest run split of the day over the famously tough cross country course (1.17). But even with this blistering run split, he was just out of the prize money coming in 9th. This was a great opportunity for Danny to race against the best over the 70.3 distance, and we are certain that next year will bring exciting things for Danny, who is still new to triathlon and especially long distance triathlon. Jason, although disappointed himself, had a very good race too, with an overall time of 5.05, and 12th AG (easily the most competitive age group of the day with over 80 athletes competing).

Chantal reaching the top of the first set of climbs on Wimbleballs famously tough bike course

Philip
The Tri Training Harder directors had a very successful day too. Philip Hatzis PB'd over this course with an overall time of 4.48.10, getting him 2nd AG (just seconds off 1st!), as well as 4th amateur overall of the day. Fiona, despite no swim/run training to speak of, clocked in at 5.28.03 - all down to a blistering bike split (fastest amateur woman bike split of the day). Chantal performed extremely well too over all three disciplines, and although felt sick during the race, still pulled out a sub 5.30 time. Fiona came 10th overall amateur, Chantal 11th, and they placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the 18-24 age category.

Harriet on the run!
We had 4 coached athletes racing too- Adelle Isaacs, Harriet Teare, Nikki Dorey and Charlie Clayton. For all of them, this was their first race at Ironman 70.3 UK, and each one stepped up to the challenge fantastically well. Adelle with a 5.54 finish, putting her 6th AG (30-34), Harriet with a 6.27 finish, putting her 14th AG (30-34) and huge congratulations to Nikki, for whom this was her first ever half Ironman, finishing with a 5.43, enough for 2nd in her AG (25-29). Charlie couldn’t finish unfortunately due to injury and pulled out during the run, however his swim and bike were fantastic. We are sure he will be back before we know it! Philips brother Andy also raced his first half Ironman here on the weekend and completed in 6.26 after a gruelling run. A fantastic effort!
Fiona, with coached athletes Nikki, Adelle and Harriet

A big shout out to our training holiday athletes who were racing too- Paul Atkins, also known as the King of Foia, (3rd AG), Phil Tilley (17th AG) and Debroah Hope (16th overall) and a HUGE thank you to Sian Davies, who was on the run course volunteering – the shoe was on the other foot yesterday with Sian shouting us all on in our darkest moments!

Away from Wimbleball, we had more team athletes Elysia (PRO) and Eloise (PRO) battling it out at the Windsor Triathlon where they finished 12th and 17th respectively. Here, repeat training holiday offender Ade Grimmond won his AG too!

Students at our sponsored universites did well too, especially Joseph Perkins from Exeter, who won the 18-24 AG in a speedy 5.18. Loic Courtois and Oli Dammone from Oxford Univeristy both had very solid performances, despite an unfortunate DQ for Loic as he failed to serve a time penalty which he didn't realise he had. Lesson learnt!

Coached athletes Jo Griggs, Adam Watts and Phil Lester all competed in the Cotswold 113, Phil coming 23rd overall and Jo and Adam using this as a great preparation race for Ironman Zurich at the end of July. Training holiday athletes Helen Oxley, Andrea Havill and Claire Conway also completed this tough race- well done girls!

Over in Surrey, Natalie, Max and team athlete Harry were manning our stand at the Brownlee Tri Show, where we are the coaching partners. It was a hugely successful day- especially well done to everyone who completed the race as first timers, and we are looking forward to the Brownlee Tri North in September!

Natalie and Max with the Brownlee brothers at the Brownlee Tri South where Tri Training Harder was the coaching partner!

Congratulations to coached athlete Alex Cartney who raced in his first Olympic of the season in Nunsmere for a 28th place overall.

Holiday athlete Leman Harris also raced in the Weardale Sprint Tri yesterday, coming 16th overall, 6th in his AG and 4 minutes faster than last year!

And last but no means least, coached athlete David Sweeney PB’d over 10km on the weekend, another great bit of preparation and confidence building for Zurich! 

We take immense pride at seeing athletes that we have helped in one way or another achieve their goals - well done to everyone who raced over the weekend, especially those who were completing their first ever triathlon or doing a distance they have never done before.

Happy training and racing everyone!

The Tri Training Harder Team