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Tim Don wins 70.3 South American Champs

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The Don, on song, in Brazil While Susie Cheetham and Lucy Gossage were earning Silver and Bronze respectively at the Ironman African Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth, another British athlete took Gold in Brazil to complete a full set of medals across the two Ironman Championship events of the weekend. The Ironman 70.3 South American Championship took place in Palmas, and the increasingly impressive veteran, Tim Don, added another class performance over the 70.3 distance to his CV to take the win and the $14,000 first prize purse. A winner already this year with a third consecutive title at Ironman 70.3 Monterrey, Tim was part of a trio including Nils Frommhold (GER) and Leon Griffen (AUS) who would break clear on the bike and reach T2 with a three minute lead over Cody Beals (CAN), Santiago Acsenco (BRA), Ivan Rana (ESP), and Davis Breuer (GER). Always a classy runner, Don added the fastest half marathon of the day to the same in the swim for a hugely impressive and complete performance. Already an Ironman 70.3 World Championship podium finisher two years ago, he appears to be getting even more comfortable with the distance every time he races, and is driven by becoming a World Champion once again. My faces says it all hot hot 🔥🔥.Chuffed to Win 70.3 South American Champs pushed by @grifffo & @CFBeals all day🏁🇬🇧🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/i7LH4SPGZv— Tim Don (@trithedon) April 10, 2016 Like Don, eventual winner Magali Tisseyre (CAN) headed the women’s field out of the water, before adding to that the fastest bike split too. Only Germany’s Anja Beranak was able to keep the gap relatively close, with Tisseyre having a two minute advantage at T2. She held strong on the run too, coming home with a victory margin of almost four minutes at the finish. Ironman 70.3 South American Championship Palmas - Sunday 10th April 2016 1.9km / 90km / 21.1km Pos Men Women 1st Tim Don (GBR) 3:53:10 Magali Tisseyre (CAN) 4:21:17 2nd Leon Griffen (AUS) 3:56:49 Anja Beranek (GER) 4:25:04 3rd Cody Beals (CAN) 3:59:12 Linsey Corbin (USA) 4:28:02 4th Christian Horper (GER) 4:02:21 Lisa J Roberts (USA) 4:31:13 5th Ivan Rana (ESP) 4:03:13 Kirsty Jahn (CAN) 4:34:56

Ironman South Africa Gallery 2016

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IRONMAN South Africa - Port Elizabeth, Sunday 10th April 2016 In 2015, Ironman South Africa witnessed a British podium sweep through Jodie Swallow, Lucy Gossage and Susie Cheetham - and all three were back this year. A bike crash would eventually force an injured Swallow out of the race shortly after T2, while Cheetham (second) and Gossage (third) were pleased with their results behind first time Ironman champion, Kaisa Lehtonen (FIN). Here are some images from the day. (All images are copyright Getty Images for Ironman) The swim start on Hobie Beach, Nelson Mandela Bay Eventual winner Ben Hoffman in transition. After a Sub-nine hour debut at Ironman Barcelona last year, Kaisa Lehtonen is an athlete making huge progress. Though not satisifed with her bike ride yesterday, her 4:56:10 split was only bettered by eventual fifth place finisher Annabel Luxford. Tim van Berkel (AUS) and Ben Hoffman spent much of the marathon running stride-for-stride. Lucy Gossage leaves T2 and heads out on to the marathon. It was close all day, but 'The Hoff', Ben Hoffman, would taken victory in the men's race. Despite the best efforts of the British duo, Finland's Kaisa Lehtonen was a deserving winner and would not be caught. She broke her arm at Ironman 70.3 South Africa in January, yet returned to take second place thanks to a fine run. A stunning effort from Susie Cheetham. An always expressive Lucy Gossage, enjoying the finish line at a race that she didn't for a while think she would be fit enought to even start. Despite the pain, all smiles for Lucy Gossage (third) and Susie Cheetham (second) at the finish. Both had overcome injury issues just to make the start line.

Former GB triathlete heads Team Ford EcoBoost

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Nikki Juniper to lead Team Ford EcoBoost A women's cycling team with strong triathlon connections... British female cycling has had quite a few 'good news' stories recently, and long may they continue. At the top of tree, Lizzie Armitstead is the current UCI Road Race World Champion and just last weekend continued her awesome start to the 2016 season by winning the Tour of Flanders. This follows up on recent news that the Tour de Yorkshire one day race will offer a total prize purse of £50,000, with the Prudential RideLondon Classique subsequently matching the men's race - which is the richest men's one day race in the world - with a total of EUR100,000. Both of those are record figures in women's cycling. We've seen a relatively fluid transition of athletes between triathlon and cycling, especially within the female ranks, over many years now. High profile 'dual sport' champions include Emma Pooley, who started in triathlon, departed to win an Elite World TT Championship and Olympic Silver in cycling and has since returned to be the two-time and reigning ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon Champion (and may well pop 'back' for Rio 2016!). Bear in mind that when Emma finished third at Challenge Philippines in 2014 it was, at the time, a bigger pay cheque than anything she ever got in cycling. Ceris Gilfillan achieved success in both sports a few years back including making it to the Olympic Games, while just last year Ironman athlete Lucy Gossage set the second fastest female 100-mile time on record, while training for Kona. There are others too - Julie Dibens was a regular podium finisher in the National '10', while just last year we featured Age-Group triathlete Kate McNeill who seems to have really found her niche in the world of time-trialling. It is therefore great to get more good news today of several former 'triathletes' getting the support of motoring brand Ford, with the formation of Team Ford EcoBoost. The team is lead by Women's Elite National circuit champion, Nikki Juniper, a name that some of you who have been around for (many) years may well remember was an active Age-Group triathlete, before moving on to find great success in recent years within road cycling. We've got a who host of Nikki's race history online HERE. Team Ford EcoBoost will be competing in the 2016 British Cycling Women's Road Series and televised Tour series. As well as Nikki, several others in the team have had a background in triathlon including Adele Martin, Clover Murray and Anna Turvey. Look out for them through the year, and best wishes to all. You can follow the team on Facebook and Twitter. Ford has partnered with Women's Elite National circuit champion, Nikki Juniper to create an all-new cycling team Team Ford EcoBoost will compete in the 2016 British Cycling Women's Road Series and televised Tour series The Team Ford EcoBoost fleet consists of EcoBoost-powered Ford EcoSports, a Mondeo Vignale estate and a Transit Custom Limited van, to support all their racing and non-racing activities Ford today announced a new partnership in British cycling with the creation of Team Ford EcoBoost, a women's cycling team to be led by British Circuit race champion Nikki Juniper. The ten-strong team, which includes a mix of both senior and young development riders, will compete in a full calendar of race events this year throughout the UK and selected venues across Europe. "The creation of Ford Team EcoBoost is a great opportunity to continue to grow our involvement in cycling, complementing our Team Sky partnership, and helping to raise the profile of women in the sport," said Lisa Brankin, marketing director, Ford of Britain. "This relationship enables us to showcase Ford's vehicles at their very best, how they can meet the demands of those with active lifestyles and also the needs of a professional cycling team." The team's fleet of vehicles consists of three Ford EcoSports, all powered by the multi-award winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, and a top-of-the-range Mondeo Vignale estate with the powerful 240PS 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine. Both vehicles are suited to their tasks by being available to order with various transportation options including roof rails and bike carrying packs. The final vehicle, a Transit Custom double-cab-in-van, will be used to transport larger equipment and the team supplies as they head to race events around the country. The Team Ford EcoBoost fleet sports a distinctive blue, white and orange livery to match the team's race kit. "Ford is the perfect partner for us and we are delighted to be working together, to be able to build the team, and to have the support of a brand like Ford. I'm really looking forward to the 2016 Road Series, we have a couple of young development riders in the team and it's great to help the girls moving forward in their cycling careers," said Nikki Juniper, the team's leader. "The Team Ford EcoBoost fleet will play a crucial role for us this season, carrying equipment, spares, the team and of course our bikes." Team Ford EcoBoost will start competing in the National Series in April, at the Isle of Man GP, on Sunday Apr. 10 [UPDATE - where Nikki was second].

Video: Mario Mola's Gold Coast

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Gold Coast 2016 Highlights - Mario Mola wins his third consecutive World Triathlon Series event Alistair Brownlee: "I just had nothing today" Chicago Grand Final. Abu Dhabi. Gold Coast. Should there be any thoughts remaining that Spain's Mario Mola is a Sprint distance specialist, those stats eliminate that. Check out the highlights from another super performance below. While it was another classy display from Mario Mola, Saturday was a disappointing day for Great Britain's Alistair Brownlee. With 16 wins from 22 previous WTS Olympic Distance starts, Alistair's already off the scale stats are even more impressive over the 1.5km / 40km / 10km format - but he ended his day in 36th position after a 35:12 10km, in his first race back after surgery on his ankle in late 2015. "It was fantastic to be on the start line. Of course, I knew I wasn't going to be mega race sharp and knew I wouldn't be absolutely at my best... but I just had nothing today. I was really flat, maybe slightly overdone or something - that's how it goes I suppose. I don't think the heat was a problem today, I just had nothing there." ITU World Triathlon Gold Coast - Elite Men - Saturday 9th April 2016 1.5km / 40km / 10km Pos Men 1st Mario Mola (ESP) 1:46:28 2nd Fernando Alarza (ESP) 1:46:55 3rd Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 1:47:09 4th Ryan Bailie (AUS) 1:47:31 5th Ryan Fisher (AUS) 1:47:45 6th Joe Maloy (USA) 1:47:53 7th Vicente Hernandez (ESP) 1:47:58 8th Marten Van Riel (BEL) 1:48:01 9th Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 1:48:04 10th Gregory Billington (USA) 1:48:16

Video: Jenkins dominates Gold Coast

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Watch Helen Jenkins excel at Jewel World Triathlon Gold Coast It was, in my opinion, the best performance of her career from Helen Jenkins on Saturday. To cope with both the pressure of Olympic selection (which I had previewed in-depth last week), and to then produce an practically flawless performance to end the almost two year unbeaten World Triathlon Series winning streak of reigning, double World Champion Gwen Jorgensen is I think worthy of that praise. Read my full report on the race HERE - and watch the highlights below. Commenting on her race, Helen said: On the Swim: "I didn't have the best swim... at the first buoy I was way back, but I gave myself a bit of a talking to and managed to move up by the end of the first lap. I was next to Gwen and thought, that will be ok then." On the Bike: "It was so technical, it was just as hard sitting in as it was on the front. I felt better as it went on, but that bike really hurt." On Jodie Stimpson: "My heart breaks for Jodie as well. The team is not announced yet, but I think I've probably done enough today... it's so hard, our team is so strong, it doesn't seem fair that she might not be going to the Games." ITU World Triathlon Gold Coast - Elite Women - Saturday 9th April 2016 1.5km / 40km / 10km Pos Women 1st Helen Jenkins (GBR) 1:56:03 2nd Gwen Jorgensen (USA) +41 3rd Andrea Hewitt (NZL) + 43 4th Flora Duffy (BER) +55 5th Rachel Klamer (NED) +2:03 6th Katie Zaferes (USA) +2:11 7th Emma Moffatt (AUS) +2:44 8th Vendula Frintova (CZE) +3:03 9th Lisa Perterer (AUT) +3:04 10th Kirsten Kasper (USA) +3:06

Draft Legal Age-Group racing - are you ready?

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Age-Group Draft Legal racing - are you ready to embrace something new? Draft Legal qualification races for the ITU World Triathlon Championships Age-Group (Sprint) start on 22nd May 2016 As you may well be aware if you are one of our many readers seeking to qualify for the Great Britain (or indeed, any country), team for the upcoming Age-Group World Championhsips, there have been some significant changes made which come into force this year. For the ITU Duathlon World Championships (Aviles, Spain) and the ITU Triathlon World Championships (Cozumel, Mexico), the SPRINT distance events at both World Championship events for Age-Groupers will now be held under the Draft Legal format. It's fair to say that when that decision was announced, it generated lots of... discussion! Some have been predicting carnage ("triathletes can't ride a bike"), along with a double dose of outrage, while others have said "embrace change, try something different - you might enjoy it." Will it be carnage? Let's see how it has gone so far... Changes to Championship race formats also mean a requirement to amend the format of qualification races - with it being more difficult to host Draft Legal events due to finding appropriate venues and/or road closures. The qualification events for the ITU Duathlon World Championships (Sprint) have already been held this year at Oulton Park and Bedford Autodrome and with the three ITU Triathlon World Championship (Sprint) qualifiers starting with the Human Race Eton Dorney event on 22nd May, I thought it was prime time to get some feedback on how things have actually gone so far. To do that, I asked regular GB Age-Group representative Tom Stead for his thoughts. Tom was the British Triathlon Age-Group Athlete of the Year in 2014, and has been a Gold medallist at both the European (2015) and World (2014) Duathlon Championship, as well as the European Triathlon Championships - all over the Sprint distance. Perhaps more relevent in this instance, Tom excels on bike and his fastest bike splits have been key to his successes to date. As a (relatively...) weaker swimmer and runner, the format changes should impact him (adversely) more than most. Having raced at both Oulton Park and Bedford, he admits, that he has enjoyed them: "I have to admit - I was a sceptic! I've done a few road races/crit races and although they were fun, they were crazy dangerous as I was riding with people who, essentially, were beginners that 'couldn't' handle their bike. In almost all the races I've done, someone has fallen off their bike and broken a bone! This is why I was a bit concerned going into the draft legal (multisport) races this year... "That all being said, I really enjoyed the two draft-legal races I've done this year. It's a completely different type of racing as it suits the 'runners' down to the ground and isn't amazing for the likes of me; being a cyclist. But I thought I'd give it ago anyway! Aside from one rider going down right in front of me whilst he's reaching for a bottle (I think that's what people mean when they say 'triathletes can't ride bikes'), they actually went a lot smoother than expected and can really work in the future when it comes to triathlons too. The only issue comes, when trying to find the right course, which has a lake next to it, but wide enough to be safe to ride in groups! "Personally, I'm looking forward to doing more draft legal races, but will always go into them with caution! Even though they're awful for me... as I don't win as much!" Another familiar face on the Age-Group scene is Gary Walker, a member of the ERDINGER Alkoholfrei team. Gary has written an excellent feature - 'Are you drafting or grafting? - in which he says: "Revisiting my thoughts on draft-legal racing, it has taught me a few lessons. It emphasised what I already knew – that I had to get run fit, but that this will come with time following my injuries. I hope it is here to stay, but I hope non-drafting is too. It takes a different mentality and adds dimension to your racing. Ideally, I'd like to see the world championship qualifying events as draft legal but the Europeans to remain non-drafting." He also has some advice for you: "My tip for riding together is to work smoothly! Don't sprint to get past the man who has just had their turn on the front, and don't break them… work with each other! Trust me, it will help you! Once you have taken your turn, back off, drop back and keep the line moving. Simple!" His opening line also pretty much mirrors my own personal thoughts on this: "Whatever your opinions on draft-legal, it is important to keep an open mind – and whether you think it will kill age-group multisport racing or improve it for the better, don't dismiss it until you have tried it." Draft Legal Qualifiers for the 2016 ITU World Championships (Sprint Distance) in Cozumel Eton Dorney, Human Race - Sunday 22nd May 2016 - WEBSITE Strathclyde Multisport Festival, Glasgow Tri Club - Sunday 5th June 2016 - WEBSITE Llandudno Sea Triathlon, Xtra Mile Events - Sunday 19th June 2016 - WEBSITE And note - while these events may be offering qualification opportunities for the GB Age-Group team, they are open to all - you don't need to be seeking qualification (or indeed, be British!) to enter. Why not try something new? If you ARE wanting to qualify - make sure you are registered HERE. However, don't turn up with your time-trial bike... Different race format does equal different (equipment and competition) rules. Here, in brief, are the key ones. CLICK HERE FOR DRAFT LEGAL MASS PARTICIPATION RULES GUIDANCE In summary... Drafting of athletes of a different gender is not allowed No drafting of a motorbike or vehicle! No drafting of athletes on a different lap is allowed Lapping is allowed (you just can't draft athletes on a different lap) The bike frame shall be of a traditional pattern - closed frame of straight or tapered tubular elements Any non-traditional / unusual bikes or equipment are illegal unless prior approval is granted by BTF Technical Committee prior to the start of the competition. Saddle must be a minimum of 5cm, maximum of 15cm behind a vertical line through the centre of the bottom bracket Wheels must have at least 12 spokes No disc wheels No disc brakes Only standard (and plugged) drop handlebars No clip-on extensions (even to the 'shortie' ones) are allowed No tri-bars / bar end shifters etc. Aero helmets that "restrict the field of vision or that restricts a competitor’s ability to hear properly" are illegal

British Ironman success: Ladies

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[UPDATED FOR 2016 following Ironman New Zealand (Lucy Gossage) and Ironman South Africa (Susie Cheetham and Lucy Gossage)]. British ladies, long distance especially, are on something of a high - indeed, they have been for many years now and just seem to get better and better. Just when the likes of Chrissie Wellington, Bella Bayliss and Catriona Morrison retire, along comes more success from athletes such as Corinne Abraham, Lucy Gossage, Susie Cheetham and Emma-Kate Lidbury to join the established names such as Rachel Joyce, Leanda Cave and Jodie Swallow. Long may it continue. From time-to-time your Editor has been known to enjoy a statistic or two - but with good reason. Having asked myself the question of "how many podium finishes have British athletes achieved in Ironman racing?", the only thing to do was get researching and try and find out. A couple of notes before I start. For the purposes of this analysis only, the subject is limited to full distance Ironman branded (M-Dot / WTC) races. There are of course many iron-distance events around the world (including the likes of Challenge Roth, Almere, Forestman, Outlaw, Norseman, Embrunman...), many of which - Roth especially - rival any Ironman branded race in terms of spectacle, size and quality. That said, there is little doubt of the impact that the Ironman® brand has made within the triathlon world over the past 30 years and that for many, winning an Ironman race is a career goal. So, what follows is my attempt to create the definitive record of Ironman® podium finishes by British female athletes. If you think any performance is missing from the list, email me via editor@tri247.com. British female Ironman® podium finishes by year * Athlete Position Event Year Susie Cheetham 2nd South Africa 2016 Lucy Gossage 3rd South Africa 2016 Lucy Gossage 2nd New Zealand 2016 Corinne Abraham 1st Cozumel 2015 Leanda Cave 2nd Cozumel 2015 Rachel Joyce 2nd Hawaii 2015 Emma-Kate Lidbury 2nd Mallorca 2015 Lucy Gossage 1st UK 2015 Caroline Livesey 2nd UK 2015 Alice Hector 3rd UK 2015 Caroline Livesey 3rd Lanzarote 2015 Leanda Cave 2nd Texas 2015 Rachel Joyce 3rd Texas 2015 Jodie Swallow 1st South Africa 2015 Lucy Gossage 2nd South Africa 2015 Susie Cheetham 3rd South Africa 2015 Rachel Joyce 3rd Hawaii 2014 Susie Cheetham 3rd Barcelona 2014 Amy Forshaw 1st Wales 2014 Amy Ogden 3rd Wales 2014 Leanda Cave 1st Kalmar 2014 Tamsin Lewis 1st UK 2014 Joanna Carritt 3rd UK 2014 Corinne Abraham 1st Frankfurt 2014 Lucy Gossage 1st Lanzarote 2014 Corinne Abraham 3rd Lanzarote 2014 Lucy Gossage 2nd South Africa 2014 Jodie Swallow 3rd South Africa 2014 Rachel Joyce 1st Cozumel 2013 Rachel Joyce 2nd Hawaii 2013 Liz Blatchford 3rd Hawaii 2013 Catriona Morrison 3rd Lake Tahoe 2013 Lucy Gossage 1st Wales 2013 Jodie Swallow 1st Kalmar 2013 Lucy Gossage 1st UK 2013 Joanna Carritt 2nd UK 2013 Amy Forshaw 3rd UK 2013 Jodie Swallow 2nd Frankfurt 2013 Liz Blatchford 1st Cairns 2013 Rachel Joyce 1st Texas 2013 Jodie Swallow 2nd South Africa 2013 Corinne Abraham 1st Melbourne 2013 Corinne Abraham 3rd Arizona 2012 Leanda Cave 1st Hawaii 2012 Joanna Carritt 3rd Wales 2012 Bella Bayliss 2nd Switzerland 2012 Corinne Abraham 3rd Frankfurt 2012 Bella Bayliss 2nd Lanzarote 2012 Rachel Joyce 2nd Melbourne 2012 Leanda Cave 1st Arizona 2011 Chrissie Wellington 1st Hawaii 2011 Leanda Cave 3rd Hawaii 2011 Yvette Grice 3rd UK 2011 Julie Dibens 1st Coeur d'Alene 2011 Catriona Morrison 1st Texas 2011 Rachel Joyce 1st Lanzarote 2011 Chrissie Wellington 1st South Africa 2011 Rachel Joyce 2nd South Africa 2011 Chrissie Wellington 1st Arizona 2010 Leanda Cave 3rd Arizona 2010 Julie Dibens 3rd Hawaii 2010 Yvette Grice 1st UK 2010 Bella Bayliss 2nd UK 2010 Joanna Carritt 3rd UK 2010 Corinne Abraham 3rd Regensburg 2010 Catriona Morrison 1st Lanzarote 2010 Louise Collins 2nd Lanzarote 2010 Bella Bayliss 1st UK 2009 Bella Bayliss 1st Austria 2009 Bella Bayliss 1st Lanzarote 2009 Chrissie Wellington 1st Australia 2009 Chrissie Wellington 1st Hawaii 2009 Abigail Bayley 2nd UK 2009 Bella Bayliss 2nd Cozumel 2009 Rachel Joyce 2nd Lanzarote 2009 Bella Bayliss 3rd Florida 2009 Rachel Joyce 3rd South Africa 2009 Bella Bayliss 1st Florida 2008 Bella Bayliss 1st UK 2008 Bella Bayliss 1st Lanzarote 2008 Bella Bayliss 1st South Africa 2008 Chrissie Wellington 1st Australia 2008 Chrissie Wellington 1st Germany (Frankfurt) 2008 Chrissie Wellington 1st Hawaii 2008 Bella Bayliss 2nd Austria 2008 Leanda Cave 2nd Arizona 2008 Abigail Bayley 3rd China 2008 Bella Bayliss 1st UK 2007 Chrissie Wellington 1st Korea 2007 Chrissie Wellington 1st Hawaii 2007 Sara Gross 2nd Ironman Canada 2007 Bella Bayliss 3rd Western Australia 2007 Bella Bayliss 3rd Brazil 2007 Bella Bayliss 3rd South Africa 2007 Bella Bayliss 1st Florida 2006 Sara Gross 2nd Ironman Western Australia 2006 Bella Bayliss 1st Florida 2005 Bella Bayliss 3rd UK 2005 Sara Gross 3rd South Africa 2005 Louisa Edmonston 3rd Lanzarote 2005 Bella Bayliss 2nd Florida 2004 Jess Petersson 3rd Austria 2004 Bella Bayliss 1st Florida 2003 Bella Bayliss 3rd Lanzarote 2003 Bella Bayliss 1st Florida 2002 Beth Thompson 3rd Austria 1999 Sarah Coope 2nd New Zealand 1992 Sarah Coope 3rd Hawaii 1991 Sarah Coope 2nd Japan 1991 Sarah Coope 2nd New Zealand 1991 (* NOTE: For the purposes of this analysis I have taken overall positions, 1/2/3 as 'podium' finishes, irrespective of race category (provided that the event was mass-start with the same pro/age group rules) or event (as in some races, there may be ten athletes physically 'on the podium'). For example, in the case of Ironman Lanzarote 2010, while Bella Bayliss was the third professional finisher (Louise Collins, age group athlete finished ahead in second place overall), I am treating Bella's result as fourth overall, and hence not within this listing. Also, Corinne Abraham finished third overall at Ironman Regensburg while racing as an Age Group athlete and is included here for that reason, as in both cases the races were concurrent, under the same rules). Position 1991 1992 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 1st           1 1   1 1 3 2nd 2 1           1   1 1 3rd 1   1       1 1 3   3 Total 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 2 4 2 7 Position 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Total 1st 7 5 3 6 1 7 5 3   44 2nd 2 3 2 1 3 4 1 6 2 30 3rd 1 2 4 2 3 3 6 4 1 36 Total 10 10 9 9 7 14 12 13 3 110 British female Ironman® podium finishes - 'medal table' style Athlete No. 1st places No. 2nd Places No. 3rd Places Podiums Bella Bayliss 12 6 6 24 Chrissie Wellington 10 10 Lucy Gossage 4 3 1 8 Rachel Joyce 3 5 3 11 Leanda Cave 3 3 2 8 Corinne Abraham 3 4 7 Jodie Swallow 2 2 1 5 Catriona Morrison 2 1 3 Amy Forshaw 1 1 2 Julie Dibens 1 1 2 Liz Blatchford 1 1 2 Yvette Grice 1 1 2 Tamsin Lewis 1 1 Sarah Coope 3 1 4 Sara Gross 2 1 3 Joanna Carritt 1 3 4 Susie Cheetham 1 2 3 Abigail Bayley 1 1 2 Caroline Livesey 1 1 2 Emma-Kate Lidbury 1 1 Louise Collins 1 1 Alice Hector 1 1 Amy Ogden 1 1 Beth Thompson 1 1 Jess Petersson 1 1 Louisa Edmonston 1 1 26 Athletes 44 30 36 110 This table is the data above presented in the style you would typically see for the Olympic medal tables. Overall order is determined initially by number of 1st places, then by 2nd places, then by 3rd places. Aside from summarising an athletes podium history, how much value this adds is...debatable! Clearly, Bella Bayliss has put together, over a long period of time, the most consistent set of performances both in volume and number of wins. (Check out our in-depth interview series with Bella about her career HERE). However, bear in mind that of Chrissie Wellington's Ironman wins (and she won all ten full distance M-Dot races she started - plus Challenge Roth three times - review all of her unbeaten iron-distance races HERE), four of those are Ironman World Championship Kona victories! We suspect Bella would trade a few of her wins for one at the big show... At her career strike rate, Chrissie had looked set to pass Bella's 12 Ironman® victories in 2012... but not now, having confirmed her retirement from Ironman racing. Chrissie's win at Ironman South Africa 2011 also represented the fastest Ironman® time recorded to date, to add to all of her many accolades including the four fastest times ever. It is also worth bearing in mind the way that the Ironman circuit has changed over the past 15/20 years. While there are around 40 Ironman events on the annual calendar now, that wasn't always the case, and hence the opportunities to race were few and far between. With this increase in volume, not surprisingly some events can be considered 'softer', in terms of depth of professional field, and hence 'not all races are equal'. Indeed, with the introduction of the Kona Pro Rankings, races are now specifically classified at different ratings via points status and prize money. For example, Sarah Coope finished third at Hawaii way back in 1991. It is very easy to believe that she would be a multiple Ironman event winner today given her performance in Kona, and the huge number of victories she achieved in other events. Aside from Chrissie Wellington (four wins), Julie Dibens (3rd, 2010) and Leanda Cave (1st, 2012 and 3rd, 2011), Sarah was the only other British athlete - male or female - to have finished in the top-3 in Kona at the Ironman World Championships...until 2013, when Rachel Joyce (2nd) and Liz Blatchford (3rd) joined that elite grouping. Our current crop of talent suggests that list will continue to be added too - indeed, Rachel Joyce took her second Kona podium spot (3rd), in 2014 and then added another 2nd place in 2015. Leanda of course joined Bella, Cat and Chrissie with multiple wins by taking the biggest one of all in Kona, while Rachel made it two wins at Ironman Texas 2013, adding another 'post-Kona' at Cozumel. Lucy Gossage meanwhile won two within just five weeks in 2013, at Ironman UK and Ironman Wales, and then made it three wins at Ironman Lanzarote 2014 before a fourth at Ironman UK 2015. Corinne Abraham joined the multiple M-Dot wins club, adding Frankfurt 2014 to her Melbourne 2012 victory - both of which are Regional Championship events. A third Ironman win for Leanda was collected in August 2014 at Kalmar, Sweden while the latest 'multiple' winner is Jodie Swallow, following Ironman South Africa 2015 to add to her Kalmar 2013 triumph. You can check out how British men have fared over the years in Ironman® competition IN THIS ARTICLE. Tri247 Iron-Distance Statistics Library Sub-9 iron ladies: a history the definitive list of sub-nine hour female iron distance finishes Sub-8 iron men: a history the definitive list of sub-eight hour male iron distance finishes British Ironman success: Ladies the definitive record of Ironman® podium finishes by British female athletes British Ironman success: Men the definitive record of Ironman® podium finishes by British male athletes British & Irish Iron Distance Records the fastest ironman distance times achieved for England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales Fastest British Iron Ladies every sub-nine hour 15 minute iron-distance finish by British female athletes ever recorded. Fastest British Iron Men every sub-eight hour 30 minute iron-distance finish by British male (and female...) athletes ever recorded Do you believe there is a performance missing here? If so, please do let me know via editor@tri247.com.

Britain's Fastest Iron Women

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[Updated for 2016 following Ironman New Zealand - Lucy Gossage and Laura Siddall, and Ironman South Africa - Susie Cheetham and Lucy Gossage] Starting in 2009 and expanded ever since, I embarked on a project to pull together a variety of iron distance statistics and records. Links to all of the current reference articles can be found below, which variously cover both an International and a British perspective, finishing times and podium positions. Part of this was for personal desire - I have a natural affinity to numbers, lists and records. When it comes to sports, I generally seem to have pretty good memory for facts and figures too. However, in relation to some of the information I was keen to find, I was surprised to find that I couldn't find data sets that I thought surely someone must have done this already? Apparently not. So, I went off and did it myself... I've already looked at 'fastest times' on world level within the Sub-9 (women) and Sub-8 (men) articles, and was keen to investigate that a little further with my British hat on. Now, at least as far as the ladies are concerned - thanks to Chrissie Wellington, Bella Bayliss and Catriona Morrison (and others since I started!) - part of my work was already done. However, I wanted to look deeper than that, and beyond the barrier of a sub nine hour iron-distance finish, to try and compile a comprehensive list of the fastest British ladies iron-distance times. What is collated below is my attempt to list every sub-nine hour 15 minute iron distance finish by British female athletes ever recorded. British Female Iron Distance Finishes < 9 hours 15 minutes Pos Name Event Year Swim T1 Bike T2 Run Total 1 Chrissie Wellington Roth 2011 00:49:49 00:01:56 04:40:39 00:01:17 02:44:35 08:18:13 2 Chrissie Wellington Roth 2010 00:50:28 00:01:56 04:36:33 00:01:25 02:48:54 08:19:13 3 Chrissie Wellington Roth 2009 00:50:28 00:02:10 04:40:28 00:01:23 02:57:32 08:31:59 4 Chrissie Wellington South Africa 2011 00:51:40 00:01:56 04:45:23 00:02:03 02:52:54 08:33:56 5 Chrissie Wellington Arizona 2010 00:51:56 00:02:48 04:47:06 00:01:28 02:52:55 08:36:13 6 Rachel Joyce Roth 2014 00:52:43 00:01:42 04:43:11 00:01:30 03:03:21 08:42:25 7 Rachel Joyce Roth 2012 00:47:37 00:01:39 04:54:37 00:01:20 02:59:53 08:45:04 8 Rachel Joyce Melbourne 2012 00:52:34 00:01:59 04:44:47 00:01:37 03:05:02 08:46:09 9 Catriona Morrison Roth 2009 00:51:46 00:02:09 04:48:55 00:01:25 03:03:57 08:48:11 10 Leanda Cave Arizona 2011 00:52:08 00:04:50 04:51:07 00:02:05 02:58:52 08:49:00 11 Rachel Joyce Texas 2013 00:54:02 00:02:21 04:42:29 00:02:55 03:07:27 08:49:14 12 Bella Bayliss Klagenfurt 2009 00:54:04 00:03:31 04:49:41 00:02:35 03:00:20 08:50:13 13 Bella Bayliss Klagenfurt 2008 00:53:11 00:02:42 04:48:12 00:02:21 03:04:49 08:51:17 14 Chrissie Wellington Frankfurt 2008 00:48:34 00:02:45 04:57:17 00:01:04 03:01:44 08:51:24 15 Corinne Abraham Frankfurt 2014 00:54:23 00:03:19 04:49:06 00:01:14 03:04:38 08:52:40 16 Jodie Swallow Kalmar 2013 00:48:30 00:01:43 04:55:39 00:01:28 03:06:41 08:54:01 17 Chrissie Wellington Hawaii 2009 00:54:31 00:02:15 04:52:06 00:02:05 03:03:05 08:54:02 18 Chrissie Wellington Hawaii 2011 01:01:03 00:02:05 04:56:53 00:02:26 02:52:41 08:55:08 19 Leanda Cave Kalmar 2014 00:49:39 00:02:21 04:57:21 00:02:03 03:05:26 08:56:50 20 Chrissie Wellington Port Macquarie 2009 00:50:48 00:02:01 05:03:01 00:02:05 02:59:15 08:57:10 21 Rachel Joyce Hawaii 2013 00:54:09 00:02:02 04:55:25 00:02:15 03:03:37 08:57:28 22 Catriona Morrison Texas 2011 - - 05:51:15 00:02:22 03:04:14 08:57:51 23 Leanda Cave Texas 2015 00:53:13 00:02:34 04:47:43 00:02:40 03:12:02 08:58:12 24= Lucy Gossage Barcelona 2013 00:57:30 00:01:49 04:55:47 00:00:40 03:02:57 08:58:43 24= Jodie Swallow Frankfurt 2013 00:46:09 00:03:00 04:50:36 00:01:18 03:17:40 08:58:43 26 Leanda Cave Hawaii 2011 00:53:54 00:02:03 04:58:41 00:02:15 03:06:36 09:03:29 27 Susie Hignett Barcelona 2014 00:58:43 00:02:17 04:52:10 00:01:03 03:09:19 09:03:32 28 Liz Blatchford Hawaii 2013 00:54:07 00:02:01 04:57:40 00:06:24 03:03:23 09:03:35 29 Chrissie Wellington Port Macquarie 2008 00:53:27 00:01:52 05:06:43   03:01:53 09:03:55 30 Rachel Joyce Hawaii 2014 00:56:47 00:01:55 04:56:49 00:02:25 03:06:27 09:04:23 31 Rachel Joyce Texas 2015 00:53:08 00:02:32 04:52:35 00:02:47 03:14:00 09:05:02 32 Lucy Gossage New Zealand 2016 00:55:45 00:03:39 04:51:39 00:01:55 03:12:10 09:05:08 33 Chrissie Wellington Hawaii 2008 00:56:20 00:02:06 05:08:15 00:01:58 02:57:44 09:06:23 34 Corinne Abraham Cozumel 2015 00:53:49 00:02:41 05:01:15 00:01:17 03:07:38 09:06:40 35 Rachel Joyce Hawaii 2011 00:53:56 00:02:00 04:58:56 00:02:11 03:09:54 09:06:57 36 Bella Bayliss Florida 2008 00:54:54 00:02:44 04:59:05 00:03:00 03:08:07 09:07:48 37 Rachel Joyce South Africa 2011 00:51:06 00:01:44 05:02:29 00:02:34 03:10:30 09:08:23 38 Jodie Swallow Frankfurt 2014 00:47:22 00:02:50 04:54:38 00:01:27 03:22:27 09:08:44 39 Chrissie Wellington Hawaii 2007 00:58:09 00:02:21 05:06:15 00:02:03 02:59:57 09:08:45 40 Laura Siddall New Zealand 2016 00:55:38 00:04:02 04:53:11 00:01:24 03:14:53 09:09:08 41 Catherine Faux Roth 2014 00:55:42 00:02:21 04:57:28 00:01:50 03:12:28 09:09:47 42 Susie Cheetham South Africa 2016 00:58:21 00:02:15 05:04:26 00:02:04 03:02:43 09:09:49 43 Julie Dibens Hawaii 2010 00:53:50 00:01:56 04:55:27 00:02:39 03:16:12 09:10:04 44 Rachel Joyce Hawaii 2015 00:56:11 00:02:15 05:01:29 00:02:22 03:08:42 09:10:59 45 Lucy Gossage South Africa 2016 01:03:20 00:02:16 04:56:10 00:02:21 03:07:36 09:11:43 46 Corinne Abraham Texas 2015 01:03:24 00:02:55 04:40:39 00:02:37 03:22:45 09:12:20 47 Leanda Cave Cozumel 2015 00:47:21 00:02:53 05:05:22 00:01:36 03:16:17 09:13:29 48 Bella Bayliss Florida 2007 00:55:31 00:02:35 05:00:53 00:02:38 03:11:57 09:13:34 49 Leanda Cave Arizona 2010 00:51:13 00:02:50 04:59:55 00:01:40 03:18:12 09:13:50 50 Bella Bayliss Florida 2009 00:59:49 00:04:27 04:56:19 00:02:10 03:11:07 09:13:52 51 Bella Bayliss Western Australia 2007 00:55:33   05:05:14   03:13:38 09:14:25 # of Iron Distance Finishes < 9 hours 15 minutes by Athlete Chrissie Wellington 12 Rachel Joyce 10 Bella Bayliss 6 Leanda Cave 6 Jodie Swallow 3 Corinne Abraham 3 Lucy Gossage 3 Catriona Morrison 2 Susie Cheetham 2 Julie Dibens 1 Liz Blatchford 1 Catherine Faux 1 Laura Siddall 1 (13 Athletes) 51 Fastest British Female Iron Distance Athletes (Best Time Only) Rank Athlete Best Time Event 1 Chrissie Wellington 8:18:13 Challenge Roth 2011 2 Rachel Joyce 8:42:25 Challenge Roth 2014 3 Catriona Morrison 8:48:11 Challenge Roth 2009 4 Leanda Cave 8:49:00 Ironman Arizona 2011 5 Bella Bayliss 8:50:13 Ironman Austria 2009 6 Corinne Abraham 8:52:40 Ironman Euro Champs (Frankfurt) 2014 7 Jodie Swallow 8:54:01 Ironman Kalmar 2013 8 Lucy Gossage 8:58:43 Challenge Barcelona 2012 9 Susie Hignett 9:03:32 Ironman Barcelona 2014 10 Liz Blatchford 9:03:35 Ironman Hawaii 2013 11 Laura Siddall 9:09:08 Ironman New Zealand 2016 12 Catherine Faux 9:09:47 Challenge Roth 2014 13 Julie Dibens 9:10:04 Ironman Hawaii 2010 British Female Iron Distance Record Progression Commentary Before we start - and just for absolute clarity (!) - finishing times in any triathlon, and in Ironman/iron-distance in particular only tell part of a story. Courses are different, conditions are different and depending on who you believe, distances can vary too. Thus, work such as these listings is only part of an overall story. That said, times are a part of that story! Importantly, time is something that everyone 'gets', and being the fastest is a common theme among many sporting disciplines. So, what does this tell us? Well, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to have predicted that Chrissie Wellington dominates this listing with twelve of the top forty fastest British iron distance times ever. Indeed, only once ever (Ironman Korea 2007, her first Ironman), has Chrissie not finished in a time of under nine hours and ten minutes. Given that men's race winner that day (Raynard Tissink) was the only male under 9:15 shows that her performance didn't reflect a 'slow start' to her Ironman career either! Perhaps the only worrying Chrissie stat I can find is that in her thirteen iron distance starts (and wins), she has actually suffered punctures three times. In Korea she arrived in T1 to find a flat that needed fixing, Kona 2008 was CO2-gate (!), while even when setting her blistering 8:36 in Arizona, the final miles of the bike were nursed home with a flat tyre. (Even Ironman South Africa 2011 required a tube change in T1 the day prior to the race...). These figures also show just how consistent Bella Bayliss has been over the past decade, with six Ironman finishes below 9:15. This also included what were at the time British record figures in 2008 and 2009, both at Ironman Austria. Interestingly, in 2008 Austria fell one week after Ironman Germany, meaning that Chrissie's new GB best figures of 8:51:24 only lasted a week until Bella improved them by seven seconds. In 2009 the tables were turned, with Bella improving the British record again to 8:50:13, only for that to be smashed seven days later as Chrissie set not just a British, but a world best at Challenge Roth 2009. Was that a surprise? No - I'd (almost!) predicted it.... Of course, even that has been resigned to history after Challenge Roth 2010 - and was beaten AGAIN a year later. Following the Ironman European Championships (Frankfurt) 2013, six other female Brits had broken 9:15 for iron-distance, bringing the total to eight. Following Kona 2013, Liz Blatchford made that nine and Corinne Abraham brought that into double figures when winning Frankfurt in 2014, Catherine Faux adding another at Challenge Roth 2014, with Susie Hignett at Ironman Barcelona 2014 and Laura Siddall (New Zealand 2016), the lastest additions. Catriona Morrison's iron-distance debut of 8:48:11 at Challenge Roth in 2009 was, at the time, the fastest debut ever and at the time of writing that is still the 24th fastest time ever. Leanda Cave improved her Ironman PB by over 10 minutes at the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championships - no easy task - and her time in Kona of 9:03:29 made her (at the time), the fourth fastest British female ever. Not content with that, just a month later she smashed her previous best - and won her first Ironman - with a fantastic 8:49:00 finish at Ironman Arizona. That meant that she leap-frogged Bella Bayliss, to become the third fastest ever Brit having started 2011 with a best time of 9:13:15 and finished over 24 minutes faster. Well, she was the third fastest ever Brit... until the Ironman Asia-Pacific Championships, Melbourne (2012), where Rachel Joyce has pushed her back into fourth place on this list. Rachel Joyce first joined the list with her 9:08:23 for second place behind Muppet in Port Elizabeth, which might have been overshadowed by what was happening in front of her, but it was still a huge PB for the fast improving Joycinator who, after Melbourne 2012 and a stunning 8:46:09, has jumped from fifth to second place on the British all-time list behind Chrissie. Fourth place in Kona (2011), an ITU World Long Distance Champion and now a very swift Ironman time in a hugely competitive field. The Joyce star is rising. Fast. As if to prove it, Challenge Roth and an 8:45:04 finish is faster again... and in Kona in 2013, she was just one place away from being the Ironman World Champion, becoming only the fourth female (at the time), to finish under nine hours in Hawaii in the process. A new year, and a new PB - 8:42:25 at Challenge Roth 2014. A new addition to this list in 2012 was the Duracell Bunny, Lucy Gossage who even stunned herself by winning Challenge Barcelona 2012 with a breakthrough 8:58:43 in Spain. A new 2013 member of this list - and perhaps overdue given her undoubted potential - is Jodie Swallow, who recorded exactly the same time in finishing second in Frankfurt (2013) as Lucy did in Barcelona when she joined the 'sub-nine' club. Six weeks later and Jodie improved on that - and won her first Ironman - at Ironman Kalmar, finishing in a very impressive 8:54:01. Kona 2013 saw Liz Blatchford, in the third Ironman of her debut season at the full distance finish in 9:03:35 to make the Kona podium at her first attempt. Had she not incurred a four minute penalty (for littering), she might well have made it to Ali'i Drive in under nine hours too. Thirteen athletes then, seven of whom are either past or present world champions (and Lucy has a Silver plus Catherine Faux and Laura Siddall have multiple Age Group World's wins) - five of them more than once. Cream rises to the top, whether you are looking at results or times. Of course, there was also one other good reason for doing all of this research. If Chrissie Wellington has an 8:18:13 finish to her name, and the British men's Ironman record is 8:01:29, where would Chrissie's best sit in the British men's ranking? The answer to that one is... HERE! Tri247 Iron-Distance Statistics Library Sub-9 iron ladies: a history the definitive list of sub-nine hour female iron distance finishes Sub-8 iron men: a history the definitive list of sub-eight hour male iron distance finishes British Ironman success: Ladies the definitive record of Ironman® podium finishes by British female athletes British Ironman success: Men the definitive record of Ironman® podium finishes by British male athletes British & Irish Iron Distance Records the fastest ironman distance times achieved for England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales Fastest British Iron Ladies every sub-nine hour 15 minute iron-distance finish by British female athletes ever recorded. Fastest British Iron Men every sub-eight hour 30 minute iron-distance finish by British male (and female...) athletes ever recorded Do you believe there is a performance missing here? If so, please do let me know via editor@tri247.com.

Columbia Threadneedle Rankings Report: Gold Coast

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Columbia Threadneedle Rankings Report - Jewel World Triathlon Gold Coast Having previewed the year ahead in the first Columbia Threadneedle Rankings Report of 2016, we now look back on two thrilling races from the second round of the season, the Jewel World Triathlon Gold Coast. The hot temperatures were reflected in some equally scorching performances in Australia, and in this review brought to you by Columbia Threadneedle Investments, we take an in-depth look at some of the key stories and statistics from the event. Women’s Review Was that a career best performance from Helen Jenkins (GBR)? With the Gold Coast event providing the key Assessment Race for the final available slot in the Great Britain team for the 2016 Olympic Games, the pre-race pressure was certainly on for both Helen and Abu Dhabi winner, Jodie Stimpson (GBR). In winning the race in impressive style, Helen not only appears to have a third Olympic selection in her grasp, but also ended the almost two year unbeaten run of Gwen Jorgensen (USA). With appropriate symmetry, the last athlete to cross the line ahead of Gwen in WTS competition was Helen herself, when she finished second to Jodie Stimpson at the 2014 Cape Town event. With her third career World Triathlon Series win, Helen has also improved her podium statistics to 15 from 31 starts. Having raced since the beginning of the series in its current format since 2009, a career podium strike rate of almost 50% is exceptional consistency over eight seasons from the two-time World Champion. While she may have (finally) been toppled, it is a little early to be calling the end of #Gwensanity just yet! Though second this time after 12 consecutive World Triathlon Series wins, Gwen Jorgensen (USA) still produced the fastest run split of the day, and her Silver medal extended her lead at the top of the ‘most career WTS podiums’ to 19 from 32 appearances. Did Gwen turn Bronze into Silver during T2? A hard fought sprint finish on the blue carpet saw Gwen cross the line just one second ahead of Andrea Hewitt (NZL). Interestingly, Gwen was two seconds quicker than Andrea while changing from bike to run. After a hugely emotional year in 2015 of triumph and tragedy, there was huge warmth from everyone in seeing Andrea Hewitt (NZL) on a World Triathlon Series podium once again. The 16th time she has achieved that, she joins Emma Moffatt (AUS) – who qualified for her third Olympic Games while finishing seventh – on that figure, second only to Gwen Jorgensen. However, Andrea does have one area in which she stands at the top of the list – with 47 race starts, Andrea is the most experienced female athlete currently racing in the World Triathlon Series. Looking across both races so far, Abu Dhabi and Gold Coast, 48 athletes have raced both events. After not finishing in Abu Dhabi, Rachel Klamer (NED) and Katie Zafires (USA) will be pleased to have returned to form with fifth and sixth places respectively, while in terms of improvement, Lisa Perterer (AUT) stepped up 26 places from 35th in Abu Dhabi to ninth in Gold Coast. She now occupies 16th position in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings. Flora Duffy (BER) has also earned recognition. With fourth place finishes in both Abu Dhabi and Gold Coast, she joins Helen Jenkins as the only female athlete to finish in the top ten at both venues. That consistency is reflected in her second place in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings ahead of Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town. Men’s Review While a winning streak ended in the women’s event, Mario Mola (ESP) extended his own purple patch to three consecutive World Triathlon Series victories, bringing his WTS career total to five. Interestingly, all three of those recent wins have come over the Olympic Distance, adding to his earlier Sprint distance Gold medals from London (2014) and Abu Dhabi (2015). Stronger and faster perhaps than he has been in his career to date, Mario Mola is a serious threat for both the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings and Olympic Gold. Despite the rare absence of Javier Gomez from the opening two rounds of the season, Spain still hold the top two positions in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings thanks to Fernando Alarza. Fourth in Abu Dhabi, a Silver medal in Gold Coast matched his previous career best from London 2015 and will certainly have enhanced his case to join his illustrious teammates in Rio this summer. From looking at a certain Silver medal to a contender to not finish the race at all in the space of a few seconds, an exhausted Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) will have been satisfied to have crossed the line for the Bronze medal after a very tough final kilometre. While older brother Alistair has earned more WTS wins (19) than Jonathan (10), they are now equally matched in terms of total podium finishes, with 23 each. Gold Coast was a memorable day on home soil for Ryan Bailie (AUS). As the first Australian athlete to cross the line inside the top ten, Ryan earned his start at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. It has been an excellent start to the season for Ryan, who joins Mario and Fernando as the only athletes to have finished inside the top ten in both Abu Dhabi and Gold Coast, with Ryan currently holding third position in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings behind the Spanish duo. One of the standout performances of the day was from Joe Maloy (USA). With a relatively modest previous best finish of 17th, Joe had by far his finest result to date at this level to finish sixth, just behind the Australian pairing of Ryan Bailie and Ryan Fisher. From a lowly 49th in Abu Dhabi, that was a huge step up in performance from the 30 year-old athlete. Joe now holds 14th position after two races in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings, having finished outside of the points in the first race of the year. The victory of Jarrod Shoemaker (Hamburg 2009) remains the only USA men’s podium result to date in the 59 World Triathlon Series races that have been held. Could Joe Maloy be on track to rewrite that statistic? Columbia Threadneedle Rankings following ITU World Triathlon, Gold Coast Women 1st – Helen Jenkins (GBR) 1485 2nd – Flora Duffy (BER) 1266 3rd – Jodie Stimpson (GBR) 1139 4th – Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) 1009 5th – Renee Tomlin (USA) 798 6th – Emmie Charayon (FRA) 772 7th – Vendula Frintova (CZE) 754 8th – Gwen Jorgensen (USA) 740 9th – Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 685 10th – Rachel Klamer (NED) 586 Biggest rankings mover: Lisa Perterer (AUT) – from 35th to 16th (485 points) Highest new entry to rankings: Gwen Jorgensen (USA) – 8th (740 points) Men                1st – Mario Mola (ESP) 1600 2nd – Fernando Alarza (ESP) 1373 3rd – Ryan Bailie (AUS) 1097 4th – Ryan Fisher (AUS) 925 5th – Crisanto Grajales (MEX) 900 6th – Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN) 763 7th – Richard Murray (RSA) 740 8th – Martin Van Riel (BEL) 693 9th – Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 685 9th – Joao Silva (POR) 685    Biggest rankings mover: Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) – from 39th to 17th (470 points) Highest new entry to rankings: Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) – 9th (685 points) This report is brought to you in partnership with Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Global Financial Services partner of the ITU World Triathlon Series and Title Sponsor of the official rankings. Join the conversation on twitter with @CTinvest_tri or by using #CTrankings.

Cannes International Triathlon 2016 preview

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Leanda Cave and Vanessa Raw return to the Polar Cannes International Triathlon this weekend Ironman World Championship Silver medallist Andreas Raelert takes on defending champion Giulio Molinari One of my favourite events of the 2015 season was a trip over to France to the Polar Cannes International Triathlon (www.cannes-international-triathlon.com). Renowned of course for its film festival and Hollywood stars, it is certainly a glamorous location, but it is one which - for British athletes in particular - is very accessible from Nice airport. While you can spend your children's inheritance on the very best hotels should you desire the height of A-list luxury, it doesn't have to be expensive either! If you are looking for a long weekend away combined with a great race in a fantastic location, I highly recommened it. The event offers 'Long' (2km / 80km / 16km) and a 'Short' (1km / 52km / 8km) formats, with the sea swim in front of Palm Beach, challenging bike routes with some great climbs and descents and then finishing off with a pan flat, lapped run course which takes place along the premier road Cannes, Boulevard de la Croisette. If you are feeling the efforts of the bike leg by then, you can keep yourself amused as you run right past Gucci, Armani, Versace and more! It was a very impressive event. The Pro's feature in the headline 'Long' course. The Men The headline names set for the 'head-to-head' last year were the German pairing of Jan Frodeno and Sebastian Kienle, winners of the last two Ironman World Championship titles. Frodeno won that battle... but lost the 'war' so to speak, as Italian Giulio Molinari (winner of the 2014 ETU Middle Distance Champs in Paguera), produced a superb bike leg and then ran strongly for a winning margin of well over a minute on Frodeno. "He was in another zip code on the bike today… and when you then add a solid run to that, then you win", an impressed Sebastian Kienle told me after the race. Molinari is back and wears #1, and this time around he'll be facing Andreas Raelert (GER), Bart Aernouts (BEL), Frederic Belaubre (FRA), Miquel Blanchart (ESP) and Daniel Fontana (ITA) among others. The Women With Leanda Cave winning and Vanessa Raw third, there was a strong British connection to the Pro podium last year. With the return too of Alexandra Tondeur (BEL), second last year, plus Charlotte Morel (FRA) and Michelle Vesterby (DEN), the complete top five from 2015 will be racing once again this time around. Having got herself in to great fitness last summer before suffering a terrible bike crash just before her planned race at Ironman Frankfurt, hopefully 2016 will be much smoother for Vanessa. Related Article: Leanda Cave is not done yet... Results from the event, which takes place this Sunday 17th April, will be available HERE.

Five swim tips for London Triathlon

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Five key swim tips for the AJ Bell London Triathlon The AJ Bell London Triathlon (www.thelondontriathlon.com) is for many competitors their first experience of triathlon, with the event attracting a significant percentage of 'first-timers' every year. For many of those, the (open water) swim is perhaps their biggest concern and unknown. Here are five key swim tips to help get your ready for your race. With over seventeen years of swimming teaching experience, Ray Gibbs has developed a clear step-by-step approach to stroke development. His company, Swim Canary Wharf has been helping distance swimmers and Triathletes achieve their goals since 2008. By quickly identifying the flaws that are holding you back, Ray Gibbs can help you leave the water fresher and faster. www.swimcanarywharf.com   The AJ Bell London Triathlon swim takes place in London’s Royal Victoria Docks, in front of the ExCeL Centre and the historic Millenium Mills, set to the backdrop of Canary Wharf. The swim, for most first time (and experienced) triathletes is often the most daunting section of the race so it’s essential that time is taken in your training to prepare for it. This can be done both in the pool and open water. Five essential things to think about ahead of the open water swim at the AJ Bell London Triathlon: 1. Sighting Without the comfort of lane ropes and walls to guide you during your swim, you need to find a way to navigate your turning points. Learning how to do this is the first step for successful open water swimming. If you’re practicing in a pool, start by closing your eyes whist swimming an entire length and if you’re practicing in open water, swim towards a target without sighting. By doing this you’ll be able to see how straight you can swim without looking. Then, start practicing lifting your head up out of the water before turning your head to breathe. Lifting your head every six strokes will let you see where you want to go and keep you focused straight in that direction. 2. Mass swimming The AJ Bell London Triathlon is the world’s largest event of its kind, with a number of different waves of swimmers setting off at intervals. Big groups of swimmers are standard fare which will mean you face a little bit of bumping and bashing at times. Having other swimmers in close proximity does take some adjusting to and typically you have two options…stay out of the way or learn how to turn it into a performance advantage. Drafting with friends or similar speed swimmers can help save your energy on the day and come out with a better time. You can practice this by training in a close group, swimming side by side or one behind the other. 3. The Race Start  At the start of the swim, you will jump off the pontoon and wait in the water until your wave starts, it’s a good idea to build your confidence in deep water ahead of the event to prepare for this. The best way to do this is in your wetsuit, making your body horizontal whilst you kick your legs gently. Make sure you scull with your palms facing forwards. On race day, when the klaxon sounds, kick hard and start swimming to propel yourself off the start line. 4. Wetsuits Wetsuits are compulsory for the AJ Bell London Triathlon. Wearing one can restrict your movement, particularly around the shoulders which will take a little getting used to. You should practice swimming in your wetsuit at least 2-3 times before race day. Open-air lidos are often slightly cooler and generally allow wetsuit wear so are a good option if you can’t get to a lake or sea. It’s also worth noting that before you return to transition after your swim you’ll need to take your wetsuit off – make sure you’ve practiced getting out of your suit before race day and that you know where your zips and velcro are to make this easier and more time efficient. 5. Cold temperatures Open water is colder than a swimming pool and although your wetsuit will help keep you warm you still need to get water into your suit to be able to warm it up. You’ll also notice your breathing becoming more rapid when braced with colder waters. Where possible, try to practise your swim technique in cold water, to get yourself used to the experience and then work on controlling your breathing when you get into the water.

Weekend preview: April 16-17

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After last weekend's haul of medals and trophies around the world, not to mention the odd decent paycheck or two, this weekend has a rather different feel. This time it's more about the prestige than the payola... The one exception is the Polar Cannes International Triathlon where Leanda Cave and Vanessa Raw (first and third last year), are listed to take part but there are no other big money races on the circuit with GB pro athletes in attendance that we can find. Related Article: Cannes International Triathlon 2016 preview Filling the gap between World Triathlon Series races in Gold Coast (last week) and Cape Town (next week), the major ITU event this weekend is the Chengdu ITU World Cup in China - with most of the big names keeping their powder dry for the South African sprint. As highlighted in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings Report, Austria's Lisa Perterer was the highest rankings mover after Gold Coast where she finished ninth. Bronze in China last year, she'll be one of the podium favourites once again. The ever-increasing portfolio from Ironman has just one event this week, Ironman 70.3 New Orleans. Andy Potts and Sarah Piampiano took out this one 12 months ago - and both return to defend in this P-500 / $30,000 event. Full start list HERE. GB, as always, has a decent representation at the ETU European Duathlon Championships in Kalkar, Germany and aside from the small army of age group athletes attending for both standard and sprint distance we have a selection in the elite events too. Going for glory in the standard distance elite race are Philip Wylie, Carl Avery and Gillian Palmer while Will Crudgington, Lewis Byram, Serena O'Connor and Hannah Hobbs are listed for the junior race. Four para athletes are representing the flag as well: Mark Conway (PT1), Richard Mcleod (PT3) plus Steven Crowley and Adrian Howden who both go in the (PT4) class. Wylie has earned the Bronze medal for the past two years (Weyer and Alcobendas) - can he match or better that once again? Related Article: 2015 European Duathlon Championships - GB Age-Group medals (Sprint) Related Article: 2015 European Duathlon Championships - GB Age-Group medals (Standard) Saturday's domestic action sees the final round of the Windsor and Eton Winter Duathlon Series at Dorney Lake, the Torbay Donut Duathlon (frosting optional...), the London Fields Children's Duathlon at the Lee Valley VeloPark and triathlon options at the East Coast Triathlon, the Galashiels Come & Tri and for the kids at the Duston Triathlon. With the weather slowly improving and temperatures hitting the mid-teens the triathlon offerings are sprouting like the weeds in my garden. Listed for the weekend are the 7Oaks Triathlon, the Bicester Triathlon with three distances, the adult versions of the Duston Triathlon and the Galashiels Sprint, the Burnham on Sea Super Sprint Triathon with a kids option, the Chirk Sprint, the Ringwood Triathlon, the Skipton Triathlon and the first of the Midlands Sprint Triathlon Series from One Step Beyond. There are still duathlons out there for those not yet willing to Speedo-up: the Storm The Castle Duathlon at Ludlow, the Hillingdon Spring Sprint Duathlon with Tristar and Youth races alongside, the PACTRAC Peterborough Duathlon, the 1485 No Frills Duathlon and another in the Portsmouth Duathlon Series. And, finally, there are a trio of aquathlon events: the Kingfisher Aquathlon, the One Life Haltwhistle Aquathlon and the Cerist Junior Aquathlon. FULL WEEKEND RACE LISTINGS  

Before you get that Ironman tattoo

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Thinking of getting an Ironman tattoo? Now you can trial it first... virtually! Perhaps you have battled the waves in Tenby or have conquered the climb of Sheep House Lane in Bolton - and now want to add a permanent reminder to your body. Generally, the next question someone asks you when they find out you have done Ironman is, "did you get a tattoo?". Well, now there is a new app, Ink Hunter (www.inkhunter.tattoo), that will allow you to see how that tattoo might look before you permanently mark it to your body. The app is FREE and can be download on the links below - you can choose from a number of sample designs - sorry, no Ironman logos in here - and you can also load up your own designs to see what they look like. To find out more visit http://inkhunter.tattoo/index.html. When you have done your designs please do send us the photo via twitter @tri247 or on Facebook.

Cook has winning recipe in Chengdu

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As with the men’s race, it was a first time ITU World Cup winner in the women’s with Summer Cook (USA) taking gold ahead of Claire Michel (BEL) and Lisa Perterer (AUT) at the 2016 ITU Chengdu World Cup. After a mass exit off the bike leg, Cook was clearly the strongest runner in the field, moving clear of a cramping Michel at the 5km mark to win by 37 seconds, with another 19 seconds back to Perterer - winning the bronze medal courtesy of a sprint finish ahead of Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR), on a perfect day in Jintang Province, Chengdu. A Russian dominated lead group of eight established a 17-second lead out of the water with Anastasia Abrosimova, Valentina Zapatrina and Anastasia Gorbunova to the fore, along with Cook (USA), Gaia Peron (TUR), Cecilia Flores (MEX) and the Chinese pair of Mengying Zhong and Xiaoting Ma going clear of the field. But unlike the earlier men’s race, no one was able to lead or manage a breakaway, with the field eventually coming together in one large bunch of 36 on the fourth lap of six on the bike, in the process throwing the likes of Michel, Perterer, Yelistratova (UKR) and Agnieszka Jerzyk (POL) a lifeline after trailing out of the water. The final two laps on the 6.67km bike circuit were largely controlled with the only jostling coming in the final approach to T2 as leading athletes looked to gain vital seconds through transition and onto the run leg. Cook and Michel proved the strongest as they edged clear on the run, the margin a reasonably small 10 seconds at the end of the first 2.5km lap, but late on lap two Cook turned up the heat to move six seconds clear of Michel, with the chasers led by Perterer and Yelistratova now falling away, albeit in a tight tussle themselves for the bronze medal. The American controlled the final lap expertly to notch a career first World Cup win and was understandably delighted with the gold medal. “I am really happy, this just validates all the work I put in over the winter, I am very excited at all the hard work paying off and continuing to work just as hard moving forward. Today was the first time I was able to execute some of those things I have been working on and so happy that I was able to back it up with my best result ever. “I raced here last year and there was a pack of 60 girls off the bike and I expected the same here again this year, finding good position going into T2 was the one of the few things I didn’t execute well though! But I positioned myself better towards the front of the bike and am confident moving forward I am taking big steps.” Cook said the move at the halfway mark on the run was a planned move, one that proved gold medal worthy. “It was a conscious decision, I am confident in my run training coming in here and I wanted to just go out and give myself the best opportunity to have my best result. Crossing the line was really exciting, it was one of the moments I have been training for.” Michel won bronze in 2014 and was thrilled at her good form and the positive implications for her Rio Olympics bid. “It couldn’t have come at a better time, I had a really hard start to the season and with these races in the final stages of the Olympic qualification period, so it couldn’t have come at a better time, I am really happy. I know I am fighting for one of those last spots (for Rio), in 2015 I had injuries throughout the season and missed at least half a dozen races so I am playing catch up and racing against the clock, this is great.” Michel was fighting just to stay with Cook and when the American made her move, she had no choice not to follow. “I was having some cramps so those last two laps were just up here in my head, the physical was what it was. I just tried to keep the gap as low as possible, that was all I could do. “Two Belgians on the podium (with Marten Van Riel winning bronze in the men’s), we are pretty excited!” Perterer continued her busy season (racing every WTS and WC event in 2016) with a bronze medal, hard earned in the sprint finish with Yelistratova. “I am really happy, I have had so many races and after the flight to China I felt really sick but we said I would try and start. The swim I felt good but at 20 degrees I was struggling a lot with the temperature but I could push a lot on the bike and with some girls in our group we pushed really hard to catch the first group. “The run was just surviving for me today, the sprint I finished strong. I was a little angry that I was running in front all the time but this gives me more motivation to sprint, I did not have the energy to push the pace earlier, but I know I can sprint and did it.” Yelistratova finished in fourth behind Perterer, with Julia Hauser the second Austrian home in the top five to round out a good day for the Austrians and Belgians in particular. ITU World Cup Chengdu – Saturday 16th April 2016 1.5km / 40km / 10km 1st – Summer Cook (USA) – 2:00:06 2nd – Claire Michel (BEL) – 2:00:42 3rd – Lisa Perterer (AUT) – 2:01:02 4th – Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR) – 2:01:06 5th – Julia Hauser (AUT) - 2:01:20 6th – Anastasia Abrosimova (RUS) – 2:01:28 7th – Miriam Casillas Garcia (ESP) – 2:01:41 8th – Valentina Zapatrina (RUS) – 2:01:44 9th – Elena Danilova (RUS) – 2:01:48 10th – Yi Zhang (CHN) – 2:01:53

Speedy Gonzalez wins Chengdu World Cup

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In a quite remarkable performance in how to risk it all and race from the front, Rodrigo Gonzalez (MEX) won gold at the 2016 ITU Chengdu World Cup today, in the process earning a career first podium at World Cup level and improving his chances of a start at the Rio Olympic Games. AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH RODRIGO GONZALEZ The Mexican was sporting the biggest smile in China as he crossed the line 27 seconds ahead of Rostyslav Pevtsov (AZE) with Marten Van Riel (BEL) a further four seconds back in the bronze medal position after the two had outsprinted a large chase pack in the final metres. Van Riel led the non-wetsuit swim (water temperature 20.8 degrees Celsius) at a pace that clearly was taking a toll as the field strung out behind him and Zheng Xu (CHN), Vladimir Turbayevskiy (RUS), Ji Hwan Kim (KOR) and Luke Willian (AUS) as they exited the water and made the long run to transition. Initially a small group of eight riders broke away but they were quickly reeled in by the large main group, only for Gonzalez and Kohei Tsubaki (JPN) to counter attack on lap two and edge away. The two worked superbly together to establish a lead of 1:13 out of T2. It was Gonzalez who showed real intent as he flashed through and out of transition to quickly take control of the race, leaving Tsubaki to do his best to hold on to the flying Mexican, an effort that would quickly be in vain as a large chase group closed on the Japanese athlete, but could make little impression on the flying Mexican. Gonzalez was positively beaming at the finish as he contemplated his achievement, surpassing his previous best of 4th place in Edmonton 2013. “This is very important, a very happy moment for me in my life, I have been near the podium in past occasions, in Edmonton I was fourth but I was third for the whole race and only passed in the closing stages by Ivanov so I missed the podium that time. “I knew it was a matter of time to get this podium and hopefully at the top, I am very happy especially now with the pressure of Olympic qualification, this result recovers third spot for my country and while I think it is a matter of keeping it for the next three races and racing smartly. Even if I don’t make it to the Olympics I am very happy for my country and I hope that this is the first of many more to come. “I just took the risk today and with Tsubaki we rode so strongly and looked to establish a big lead and then on the run I was very comfortable and enjoyed the finish this time, I am so happy, I want to say thank you to all my supporters, here and back home in Mexico, I am so proud today.” Pevtsov was delighted at another podium, backing up his fourth in Mooloolaba and bronze in New Plymouth World Cups already this year and repeating his silver medal performance in Chengdu last year. “I am very happy today, another strong race and not the win, but I am happy again to be on the podium and my form continues to be good, I felt strong today and enjoy Chengdu, my favourite race now.” Van Riel was equally thrilled at a career first World Cup podium and was full in his praise of Gonzalez and his approach to the race. “They (Tsubaki and Gonzalez) made it, in our group nobody wanted to work and Rodrigo had a nice lead on the run but he was strong to keep it and congratulations to Rodrigo. For me now I think I am almost qualified for Rio, before this year it was difficult because I had a bad crash in Yokohama last year so I was in a bad place before the season, but now I am doing my best performances in my career, so yes, I think I can get there.” Young Matthew Baker (AUS) finished in the unlucky fourth place in a mad cap dash to the line, with a large chase group of seven athletes battling for the minor placings and vital ranking points. Next home were Gonzalo Raul Tellechea (ARG), Luke Willian (AUS), Ron Darmon (ISR) and Thomas Springer (AUT), with just 11 seconds covering second to 8th place. Conditions had proved perfect for racing, starting with a relatively cool 17 degrees Celsius and rising to 24 degrees by the end of the race distance. Conditions were calm and racing played out in front of the now typically huge crowds in Jintang, with thousands lining the course and the transition / finish line area. ITU World Cup Chengdu – Saturday 16th April 2016 1.5km / 40km / 10km 1st – Rodrigo Gonzalez (MEX) – 1:49:03 2nd – Rostyslav Pevtsov (AZE) – 1:49:29 3rd – Marten Van Riel (BEL) – 1:49:33 4th – Matthew Baker (AUS) – 1:49:34 5th – Gozalo Raul Tellechea (ARG) – 1:49:35 6th – Luke Willian (AUS) – 1:49:37 7th – Ron Damon (ISR) – 1:49:39 8th – Thomas Springer (AUT) – 1:49:41 9th – Raphael Montoya (FRA) – 1:49:49 10th – Aurelian Lescure (TUR) – 1:49:53

Euro Duathlon Champs (Kalkar) - Paraduathlon

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Silver lining for British Paraduathletes at European Championships The 2016 ETU European Duathlon Championships are taking place this weekend in Kalkar, Germany, with the first races of the weekend featuring the Para competitions. A small, all male team of four British athletes had made the trip, with three Silver medals the podium return. Here’s our first medal update of the weekend Kalkar: ETU European Duathlon Championships – Kalkar, Germany ParaDuathlon – 5km / 20km / 2.5km Mark Conway (M-PT1) – Silver Richard McLeod (M-PT3) – Silver Steven Crowley (M-PT4) – Silver Adrian Howden (M-PT4) – Sixth

ETU Duathlon: GB AG (Standard) medals

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18 GB Medals in ETU European Duathlon Champs (Standard Distance) Kalkar, Germany has this weekend been hosting the ETU European Duathlon Championships, and in this round-up with bring you the Great Britain Age-Group medal winners from the Standard Distance event. The fastest male British Age-Group athlete was Jordan Skelly (Gold, M20-24), who was the sixth fastest athlete overall, while our fastest female athlete was Hannah Priest (Bronze, F30-34) who was seventh fastest on the day. The first six positions were filled by home athletes from Germany. ETU European Duathlon Championships – Kalkar, Germany Age Group Standard Distance – 10km / 40km / 5km GOLD (7) Tasmin Boam -18-19 Female AG Benjamin Hindley - 18-19 Male AG Jordan Skelly - 20-24 Male AG David Thomas - 35-39 Male AG Kate Morris - 50-54 Female AG Jan Forrester - 60-64 Female AG Elspeth Knott - 65-69 Female AG SILVER (5) Jo Wilkie - 35-39 Female AG Nicholas Latimer - 35-39 Male AG Joanne Clark - 40-44 Female AG Louella O'Herlihy - 45-49 Female AG Paul Miller - 45-49 Male AG BRONZE (6) Zachary Pywell - 20-24 Male AG Hannah Priest - 30-34 Female AG Nicolas Pillinger - 35-39 Male AG Philip Kruse - 40-44 Male AG Ronald Mcwilliam - 45-49 Male AG Eleanor Robinson - 65-69 Female AG

ETU Duathlon: GB AG (Sprint) medals

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44 GB Medals in ETU European Duathlon Champs (Sprint Distance) Kalkar, Germany has this weekend been hosting the ETU European Duathlon Championships, and in this round-up with bring you the Great Britain Age-Group medal winners from the Sprint Distance event. ETU European Duathlon Championships – Kalkar, Germany Age Group Sprint Distance – 5km / 20km / 2.5km GOLD (16) Diana Chalmers – 16-19 Female AG Sprint Sebastian Gary – 16-19 Male AG Sprint Lauren Evans – 20-24 Female AG Sprint David Cole – 25-29 Male AG Sprint Adam Labbett – 30-34 Male AG Sprint Sally Turner – 35-39 Female AG Sprint Fiona Kesteven – 40-44 Female AG Sprint Cathy Dawson – 45-49 Female AG Sprint Richard Hancock – 45-49 Male AG Sprint Joanne Bolton – 50-54 Female AG Sprint Wayne Aylesbury – 50-54 Male AG Sprint Carole Page – 55-59 Female AG Sprint Sue Clarke – 60-64 Female AG Sprint Margaret Jagan – 65-69 Female Sprint Mick Anglim – 65-69 Male Sprint Michael Smallwood – 70-74 Male Sprint SILVER (13) Amy Chalmers – 16-19 Female AG Sprint Harrison Smith – 16-19 Male AG Sprint Kayleigh Adams – 20-24 Female AG Sprint Nicola Noble – 25-29 Female AG Sprint Claire Steels – 30-34 Female AG Sprint Sara Eames – 35-39 Female AG Sprint Jonathan Hoggett – 35-39 Male AG Sprint Karolyn Brown – 40-44 Female AG Sprint Harry Walker – 45-49 Male AG Sprint Janice Mcwilliam – 55-59 Female Sprint Andrea Sanders Reece – 60-64 Female Sprint David Butt – 60-64 Male Sprint Jeanette Susan Graves – 65-69 Female Sprint BRONZE (15) Jemima Walker – 16-19 Female AG Sprint Ben Cockburn – 20-24 Male AG Sprint Lydia Newton – 25-29 Female AG Sprint Cameron Keast – 25-29 Male AG Sprint David Sharman – 30-34 Male AG Sprint Caz Kay – 35-39 Female AG Sprint Matthew Turnbull – 35-39 Male AG Sprint Kirsty Prior – 40-44 Female AG Sprint David Mole – 40-44 Male AG Sprint Rachel Lightfoot – 45-49 Female AG Sprint Michael Buchallet – 45-49 Male AG Sprint Sarah Gill – 50-54 Female AG Sprint David Bagge – 50-54 Male AG Sprint Wendy Read – 60-64 Female AG Sprint Maurice Young – 80+ Male AG Sprint

42 is the answer in 7Oaks

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7Oaks Triathlon report - Sunday 17th April 2016 - and why 42 is important! Although 42 may be the answer to The Question of Life, The Universe and Everything; in Sevenoaks it signified the 42nd time that the 7Oaks Triathlon has been held. On 7th July 1985 the world was a different place. 7th July was a Sunday and the following Saturday was Live Aid (for anyone under 45, this was a massive event); there was no internet, no Twitter and no Tri247 (heaven forbid), but for 117 athletes there was a 7Oaks Triathlon. Since then the race has moved from a July date, to a September date, then and April & September date and since 2011 just an April date. 42 incarnations of a race that now sells out in a few hours. Two athletes that raced in this first event were competing again in the 2016 edition as well. And so to 17th April 2016. The day dawned chilly but beautifully clear. There had been no rain in 36 hours and so all possible excuses had to be ditched. Perfect conditions. The 7Oaks team are well known for their organisation so on the afternoon of the Saturday the advance party were already getting things ready for Sunday morning and thus the early crew (4.30am Sunday morning) had everything ready to set up for transition. With competitors coming from the local area (the nearest competitor lived just 350m away) and afar (two came from 220+ miles away) they arrived ready to do battle with the glorious Kent countryside. A 400m pool swim mixed with a hilly 25km bike and topped off with an 8km run through the 1,000 acre Knole Park meant that everyone went home knowing that (a) Kent isn’t flat and (b) local athletes have a beautiful area in which to train. As always the racing was both fast and furious. Several clubs brought competitors in abundance (thank you to Ocean Lake Triathlon, Greenwich Tritons and Tunbridge Wells Tri Club) and many raced as solo competitors but once again the ‘local event run by local people’ had a warm smile and a heart to please everyone. Youngest athletes Mischa Mortleman (daughter of 7Oaks Tri Club Chairman Charlie) and Alex Slack showed everyone else the potential of youth and the competitors in the 60-69 AG left many in their wake. As always at 7Oaks Triathlon, the awards ceremony was followed by the prize draw where finishers whose number was drawn out of the hat could go home with prizes ranging from a Blueseventy wetsuit to vouchers from the local bike and running shops. Kudos and congratulations as ever to the 7Oaks marshals for a well organised friendly event and to Race Director Neil Colvin who masterminded the whole event. Results: Pos Men Women 1st Tom Wade (Knight Frank) 1.21.15 Hannah Ewens (Crystal Palace Tri) 1.34.37 2nd Scott Wiseman (Ashford Tri) 1.22.09 Vikki Voysey (Greenwich Tritons) 1.36.47 3rd Chris Frost (VO2 Max RT) 1.24.09 Sophie Johnson (Greenwich Tritons) 1.42.39 Age Group placings: Junior Under 17 Mischa Mortleman (7Oaks Tri) 2.04.41 George Slack 1.50.13 Junior Under 20 Kirandeep Marsh (7Oaks Tri) 1.45.48 Matt de Kock 2.24.51 Adult 20-29 Ali Cann (Greenwich Tritons) 1.46.03 James Donaldson (Greenwich Tritons) 1.28.12 Sen 30-39 Teresa Arevalo (Greenwich Tritons) 1.46.50 Rob Parry (Crystal Palace Tri) 1.25.07 Vet 40-49 Jude Hagger (Tunbridge Wells Triathlon Club) 1.43.19 Malcolm Davies (Greenwich Tritons) 1.29.54 Mega Vet 50-59 Ann Fuller (Dartford & White Oak Triathlon) 1.43.58 Hugh Gibbs 1.30.08 Super Vet 60-69 Tanya Edmondson (Rebel Tri) 2.28.07 David Farrell (Dartford & White Oak Triathlon) 1.43.39 Knight Frank presented a prize to the fastest local athletes. Fastest local male was Hugh Gibbs (1.30.08) but the prize for fastest local female had to be measured in fractions of a second. Kirandeep Marsh was the fastest local female (1h45m48.12s) by a whisker thin margin of 0.18 of a second! Full results available HERE

Leanda Cave wins Cannes International Triathlon

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Leanda Cave defends in Cannes as Vanessa Raw crashes out The Polar Cannes International Triathlon was one of our favourite trips of 2015, and last years edition saw two British athletes, Leanda Cave (first) and Vanessa Raw (third) on the podium. Both were back again, but would have contrasting days. Defending champion Cave exited the 2km swim just a handful of seconds behind Charlotte Morel (FRA), but importantly five minutes ahead of last year's second placer, Alexandra Tondeur (BEL).On to the bikes and that swim deficit would prove key for both Tondeur and eventual third place finisher Celine Boursrez (FRA), who gave up six and half minutes to cave in the swim off of Palm Beach. Both Tondeur (three minutes) and Bousrez (four and half minutes) would gain time on Leanda over the challenging bike course, made even more tricky by rain, it wasn't enough to close the gap by T2. With Cave and Tondeur running very similar times over the pan flat 16km, four lap circuit, it was Cave who would come home the winner for the second year. Happy to win the Cannes international triathlon for the second year! What a great race in a super location. https://t.co/his4jNjpUA— Leanda Cave (@leandacave) April 17, 2016 The day didn't go to plan for Vanessa Raw, who crashed on the slippy roads. Thankfully, not quite as serious as her major smash last year so we hope that no major damage done ahead of upcoming Ironman races in Texas In the men's race, defending champion Giulio Molinari (ITA) and Thomas Steger (AUT) would set the pace on the bike in what was a quality and deep field, but the run would be the key and result in a French win courtesy of Etienne Diemunsch who would catch and pass Molinari for a winning margin of just 29 seconds. Germany's Andreas Raelert, second in Kona (again) kast year, followed just over a minute later. Though perhaps lower profile than several others in the event, Diemunsch is a class athlete with several ITU World Cup wins on his CV along with European and World Duathlon Championship wins at Under-23 level. Polar Cannes International Triathlon - Sunday 17th April 2016 2km / 80km / 16km Pos Men Women 1st Etienne Diemunsch (FRA) 3:30:08 Leanda Cave (GBR) 4:06:17 2nd Giulio Molinari (ITA) 3:30:37 Alexandra Tondeur (BEL) 4:07:42 3rd Andreas Raelert (GER) 3:31:52 Celine Boursrez (FRA) 4:10:50 4th Patrick Lange (GER) 3:33:25 Marta Bernardi (ITA) 4:14:40 5th Thomas Steger (AUT) 3:34:30 Michelle Vesterby (DEN) 4:21:54
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