In 2009, Goggle Pedal Trainer Events are hosting the Tewkesbury Aquathlon Series for the second year running. Blessed with beautiful weather and a record turn out, the first race took place on 19th January. It was a great success with over 50 finishers, with a large number of first timers looking to trying something new.
The format of an aquathlon is straight forwards; a swim followed immediately by a run, with no break between. Events distances can vary, with the Tewkesbury Aquathlon events consisting of a 400 metre swim in Tewkesbury School Swimming Pool, followed by a 5 kilometre run around the school playing fields. Bad weather the night before the race meant the field was quite damp and soft in places but with a clear blue sky and above average temperatures for this time of year it was a small price to pay.
Local Tewkesbury Athletics Club member Carol Cowley was one of the first to start, more of a fan of running than swimming, she understandably really began to have fun once out onto the run course gaining a lot of time on the competition to finish as 4th female in a time of 36:01. The top 3 females on the day were separated by just 42 seconds with little between them after the swim, it all came down to the run where Lucinda Neeves of Cheltenham Triathlon Club was strongest to finish as 1st female and 13th overall in a time of 31:13. In 2nd, Just 10 seconds after Lucinda came Jackie Fowler of Redditch Triathletes, who had the fastest female swim of the day (5:58), followed by Broadway based athlete Marianne Day in a time of 31:55.
In the men’s race the pre-race favourites Joel Enoch (winner of the April 2008 event) and Peter Darton (Series Runner-up) were far and away the quickest on the day, with a dead heat for 1st place. Quickest swim of the day was awarded to Graham Wilkinson of Bristol and District Triathlon Club in a time of 5:19. Joel Enoch recorded the 2nd fastest swim of the day (5:25) and 2nd fastest run of the day (20:16) to give him a total time of 25:41. Peter Darton however was not to be outdone, but with the 7th fastest swim on the day (6:07) he would have his work cut out on the run, but he flew around the course, recording the fastest run of the day (19:34) and was the only athlete on the day to break the 20 minute barrier. With this excellent run, it was enough to equal Joel’s time of 25:41, to share top spot. With 3 more races in the series time will tell who comes out on top. Next home in 3rd place was Mark Turton (Halesowen Swimming Club) in 27:02 with Graham Wilkinson coming home 4th in 28:07.
The next race in the series is coming up on 15th February, followed by 22nd March and 19th April. Entries are available for all races so if you fancy having a go then check out their website www.gogglepedaltrainer.com.
The organisers would like to thank the volunteers from Tewkesbury Triathlon Club and Tewkesbury Athletics Club, supporters Asics, Science In Sport, Up & Running and Leisure Lakes Bikes and the Tewkesbury Duke of Edinburgh Awards Group for providing excellent refreshments throughout the day.
Aquathlon Race 2 Report
One week before the second race of the 2009 Tewkesbury Aquathlon Series, at Tewkesbury School, the region was covered with snow with many unsure of how long a sudden cold spell would last. Fortunately, the freezing weather passed the day before the race but left it's mark on the course with some very wet and muddy areas on the playing fields.
However, the recent 'chilly' weather did not deter the 59 athletes who raced on the day with many improving their times from the first race of the series in January.
Tewkesbury AC athlete, Carol Cowley was 4th overall again on the day with a solid run gaining back a lot of time, she also won her category (Super Vet) by over 4 minutes! Whilst race 1 of the series was a close affair with the top 3 females separated by just 42 seconds, it was a different story second time around with 7 minutes between 1st and 3rd. Julie Preen was 3rd female on the day with an excellent run in difficult conditions and she was also the winner of the Vet category winning by just over 2 minutes. Broadway based athlete Marianne Day improved from 3rd in the first race to take 2nd, with exactly the same run split as Julie it was Marianne's swim (5:54) that proved the difference.
With last year's series winner and winner of every race she entered, Katie Silke (Coventry Triathletes), at the race the other athletes were going to have to do something special to beat her. But on the day, she once again proved she is one of the best in the region with the 4th fastest swim time (5:26) and 11th fastest run (21:30) to finish in 26:56 and 7th overall, quite far off her own course record of 25:38 but an excellent performance in hard conditions.
With the overall winner from race 1 (Peter Darton) back for another go and star local triathlete Nick Slim both racing it wasn't clear who would come out on top. First male Super Vet was Vincent Stroud, finishing in 33:21. In the male Vet category close between Dean Sheppard and Roddy Gosden (Tewkesbury Tri) with Roddy ahead after the swim but with Dean clocking the 3rd fast run of the day (19:42) he came home 25 seconds clear of Roddy finishing 4th and equal 5th respectively.
In his first race for well over a year, Greg Smith (Tewkesbury Tri) had the fastest swim of the day and was the only person to break 5 minutes with 4:50, whilst his run time of 20:55 was enough to give him 3rd overall. January race winner Peter Darton once again used his strong run to clock the 2nd fastest run of the day (19:12) taking him to 2nd overall (25:19). Last man to start, Nick Slim was clear winner in the end with the 2nd fastest swim (5:00) and the quickest run of the day (18:53) winning by over a minute in 23:53.
The next race in the series is coming up on 22nd February, followed by the final on 19th April. Entries are available for all races so if you fancy having a go then check out their website www.gogglepedaltrainer.com.
The organisers would like to thank volunteers from Tewkesbury Triathlon Club, the Tewkesbury School Duke of Edinburgh Awards Group for refreshments and our sponsors Up & Running, Leisure Lakes, Science In Sport and Asics for their continued support.
Aquathlon Race 3 Report
The 2009 Tewkesbury Aquathlon Series was once again blessed with beautiful weather and with a record number of entrants everyone was in store for an excellent days racing. Recent dry weather meant the field was in much better condition that the first 2 races of this year's series many people were looking at improving on previous times over the course.
Carol Cowley of Tewkesbury AC was once again in charge of the women's Super Vet category winning again by over 3 minutes to finish in 34:21. In the women's Vet category, regular competitor Julie Preen was in 2nd after the swim but an excellent run meant she made up the difference and more to win by almost 2 minutes in a time of 32:22.
In the women's open category last year's series winner, Katie Silke (Coventry Triathletes), was clear winner once again, can anyone catch her? Racking up the fastest swim of the day (5:21) and 7th fastest run (20:21), Katie not only won by over 3 minutes but finished in 4th overall. Just 4 seconds off her own course record we will have to wait until the final race of the year to see if it can be bettered. Behind Katie, series leader Marianne Day, Clare Scott and newcomer to aquathlon Catherine Ross battled it out. Marianne lead out of the swim but a stressful journey back from watching the Six Nations at Twickenham took it's toll as she tired with Catherine's managing to catch and pass Marianne's time to take 2nd at her first attempt, with Marianne holding onto 3rd by 13 seconds from Clare in 4th.
In the men's Super Vet category, there was once again a clear winner, Simon Taylor taking the win by almost 4 minutes from Vincent Stroud. Coming back from his recent foray into the world of half marathons, Roddy Gosden (Tewkesbury Tri) showed exactly why he was runner up in last year's series, clocking the 3rd fastest swim (5:57) and one of only 4 people to go sub 20 minutes for the run (19:35) to finish in 3rd overall and winning the Vet category in the process by just over 2 minutes from Andy Merrick (Tri Team Glos).
Ahead of Roddy on the day was newcomer Mark Sims (Hereford Tri) who was able to clock the 2nd fastest swim (5:48) and 2nd fastest run (19:13) but even this was not enough to catch Peter Darton (Wessex Wizards Tri Club). Peter has been on form this year and this was no different, clocking the same swim time as Roddy, Peter was in his element on the run and nobody was going to catch him, managing the fastest run by almost a minute (18:17).
This all means that Katie Silke is now in prime position to win the overall series again with Marianne unable to enter the final race already having done enough to secure 1st or 2nd. 3rd is not decided though and we will have to wait and see whether Carol Cowley can hang on. For the men, Peter Darton is winner of the 2009 series with 1 race to go, Roddy Gosden will be looking to make sure Andrew Darton can't make it a 1-2 and youngster William Russell is also in the frame.
The final race in the series is coming up on 19th April. Entries are available so if you fancy having a go then check out their website www.gogglepedaltrainer.com.
The organisers would like to thank volunteers from Tewkesbury Triathlon Club, Tewkesbury Athletics Club, the Tewkesbury School Duke of Edinburgh Awards Group for refreshments and our sponsors Up & Running, Leisure Lakes, Science In Sport and Asics for their continued support.
Aquathlon Race 4 Report
The final race of the 2009 Tewkesbury Aquathlon Series was held in perfect conditions and with the run course slightly shortened due to a brass band practice but there were no complaints from competitors.
This years series has seen more entrants than previously and this was demonstrated by 70 finishers at the final race and 40 completing 3 or more races. With the best conditions all year many people were looking for improvements.
One of the first off was Millie Barnes of Tewkesbury Triathlon Club, only going in the first wave because she had to leave early, was instantly well ahead of her wave and after a cracking run set the early best time of 27:44. It was then a case of whether any of the other females could beat her, runner up of race 3 Catherine Ross clocked 28:39 with Clare Scott (Hereford Couriers) using a strong swim to separate the two with 28:22 and taking 3rd place in the process. One of the last competitors to start was Katie Silke, last year's series winner and winner of 2 races this year was on a mission, she has regularly gone under 27 minutes for the course. This time was even more impressive, not only clocking the second fastest overall swim (5:18) and the 7th fastest run (19:25) she broke her own course record by 55 seconds finishing in 24:43 which also placed her 5th overall.
In the other female categories Jackie Fowler was clear winner of the Vet category in 28:58. In the Super Vet category Carol Cowley (Tewkesbury AC) had some stiff competition from Rosalind Townsend-Hope (Worcester Tri) and despite Carol taking back over 1:30 on the run, Ros's rapid swim gave her enough of a lead finishing in 31:45, Carol in 32:41.
In the men's race Peter Darton (Wessex Wizard's Tri) was already assured of series victory but wanted to end on a high, there was to be stiff competition from March runner up Mark Sims and local triathlete Jon Rawlings (Tewkesbury Tri) not ruling out Rob Biddlecombe who has already clocked some impressive results this year. Fastest swim once again went to Graham Wilkinson (BAD Tri) in 5:06 on his way to finish in 25:18, an improvement of almost 2 minutes, finishing 6th overall just behind Katie Silke. Rob Biddlecombe had a solid swim and the 4th fastest run (18:37) but was just 3 seconds behind 3rd placed Peter Darton. Whose consistently fast swim and was again under 18:30 on the run but could do nothing to catch Mark Sims (Hereford Tri) fresh from winning a local running race showed good form to be the only person to break 18 minutes but despite beating Jon Rawlings by 12 seconds on the run, Jon's 18 second lead out of the swim meant he just held on.
Despite the advise of many, Roddy Gosden (Tewkesbury Tri) still suffering from a chest infection was outside the top 5 in 8th but still took the Vet prize finishing just ahead of Andy Merrick (Tri Team Glos). Simon Taylor took the Super Vet prize in 27:49 to finish an impressive 15th overall.
With the results calculated, the implications on the series results were unclear. Super Vet winners were Simon Taylor and Carol Cowley, with Carol only just missing out on a podium spot. Vet's winners were Andy Merrick and Ruth Ruck, both very consistent all series.
In the women's series, Julie Preen's 7th place on the day was enough to take 3rd ahead of Carol Cowley, with Marianne Day's 3 podium finishes earlier in the series enough to take 2nd. But nothing could stop Katie Silke, once again winning every race she entered, a deserved champion for the second year running.
In the men's it was slightly closer with 2nd to 5th positions up for grabs, Graham Wilkinson's final performance was not quite able to catch youngster Will Russell who in turn almost caught Roddy Gosden for the 3rd position, just 1 point off. Roddy was leading Andrew Darton into the last race but Andrew overturned this difference with a sterling performance to take 2nd by 1 point. Brother Peter Darton was uncatchable, never finishing outside the top 3, he has been on form this year and deserved the win for such consistency in tough conditions all series.
So the 2009 series is over, Katie Silke is champion once again and the Darton brothers make it a 1-2 in the men's. Our thanks go out to all the volunteers throughout the series who have made it such a success, the Duke of Edinburgh award's group for refreshments at every event and Science In Sport, Up & Running and Leisure Lakes Bikes for their continued support.
We look forwards to seeing you all at our next event, the Hardwick Sprint Triathlon on 16th August 2009.