More than 100 age-group and elite athletes will represent Great Britain at the 2015 Cologne ETU Aquathlon European Championships this Saturday, June 27. The event has become an established part of the multi sport calendar since its relaunch in 2011 and is again part of the Rheinauhafen Triathlon weekend.
The event is for elite and age-group athletes over the standard aquathlon distance of 2.5km run/1km swim/2.5km run.
British Triathlon's Age-Group Team Director, Nicky Dick, said: "The Great Britain Age-Group Team is always strong in aquathlon. We have lots of medal hopes, but, in particular, Stewart Moore, who got silver last year (25-29), Sean Everett, who won gold (35-39), Jane Bell, gold last year (55-59) and Janette Cardy, gold last year (40-44).”
In the elite race, Neil Eddy will be joined on the start line by Samuel Wade. Eddy will be hoping to improve on his 19th place at the event last year, and will be given confidence to do so by his impressive fifth place at the 2014 Edmonton ITU Aquathlon World Championships. Michael Lewis races in the junior men's event.
One of Great Britain's biggest hopes for a medal at the weekend goes in the women's elite race. Hannah Kitchen came second in this event last year and won bronze at the 2014 Edmonton ITU Aquathlon World Championships. No doubt she will be looking to complete the set this weekend.
Kitchen said: "I'm really excited to be heading back to Cologne this year. It was a fantastic venue last year and I was really pleased with my race so I am hoping for more of the same.”
Kitchen has been affected by injury recently and made an encouraging return at the 2015 Leukaemia & Lymphoma Blenheim Palace Triathlon, where she came fifth in the elite women's race.
"I've only just started my season due to injury so I'm really keen to get back racing, Blenheim was my first race just over a week ago and I was pleased with the result there though I know I've got a lot more still to come," she said.
"Hopefully I can have another strong swim at the weekend and the slightly longer 1,000m will suit me, it's great to have an idea of the course already. The run will be fast and furious I imagine but it's very spectator friendly and pancake flat so there should be lots of support."
