Great Britain Patatriathletes won four gold medals at the ITU World Triathlon Yokohama. With eleven medals from fourteen athletes, British Triathlon Performance Director, Brendan Purcell was more than pleased with the results.

Purcell said: “The team was more professional that I’ve seen. They’ve been able to score points that will help them qualify for the European Championships, that was the objective and they’ve achieved it.”

He added: “It’s been a really good first experience of the new Paratriathlon Series.”

Paratriathletes now need to collect points during the Series in order to qualify for major championships. However, the racing was more than just about points, with pride on the line for Britain’s defending six ITU world champions.

Four-time world champion, Faye McClelland had one of the toughest races of her career to overhaul team-mate Lauren Steadman in the final kilometer.

She said: “I got off the bike and I wasn’t sure I had the legs to close her down. It took three laps and doubts were seeping in. It wasn’t until the last quarter of the final lap that I overtook her, and I still didn’t know, she put up such a fight, she is an awesome athlete and was pushing me all the way.”

Phil Hogg put illness doubts to one side and won the PT1 gold medal. He said: “I have had a really bad winter. I had two or three months off through illness and have only been back training six weeks or so. This is a real ‘got my mind in the right place’ day today, so I am really happy.”

ITU world champion, Dave Ellis won gold in the visually impaired class guided by Jack Peasgood and Jane Egan continued her domination of the PT1 women’s class with a convincing win.

The Great Britain Paratriathlon team will race at the PruHealth World Triathlon London on 31 May. The event is free to spectators.

Gold

Phil Hogg, PT1
Dave Ellis, PT5
Jane Egan, PT1
Faye McClelland, PT4

Silver

Joe Townsend, PT1
Iain Dawson, PT5
Lauren Steadman, PT4
Melissa Reid, PT5

Bronze

David Hill, PT4
Clare Cunningham, PT4
Alison Patrick, PT5