As Age-Groupers were collecting their medals in a washed-out Alcobendas last weekend, another significant event on the age-group calendar was taking place a little closer to home.

The Stockton Duathlon took over the north-east on Sunday 26 April, offering two opportunities to qualify for the Great Britain Age-Group Team.

Sprinters hit the course in a last-chance effort to gain a place on the team for this year’s ITU Sprint Distance Duathlon World Championships in Adelaide, whilst the standard distance race acted as a final chance to secure a spot on the 2016 ETU Standard Distance Duathlon European Championships.

With Adelaide in sight, fastest time of the day went to Michael Openshaw (M40-44), crossing the line in 1:03:27. The Cestria Cycling Club member was followed in by Andrew Rendall (M20-24) 40 seconds later in 1:04:07 with Robert Balmbra third fastest of the day in 1:04:29. 

Quickest female sprinter in Stockton was British Elite Junior Duathlon Champion, Kate Waugh (W15-16). Leading from the gun, the Ryton Tri Club member sped to victory in 1:08:01. Second and third fastest females respectively were Anna Weaver (W30-34) in 1:10:06 and Lauren Munro-Bennett (W20-24) in 1:11:03.

The standard distance race forced competitors to dig a little deeper. Top of the class for the men was Luke Grenfell-Shaw, claiming gold in the M20-24 race in 1:49:56. Alex Lawton (M25-29) followed closely behind in 1:50:46, with Richard Anderson (M25-29) third quickest of the day in 1:51:55.

Eleanor Haresign (W35-39) claimed the title of fastest female in the standard distance race, cutting the tape in 2:02:20. She was followed in by Suzie Richards (W25-29), the Leeds and Bradford Triathlete completing the course in 2:03:42.
Third fastest female went to Emma Holt (W30-34) who clocked 2:05:48.

This weekend see’s our age-groupers out in action again, this time for the British Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships in St Neots. For more information, visit here.