London Frontrunners topped the table in the London mob match at last month’s AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds Virtual Challenge.

In total, 134 members from 20 clubs in the London region took part in the duathlon challenge which saw participants select one of three distances to complete between 20 and 26 July.

“It was fantastic to see such a spread of London clubs participating in the virtual challenge, said Chris Hall, Chair of the London Region. 
“Thanks to everyone that took part, and thanks to Triathlon England for collating the results and bringing a glimmer to racing hope back in time for the summer!”
With 25 participants completing their challenge, London Frontrunners were the dominant winners in the London match, with Westcroft Triathlon Club second with 18 and Crystal Palace Triathletes close behind on 17.
On winning the match, Alex Carington, coach at London Frontrunners said: “We were delighted and surprised to find out we’d won the London match. This was our first involvement in London League competition as we’re a relatively new club. 
“With training together in person being difficult at the moment, the challenge was a great way to get our members together, albeit virtually. Our members really enjoyed it and it’s inspired us to run our own club level virtual triathlon too.
Adding to Carington’s comments, Frontrunner member Hongbin Gu, said: “As someone new to triathlon, I liked the virtual challenge because it could be done over the week, so there was less pressure.
“It has helped me to understand my ability and limits and allowed me to see where I need to improve my training in the future and has increased my confidence. I’d definitely do it again!”. 
Due to Covid-19, the London League had to be cancelled for 2020, with the virtual challenge providing an opportunity for club members to join together to represent their club in this unique challenge.
The London mob match brought a sense of regional competition to this virtual challenge, with the club with the most members to have completed their chosen distance the winner. 
“The Leeds event was picked as I didn’t need to carry out the activity on a single day, or at a weekend,” commented Jacob Gloor, a member of fifth-place Hillingdon Triathletes.
“It also spurred me to run further than I probably would have done had I not signed up for the event. It has allowed our club to feel like a club, albeit with few entering.”
Chair of Hillingdon Triathletes, Jacqui Burke, added: “Throughout lockdown we’ve been running virtual club activities and, once we heard about the London match, it encouraged our members to sign up, with more signing up during the week when they saw their clubmates completing it.”
With over 5,500 participants signed up from across Britain and around the world, the AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds Virtual Challenge helped raise over £10,000 for Leeds Cares, the charity of Leeds Teaching Hospitals and Official Charity Partner of the event.

Full results from the London match at the AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds Virtual Challenge: