The Great Britain Age-Group Team secured 5 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze medals at the ITU Aquathlon World Championships, kicking off four days of competitive action in Chicago Two further gold medals were secure by Melissa Reid and Kerry Large.
Michael Birchmore (M25-29) was quickest of the Brits, clocking 29:49 and being the only athlete in the Union Jack to go under 30 minutes. Amy Pritchard (W35-39) successfully claimed her first ITU World title in 36:10, with Gordon Crawford (M50-54) topping the podium as he did in 2013, this time in 32:24.
Hannah Lord (W25-29) went four better than she did in Edmonton last year to claim her first international title in 33:25, with George Beecher (M35-39) taking Britain’s final Age-Group title in 31:33.
Reid, competing in the PT5 category, successfully defended her ITU World Aquathlon title on day one of the championships in Chicago. In a repeat of the 2014 podium, she pipped Susana Rodrigues to the line, finishing in 36:43 to the Spaniards 39:10.
Large (PT4) was also crowned champion of her category, competing in her first ITU World Championships. She clocked 38:13 to take the title.
Hannah Kitchen was the top Briitsh elite performer, finishing in sixth place. The 2014 bronze medallist was first out of the water alongside eventual winner, Anastasia Abrosimova (RUS), and went on to finish in 30:58. The Russian clocked 29:07 to take the title.
Phil Wolfe finished in 8th place in the men’s elite race, won by 2013 champion, Richard Varga (SVK) in 25:42. Wolfe clocked 28:00 with fellow Brit, Neil Eddy following in 28:44 to finish 10th.
The U23 Championship race saw Matthew Fearn cross the line in 31:17 to finish 4th, just missing out on a podium spot.
ITU Aquathlon World Championship medallists
GOLD
Hannah Lord (W25-29)
Michael Birchmore (M25-29)
Amy Pritchard (W35-39)
George Beecher (M35-39)
Gordon Crawford (M50-54)
Kerry Large (PT4)
Melissa Reid (PT5)
SILVER
Alison Grinnell (W40-44)
Janet Taplin (W60-54)
Ted Hamilton (M65-69)
Peggy Crome (W70-74)
BRONZE
Francesca Durbin (W16-19)
Harriet Brettle (W20-24)
Keira Murray (W25-29)
David Reid (M40-44)
Jan Scott (W50-54)
Barbara Holmes (W55-59)
Joanna Lewis (W60-64)
For full results, please visit here. The ITU Sprint Distance Triathlon World Championships takes place this afternoon at 4pm (UK time).
