Long and middle distance events sweep the nation as British athletes prepare for a weekend of exhilarating racing.
IRONMAN UK
Bolton welcomes a plethora of long distance triathletes this weekend as IRONMAN UK gears up for a fantastic 140.6-mile swim, bike, run.
Nikki Bartlett, Katrina Matthews, Chantal Cummings, Tara Grosvenor and Susie Cheetham complete the list of British women on the pro start list. The first name on the start list, Bartlett approaches the event in good form, finishing 3rd at both the TradeINN International Triathlon and at Dorney Lake.
Matthews will hope to continue her momentum gained by an impressive silver medal at IRONMAN Tulsa in which she ran a lighting fast 02:49:49 marathon run to join Daniela Ryf (SUI) on the podium.
Cummings finished in 4th at the Tradeinn 140.6INN and has a god chance of improving on this in Bolton. Grosvenor and Cheetham compete the start list for the women. Despite being hit with illness this week, Grosvenor shows no signs of slowing and still plans to stand on the start line, whilst Cheetham’s name graces the start list after a 5th place finish at the 70.3 European Championships in Denmark last weekend.
Thomas Davis, Tim Don, Elliot Smales, Adam Bowden and Joe Skipper complete a strong list of British men competing amongst the pros. Davis has already seen gold in 2021, taking the tape in the PTO race at Dorney Triathlon where he shared the podium with fellow Brit, James Teagle.
Don completed IRONMAN Brazil with a time of 07:40:23 to break the world record in 2017. Smales finished in 4th place at Helvellyn Triathlon last year in a field that included Alistair Brownlee and George Goodwin. Bowden achieved his first IRONMAN 70.3 win in 2019 at Dubai and finished in 16th place at IRONMAN Tulsa this year.
Skipper approaches the race as the winner of the previous IRONMAN Bolton, back in 2018. The Brit has achieved much more since then, however, being crowned champion at IRONMAN Florida a year later and then taking gold at IRONMAN New Zealand last year.
Outlaw Half Holkham
Holkham Hall in Norfolk welcomes an exciting group of athletes to take on its 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile cycle and 13.1-mile run. The men’s pro start list is awash with talent, being headed by George Goodwin. Goodwin rose from 15th fastest in the swim, to take the gold medal in Denmark last weekend.
Tom Bishop joins the start list along with James Teagle. Teagle has had a strong year so far, not only securing a podium finish at Dorney Triathlon, but taking the tape at Challenge Gdansk last month. Jack Willis and Recce Barclay are next on the start list, with Barclay having won the inaugural Half Holkham back in 2016.
The men’s start list continues, with William Draper, Sam Wade, Colin Norris, Will Munday, Kieran Lindars and Chris Standidge also listed. A number of these athletes also raced a Dorney Lake, with Draper finishing 11th, Wade 7th and Munday 13th. Luke Pollard and Brett Halliwell’s name also feature on the start list.
For the women’s race, Helen Jenkins and Kimberley Morrison are all set to start alongside Ruth Astle, Verena Walter and Leanne Fanoy. With Jenkins being a two-time triathlon world champion, Morrison having been victorious at the last Half Holkham, finishing with a time of 04:32:22, and Astle finishing 4th at IRONMAN Florida last year, there’s sure to be some quality racing on show.
IRONMAN Lanzarote
A race with a fantastic pedigree of British winners over the past few years including Nikki Bartlett and Lucy Charles-Barclay, IRONMAN Lanzarote returns with a less populated field this year as British athletes prioritise racing on home soil this weekend.
Simone Mitchell and Laura Siddall will line up for the women. Mitchell turned professional in 2019 and won IRONMAN Wales shortly after, taking the tape with a time of 09:41:52. Siddall was also racing at IRONMAN Wales in 2019, sharing the podium with Mitchell. Siddal recently raced at Challenge St. Polten where she crossed the line in 4th place, narrowly avoiding the podium.
Grand Prix Triathlon
Grant Sheldon, Calum Young, Frederick Young and Guy Evans Haggerty line up for the first division clubs at the second stage of the Grand Prix Triathlon in France.
The women racing for at the equivalent level are Olivia Mathias, Non Stanford, Jennifer Newbury, Iona Miller, Laura Fenwick and Abigail Bedwell.
For the second division, Morgan West, Hamish Reilly, Daniel Dixon, Jonathan Oakey, Lewis Joshua and Jamie Price join the men’s start list. For the women, Isla Britton, Laura Harvey, Sam McInnes and Lois Ashcroft are all listed to start.
2021 Europe Triathlon Duathlon Championships Targu Mures
Jimmy Kershaw, Claudia Kelsall and Nicole Allan will represent Great Britain in Romania. Kershaw finished 6th at the GBR Sprint Triathlon National Championships in 2019. Kelsall was the 2nd U23 athlete across the line when she raced at the European Championships in 2019, whilst Allan topped the 20-24 female age group.
Racing for the U23s are Reece Ashfield, Jack Shayler and Morgan Gallimore.
IRONMAN 70.3 Andorra
David Mcnamee represents Great Britain in Andorra. Mcnamee finished 3rd at the IRONMAN World Championships Kona in 2018 and will battle it out with the likes of Filipe Azevedo (POR) and Kevin Rundstadler (FRA).
IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables D'olonne-Vendee
Age group action is set to take place in Vendee, France. You can view the start list below.
IRONMAN 70.3 Finland
More age group racing will take place in Lahit, Finland this weekend, find the start list below.
