The GE Strathclyde Park Triathlon yesterday (Sunday 2 September) welcomed hundreds of age-group athletes to Strathclyde Country Park, the venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Athletes completed a 1.5km run, 40km bike and 10km in the mass participation races, which began the triathlon action on a day that saw Katie Hewison and Ritchie Nicholls deliver a Great Britain double.
The mass participation race was the second of three qualifiers for the GE Great Britain Age-Group Team for the 2013 Alanya ETU Triathlon European Championships. The qualifier status and the added prestige of offering triathlonscotland Scottish Standard Distance Championship titles ensured a high-calibre field.
The overall women’s winner was Anna Turvey from Newcastle, winning in a time of 1:50.40, she said: “I really enjoyed the course, but it was tough. It was pretty much up hill and then straightaway downhill. I was worried about how that would work out on the run, but thankfully it went well.”
The attraction of the event as a qualifier was clear as Anna continued: “When I started in triathlon I thought how cool it would be to get on the Great Britain squad, and then I did. I was just so excited to get there, and as I’ve progressed through the years. I’ve been getting better and getting up there in the medals. I think it’s brilliant, I love the set up, it’s great to have something to aim for.”
Kiera Murray finished second overall in a time of 1:54.28, with Hazel Smith coming third in 1:55.38.
In the men’s race, the overall winner was Roger Witz Barnes with a time of 1:37.04. In second place was Dan Russell in 1:40.53, he said: “I definitely missed the swim as that usually tires out a lot of the field and helps me move up the places on the bike. The course is brutal; it is just up down up down.” Josh Hutchinson finished third in a time of 1:41.02.
The GE Strathclyde Park Triathlon also offered age-group athletes the opportunity to soak up the experience of competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games venue and be part of a British Triathlon Super Series event, as Anna Turvey continued: “I love watching the Elites at all the bigger events, such as the British Triathlon races. It’s so exciting to be a part of a big event and to get to watch the elites is really inspirational, I love it.”
Athletes still aiming to qualify for the GE Great Britain Age-Group Team in Turkey now have one opportunity remaining at the Bala Triathlon on 9 September. To find out more, please visit our GE Great Britain Age-Group Team section of the British Triathlon website.
British terrestrial broadcaster Channel 4 has confirmed it will screen highlights of the race in an hour show on Sunday 16 September.
ALL RESULTS ARE PROVISIONAL
