The British team dominates the Ibiza ETU Duathlon European Championships

(Photo Credits: Colin Mitchell)

The run-bike-run format of Duathlon kicked-off the week long ETU Multisport European Championships Festival in Ibiza over the weekend, with Sprint (Saturday) and Standard distance (Sunday) racing attracting a large contingent of British Age-Group athletes. The team provided both quality and quantity, with an impressive return of 88 medals – 49 over the Sprint distance and 39 over the longer Standard distance format.

Daniel Jenkin added further success to the Gold and Silver medals he earned at the World Championships in Fyn, Denmark, by setting the fastest time over the Sprint distance by more than a minute. That earned him 30-34 Gold and with it his fifth ETU/ITU podium finish of an exceptional 2018 season.

The second fastest athlete of the day was also British, with David Pearson (20-24) collecting Gold in his category, holding off a fast finishing Spanish athlete by 13 seconds.

Samantha Fawcett (30-34) set the pace overall from a British perspective. The second fastest athlete on the day, that was still only good enough for Silver, racing in the same category as Switzerland’s Sandrine Benz.

The most exciting race of the weekend was arguably the Female Standard distance race, where the British pair of Rachel Wiseman (35-39) and Marie Faithfull (25-29) left everybody else in their wake. Practically head-to-head from the start, while both would secure Gold in their categories, their race was only decided on the blue carpet of the finish straight, where Wiseman just managed to take the verdict by one second in a sprint finish. Almost two hours of brilliant racing. Rachel was also the fastest British athlete at the World Duathlon Championships and now adds European Gold to her collection.

The quickest British male over the Standard distance – fourth overall – was Richard Shephard, who earned Silver in his 35-39 division.

Several athletes defended their 2017 European Championship titles from Soria; Samantha Fawcett, Gwen Kinsey, Ella Towers (Sprint), and Emily Burton, Rachel Wiseman (Standard).

The sole British representative in the Elite races was Georgina Schwiening. Third at the World Championships in Denmark, this time around she was just outside the podium positions in fourth position. Sandra Levenez (FRA) dominated the race, adding another European Championship Gold to her extensive and impressive C.V.

Full Results Roll of Honour

Ibiza ETU Duathlon European Championships, Saturday 20th October 2018 (10km / 40km / 5km): ELITE

Elite Women

1^st – Sandra Levenez (FRA) – 2:01:23
2^nd – Sandrina Illes (AUT) – 2:01:53
3^rd – Irene Loizate Sarrionandia (ESP) – 2:01:57
4^th – Georgina Schwiening (GBR) – 2:03:04

Elite Men

1^st – Yohan Le Berre (FRA) – 1:48:41
2^nd – Benjamin Choquert (FRA) – 1:48:46
3^rd – Emilio Martin (ESP) – 1:50:13

Ibiza ETU Sprint Duathlon European Championships, Saturday 20th October 2018 (5km / 20km / 2.5km): AGE-GROUP (49)

Gold Medals (14)

FEMALE: Helena Dyce 16-19, Josie Cram 25-29, Christine Burns 35-39, Gwen Kinsey 40-44, Ella Towers 45-49, Cathy Dawson 50-54, Heather Lambert 60-64

MALE: Rhys James 16-19, David Pearson 20-24, Daniel Jenkin 30-34, Nick Samuels 35-39, David Horne 45-49, Craig Dyce 50-54, Mick Anglim 70-74

Silver Medals (17)

FEMALE: Kim Baptista 16-19, Samantha Fawcett 30-34, Sarah Smith 35-39, Stephanie Maclean Dann 40-44, Jacqui Phillips 50-54, Rachel Edwards 55-59, Sue Clarke 60-64, Bernadette Rudman 65-69, Pam Oliver 70-74

MALE: Sandy Holl 16-19, Ryan Smith 35-39, Michael Buchallet 45-49, David Ardern 55-59, Phil Hurr 60-64, John Peacock 65-69, John Caborn 70-74, Kevin Robinson 80-84

Bronze Medals (18)

FEMALE: Daisy May Barnes 16-19, Megan Powell 20-24, Daisy Pickles 25-29, Emma Robinson 35-39, Marie Brush 40-44, Lindsey Lewis-Painter 45-49, Katherine Davis 50-54, Marie Kille 60-64, Jeanette Sue Graves 65-69, Helen Hayes 70-74

MALE: William Fadden 16-19, Felix Wernham 20-24, Philip Williams 30-34, Bruce Raeside 35-39, Jonathan Hoggett 40-44, Wayne Aylesbury 50-54, Philip Taylor 60-64, John Nugent 75-79

Ibiza ETU Duathlon European Championships, Sunday 21st October 2018 (10km / 40km / 5km): AGE-GROUP (39)

Gold Medals (10)

FEMALE: Emily Burton 18-19, Marie Faithfull 25-29, Rachel Wiseman 35-39, Sharon Walker 45-49, Nicola Miller 50-54, Alison Crellin 55-59, Jane Holmes 65-69

MALE: Ian Reid 50-54, Keith Walker 70-74, George Prodrick 75-79

Silver Medals (14)

FEMALE: Megan Wilson 20-24, Jess Williams 25-29, Gemma Brierley-Rutter 30-34, Leah Walland 35-39, Louella O’Herlihy 45-49, Christine Meek 60-64, Elspeth Knott 70-74

MALE: Jordan Lockett 20-24, Jonathan Peters 30-34, Richard Shephard 35-39, Paul Robson 45-49, Nigel Arnold 60-64, Steven Rue 65-69, Vernon Thomas 70-74

Bronze Medals (15)

FEMALE: Rebecca Pidgeon 25-29, Joanna Plimmer 30-34, Lindsay Russell-Smith 35-39, Katherine O’Hara 45-49, Jayne Baldwin 50-54, Irene Peaty 60-64

MALE: Riley Richardson 20-24, Dean Clarke 25-29, Nathaniel Walker 35-39, Chris Nicoll 45-49, Dave Smith 50-54, Ian Cardy 55-59, Rob Pearson 60-64, Ashley Robinson 65-69, James Fell 70-74

Full Results Roll of Honour