The British Duathlon Championships took place this weekend as part of Clumber Park Duathlon, in the Nottinghamshire woodland. The event was held by One Step Beyond events and featured a Sprint and Standard distance race, the latter deciding who was crowned 2015 British Duathlon Champion.
The sun made an appearance early on; however, it was the biting wind that remained topic of conversation throughout the day, with many competitors finding the bike stage particularly tough out in the elements. Luckily, this didn’t stop competitors and spectators enjoying a well-organised Championship event.
Stepping up an age group from 2014 to M30-34, Julian Lings of Team Accelerate repeated his winning performance from 2014 to be fastest man overall, clocking 1:53:02 in the standard distance.
Lings commented, “I really like this course; I had my first national championships here three years ago.
“It was a good day for it today - a great bike course and go well organised too. I’m happy.”
Daniel Jenkin (M25-29) and Ben Price (M30-34) finished close behind, in second and third spot respectively overall.
Two and a half minutes clear of her nearest female rival, Miracing/ Rugby Tri’s Ali Moult put on an impressive show to cross the line as fastest woman of the day in 2:08:18, picking up the F25-29 title in the process.
Moult, however, was clear to add it was no plain sailing in the process to her feat. “I’m so chuffed with my overall Standard win at Clumber today – that was tough though!”
Following in her path were Jenny Latham (F25-29) and Gill Fullen (F50-54), the next fastest women to cross the line.
The fastest man overall in the Sprint distance was Pete Ellis, 30 seconds clear of RAF teammate, Paul Vernon. Ellis added, “I had a strong bike - although the wind caused a few issues at points.
“It was a great race; I managed to hold on in the second run. An RAF one-two is great news for us!”
Emily Whitmore was the quickest of the women in the Sprint distance; the Charnwood duathlete crossed the line in 1:03:01.
Of the returning champions from 2014 in the standard distance race, Julian Lings (M30-34), Phil Melling (M40-44), Mick Anglim (M65-69) and Vernon Thomas (M70+) all picked up wins again.
2015 British Age-Group Duathlon Champions
M15-19, Daniel Bluff, 2:13:43
F15-19, Tasmin Boam, 2:30:30
M20-24, Jordan Skelly, 1:58:51
F20-24, Joanna Wright, 2:18:22
M25-29, Daniel Jenkin, 1:53:53
F25-29, Ali Moult, 2:08:18
M30-34, Julian Lings, 1:53:02
F30-34, Claire Pickersgill, 2:25:50
M35-39, David Thomas, 1:54:32
F35-39, Kate Hodgkiss, 2:13:39
M40-44, Phill Melling, 1:54:11
F40-44, Nici Cahusac, 2:14:35
M45-49, Chris Nicoll, 1:56:37
F45-49, Vikki Silvertsen, 2:21:12
M50-54, Peter Cusick, 2:04:22
F50-54, Gill Fullen, 2:11:43
M55-59, Peter Orme, 2:12:46
F55-59, Mary Twitchett, 2:20:06
M60-64, Sean McDermott, 2:20:14
F60-64, Penny Edwards, 2:43:44
M65-69, Mick Anglim, 2:25:26
F65+, Elspeth Knott, 2:36:49
M70+, Vernon Thomas, 2:43:22
