It was a golden weekend for Joanne Pitten on the snow of Andorra as she claimed double gold at the World Triathlon Winter Duathlon and Triathlon Championships as the Great Britain Age-Group Team ended the weekend with five medals in total.
Competing in the F45-49 age-group, Pitten secured gold in both duathlon and triathlon with her first victory of the weekend coming in Friday’s duathlon. Already a European champion in both winter and cross triathlon, Pitten added winter duathlon gold at her first attempt, excelling over the run-ski format of duathlon which saw athletes repeat a 4km run and 6km ski three times on its World Championships debut.
Having won duathlon gold with a winning margin of over 24 minutes, Pitten was back competing in the triathlon event on Sunday and, just like in the duathlon two days earlier, Pitten was on the top step of the podium, adding triathlon gold to her duathlon victory.
It was a British one-two with 2018 world champion Nicola Don-wider crossing the line second at the end of the run, bike, ski, more than 14 minutes behind Pitten.
There was also a second-place finish for Frances Hooper who secured silver in the F60-64 age-group in duathlon, while Simon Ward also returned from Andorra with a medal after finishing third in M50-54 across the same run-ski format.
Ward also took the start line in the triathlon but recorded a DNF with M60-64 athlete Nicholas Farrell also in action across both disciplines, finishing seventh in duathlon before a fifth-place finish in triathlon.
Richard Wakeford was fourth in the M35-39 age-group in triathlon during his first World Championships representing the GB Age-Group Team.
The World Triathlon Winter Duathlon and Triathlon Championships marked the start of the international age-group season for GB athletes with age-group qualifiers and championships taking place throughout the year. A full list of qualifiers and championships dates can be found here.
There are many opportunities to get involved in multi-sport at age-group level through triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and aquabike.
Complete results for the 2022 World Triathlon Winter Duathlon and Triathlon Championships can be viewed below.
(Image: World Triathlon / Tommy Zaferes)
