Gold medals for Dave Ellis, guided by Luke Pollard, and Mel Nicholls at World Triathlon Para Cup Alhandra were part of a weekend of multiple British medal successes which also included a Europe Triathlon Junior Cup win for Ben Cumberland.
Super League Championship Series London
A day that started with the chance for TriStars to experience the Super League course ended with Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee both coming away from Super League Triathlon Championship Series London with bronze medals as British athletes put on a show in front of a home crowd. Read the full round-up from London below.
World Triathlon Para Cup Alhandra
Dave Ellis, guided by Luke Pollard, and Mel Nicholls claimed golds at World Triathlon Para Cup Alhandra where Michael Salisbury was also on the podium.
Ellis and Pollard continued their unbeaten year to date with gold in Portugal in the men’s PTVI having been the quickest across all three disciplines for their third World Triathlon Para Cup victory of the year.
There was a debut win for Nicholls who claimed her first international gold medal in the women’s PTWC. The two-time Paralympian in para-athletics only took part in her first paratriathlon in May and, after coming close to a medal in Swansea last month, was on the top step of the podium at her first overseas paratriathlon event.
It was in Alhandra last year where British men’s PTS5 champion Michael Salisbury made his international debut and he returned to Portugal to secure silver in the men’s PTS5 classification, his first medal at a World Triathlon event.
Colin Wallace was another British champion to compete in Alhandra and he finished sixth in his first international event in the men’s PTS3 race.
Europe Triathlon Cup Alhandra
Alhandra also hosted a Europe Triathlon Cup event which saw four top-12 finishes for British triathletes competing in Portugal.
Ben Dijkstra and Hollie Elliott both finished seventh in their respective races, with Iestyn Harrett crossing the line ninth and Hamish Reilly 12th in the elite men’s race. Dominic Coy finished 22nd with James Chantler-Mayne 27th and Jack Stanton-Stock 31st.
In the elite women’s race, Katie Rodda joined Elliott on the start line and finished 17th in her first Europe Triathlon Cup race of the year.
World Triathlon Cup Valencia
World Triathlon Cup Valencia marked the halfway stage in this year’s calendar of World Triathlon Cup races and the field included a number of medallists from previous World Cup events and the World Triathlon Championship Series.
Iona Miller was back on the World Triathlon Cup start line to continue a busy few weeks for the Loughborough-based athlete, who finished 44th in the elite women’s race. Annabel Morton was three places behind Miller, crossing the line at the end of her first World Triathlon Cup race in 47th.
There were similar placings for the British men with Grant Sheldon finishing 44th and British elite triathlon champion Connor Bentley 52nd.
Europe Triathlon Junior Cup Bled
British elite junior champion Ben Cumberland was back on the top step of the podium winning gold at Europe Triathlon Junior Cup Bled in a race which saw four British juniors finish in the top-six.
Cumberland showcased the running speed which saw him become world junior duathlon champion last year to take the tape in Slovenia, with Youth athlete Oliver Conway joining Cumberland on the podium to claim his first international medal in third.
Hugo Jinks and Tom Hattee were also highly placed in fifth and sixth, respectively. Lawrence Martindale crossed the line in 18th with Michael Gar 37th.
There was a top-five finish for Olivia Logan in her first international event, placing fifth in the junior women’s race. Jess Turnbull posted another top-10 finish in a Europe Triathlon Junior Cup event, finishing 10th in Slovenia.
Ellie Van Der Merwe was 12th on her international debut with Megan Hornung crossing the line 14th at the end of her first appearance representing Great Britain. Alexandra Palotai-Avella and Hannah Mitchell also competed internationally for the first time, finishing 31st and 52nd, respectively.
World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon Championships Zofingen
Daniel Soltys was the sole British representative in the elite races at World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon Championships Zofingen, finishing eighth in his first elite international race having won gold in his age group at the same event last year.
There was medal success for the Great Britain Age-Group Team with sixteen athletes competing in the age group races in Switzerland.
Jennifer Millett (F30-34), Melanie Hayes (F55-59), Kevin Howard Bexley (M55-59) and Mary Reeves (F60-64) all won gold in their age group with bronze medals for Simon Brace (M45-49) and Grahame Mckenzie (M50-54) as the GB Age-Group Team returned from Switzerland with four golds and two bronze medals.
IRONMAN 70.3 Poznan
Susie Cheetham continued her season with a fourth-place finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Poznan in Poland.
Cheetham was ninth after the 1.9km swim before gaining places on the 90km bike and 21.1km run to finish fourth in a time of 4:20:13.
Welsh National Standard Distance Triathlon Championships
Welsh national champions were crowned over the standard distance at Bala Standard Triathlon which also hosted the penultimate stage and final standard distance triathlon in this year’s Welsh Triathlon Super Series.
There are still a few opportunities to race for British and Home Nation Championships titles in 2022 – find out more below.
(Image: World Triathlon)
