The sun was shining on the QE2 Country Park in Ashington for the 2018 British Age-Group Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships

The fourth and final British Triathlon Age-Group Championship event of the 2018 season took place on Sunday in Northumberland at the Woodhorn Museum Triathlon, organised by V02 Max Racing Events. The Country Park has been a popular triathlon venue for several years now with the 16-hectare lake and surrounding woodland and grasslands providing a perfect venue for the sport.

James Wilson took the tape to add the British title to his collection of World and European Age-Group accolades.

The event attracted more than 250 starters to compete for British Triathlon championship medals, but also to enjoy the excellent course and fine organisation from the hosts. Fantastic feedback all round, helped even more by our recent fine weather.

Competition was very tight at the front of the men’s race with, Edward Castro (Bedford Harriers), leading the way through the opening 750m swim in typical style. Having won his Age-Group recently over the same distance in the Triathlon England National Championships, he was seeking to continue his fine form.

The bike leg saw Edward caught by James Wilson (Loftus & Whitby AC), the current European and World Age-Group Champion in the 35-39 category, who would go on to add the British title to that collection.

Daniel Jenkin (Durham City Harriers and AC), who recently won Gold and Silver medals at the Fyn Multisport World Championships, used his running prowess to take second place and pass Edward, but it was not enough to make up for the time lost to James in the swim. The top three finishers were separated by just 53 seconds.

In the women’s race, Emily Legg (Wetherby Runners AC) gained a lead of almost 30 seconds after a fantastic swim and set off strongly on the bike.  Vickie Wilkinson (Velo Vitesse) was almost two minutes behind Emily after the swim, but she used her cycling skills to good effect over the 24km course to overcome that deficit – and more – to put her right in contention for the overall win starting the run.

However, the fastest athlete of the day would be decided on the run where Jane Hodgson (Morpeth Harriers & AC) produced a fantastic performance, almost three minutes quicker than anyone else around the footpaths of the QE2 Country Park.

Congratulations to all of the athletes who raced and particular thanks to the organisers and volunteers for producing a top quality day of triathlon racing.

British Age-Group Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships at Woodhorn Museum Triathlon – Sunday 15^th July 2018 (750m / 24km / 6km)

Men Overall

1^st – James Wilson (Loftus & Whitby AC) – 1:10:00 – (35-39)
2^nd – Daniel Jenkin (Durham City Harriers & AC) – 1:10:29 – (30-34)
3^rd – Edward Castro (Bedford Harriers) – 1:10:53 – (30-34)
4^th – Jamie Price (Cardiff Met University) – 1:12:21 – (20-24)
5^th – Graham Crammond (Physiohaus Health Performance) – 1:12:24 – (35-39) 

Women Overall

1^st – Jane Hodgson (Morpeth Harriers & AC) – 1:19:44 – (35-39)*
2^nd – Emily Legg (Wetherby Runners AC) – 1:21:17 – (20-24)
3^rd – Vickie Wilkinson (Velo Vitesse) – 1:22:12 – (45-49)
4^th – Shauna Paice (Team Bodyworks) – 1:23:57 – (20-24)
5^th – Stephanie Maclean Dann (North Shields Polytechnic Club) – 1:24:03 – (40-44)

*Not awarded a British Age-Group title under terms of British Championship rules and eligibility.

2018 British Age-Group Sprint Distance Triathlon Champions

Full Results