Catch up on a weekend of triathlon action from the return of the ITU World Paratriathlon Series to Age-Group Winter Triathlon medals…
Jump to: Devonport ITU World Paratriathlon Series | Cheile Gradistei ETU Winter Triathlon European Championships | Snowy Mountains OTU Cross Triathlon Oceania Championships | Devonport OTU Sprint Triathlon Oceania Cup and Oceania Championships
Devonport ITU World Paratriathlon Series
Michael Taylor (PTS4) was one of 70 paratriathletes to open a new decade of World Paratriathlon Series racing over the weekend. This was also Taylor’s World Paratriathlon Series debut after being added to British Triathlon’s World Class Performance Programme for 2020.
Taylor set off in great fashion, entering the first transition ahead of his competition after completing the 750m swim in an impressive time of 00:09:40. The two-time British national champion crossed the finish line less than 20 seconds behind Hideki Uda (JPN) to achieve a 4th place finish.
This event marks the first of a three-race series in which Taylor has laid a solid foundation. Remaining races for the World Paratriathlon Series will take place at Yokohama in May and Montreal in June.
Cheile Gradistei ETU Winter Triathlon European Championships
A number of British athletes travelled to Romania for the European Championships, with both elite men and Age-Group competitors racing across a run, bike and ski.
In the elite men’s race, Alex Rhodes and Angus Young finished in 18th and 19th place respectively. The pair crossed the line within a minute of each other, with Rhodes clocking in at 01:04:22 and Young 01:05:11.
Age-Group athletes brought home a plethora of medals of all types, including Joanne Pitten’s impressive gold medal in the F40-44 category. More podium finishes were achieved over the weekend, including a silver medal won by Frances Hooper in F60-64.
There was a flurry of bronze medals for British triathletes. Oliver Gerard-Pearse in M25-29, Christopher Gouldsmith in M30-34, Simon Hedley in M35-39 and Nicholas Farnell in M60-64 all achieved 3rd place finishes. Keith Jenns (M50-54) finished in 4th place at the championships.
Snowy Mountains OTU Cross Triathlon Oceania Championships
Jacqueline Slack, Britain’s sole representative at Lake Crackenback, brought home a silver medal after a superb showing at the Snowy Mountains. Slack set herself apart during the swim in which she entered the first transition around half a minute before any of her rivals. Despite falling back slightly on the bike leg, an assured run allowed Slack to cross the line in 2nd place a full minute before Australian Penny Slater in 3rd place.
Devonport OTU Sprint Triathlon Oceania Cup and Oceania Championships
Cameron Main finished 29th in Australia with a time of 00:59:07. He ended the race with a blisteringly fast run (00:15:25), the second fastest of the weekend behind eventual winner, Marcel Walkington (AUS).
