It’s an extremely busy weekend of European competition. Athletes will be representing Great Britain in Holten, Netherlands and Altafulla, Spain.
Holten ETU Sprint Triathlon Premium European Cup
The Premium European Cup in Holten will feature Richard Murray (RSA) to ensure that it’s a high quality field racing over the sprint distance. Doug Roberts races again having done back-to-back weekends at the European standard and sprint distance championships in Austria and then Germany. Ben Dijkstra breaks out after time studying for his A levels, and Sian Raisley features in the women’s race. There’s also a junior European Cup race in Holten featuring nine British athletes.
Holten ETU Sprint Triathlon Premium European Cup; Saturday 1 July:
David Bishop, Ben Dijkstra, Iestyn Harrett, Chris Perham, Douglas Roberts, Jack Willis
Fenella Langridge, Megan Mcdonald, Julie Nimmo, Bronwen Owen, Sian Rainsley
Holten ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup; Saturday 1 July:
Edward Beecher, Cameron Harris, Cameron Main, Matthew Willis, Frederick Webb
Sophie Alden, Issy Morris, Erin Wallace, Abbie Williams
Altafulla ETU Triathlon and Paratriathlon European Cup and Mediterranean Championships
Altafulla, Spain hosts another European Cup event, which incorporates both the Mediterranean Championships and an ITU Paratriathlon World Cup.
The ITU Paratriathlon World Cup has been introduced this year to provide a more accessible tier of competition below the World Paratriathlon Series events. These are essential for developing athletes who need to score ranking points in order to access the top level of competition.
The team includes newly crowned European Champions, Jade Jones (PTWC) and Cassie Cava (PTS4) as well as European Championship silver medallist, Steve Crowley (PTS4).
Jones commented: “I’m keen to build on my experiences that I’ve already had in Yokohama and Kitzbuhel. The conditions could be pretty tough with the temperature in the 30's and so it will be interesting to see how that will play a part too.”
Making her international debut in paratriathlon is Paralympic Champion swimmer, Claire Cashmore, who transferred to paratriathon after the Rio Paralympic Games.
Cashmore said: “This is a great opportunity for me to gain experience racing against some top international athletes. As it’s my first sprint distance, I haven’t got really high expectations. The main goal for me is to go through the process and use it as a learning opportunity.”
Cashmore will line up alongside British teammate, Kerry Large in the PTS5 category.
Bret Crossley (PTWC) and John Fulton (PTS2) will both be looking to build upon their strong performances in the previous Paratriathlon World Cup event in Besancon a few weeks ago.
Also racing is World and European Championship multiple medallist, Lizzie Tench (PTWC) and Ruth Wilson (PTS4) will start in her first international race of the season.
ETU Triathlon European Cup and Mediterranean Championships; Sunday 2 July:
Rory Atkins, Harry Leleu, Fergus Roberts, Natalie Milne, Elle Twentyman
Altafulla ITU Paratriathlon World Cup; Sunday 2 July:
PTWC: Bret Crossley, Lizzie Tench, Jade Jones
PTS2: John Fulton
PTS4: Steven Crowley, Cassie Cava, Ruth Wilson
PTS5: Kerry Large, Claire Cashmore
Ripon Triathlon
The third of six Triathlon England National Championships take place this weekend, this time in the North Yorkshire city of Ripon. The standard distance event also doubles up as an opportunity to qualify for the Great Britain Age-Group Team.
