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A Race of Two Halves at Bala

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What better way to start September than a day at one of Wales’ most scenic locations. Tough Runner UK and Clwb Beicio’r Bala put on a great show in what can be said was a race to remember. The race doubled up as Stage 5 of the Super Series and also, the Welsh National Standard Distance Championships.

 

The weather was the talking point as the wind and rain made the swim leg tough for athletes and the temperature meant that it was warmer for swimmers in the water than it was for spectators. But the sun eventually shone through to welcome the athletes on the bike and run legs.

The eligibility for Welsh titles and Super Series prizes differ, with any valid Home Nation member eligible for the Super Series podium, while only valid Welsh Triathlon members can win a Welsh title. This meant that podiums differed between the overall race results, Super Series results and Welsh Championships.

 Fastest swim of the race went to Chris Blackabee in 15:37, followed by senior athletes Ross Hosking and Kieran Morris and Junior athlete Jack Southam in that order.

Eventual race winner Lewis Askey showed why he’s a professional road racing cyclist, with the fastest bike leg of the race, taking that leg win by nearly three minutes from new Welsh Senior Men’s Champion, Kieran Morris.

Veteran Jonathan Phillips showed those young ones how it’s done by storming away with the fastest run of the day in an incredible 35.09. Chris Standidge also had a great run and his time of 35.41 saw him win wave 1, but what we didn’t know at the time, was that fastest athlete of the day, Lewis Askey, was in Wave 4.

The Super Series podium on the day saw three new male athletes for this series with Triathlon England member Chris Standidge taking first place from Welsh members Kieran Morris in second and Ross Hosking in third. However, as Chris isn’t a member of Welsh Triathlon, Kieran Morris took the Senior Men’s Welsh title from Ross Hosking in second and Guto Morgans in third. Luke Richards from Rhondda Tri Club still leads the overall men’s Super Series, after coming eighth at Bala.

It’s becoming a familiar group taking podium places in the ladies Super Series as a group of five athletes are alternating places. However, Bala saw the return of GOG Triathlon Club athlete, and 2021 overall female Super Series champion, Rhian Roxburgh following an injury. She claimed top spot with a winning time of 2:11:50 ahead of Carys Mai Hughes in second and Chloe Dooley in third.

Chloe Dooley had the fastest swim leg in the ladies’ field but was passed on the bike leg by Roxburgh who had a storming ride. Chloe also had the fastest run time of the day in the ladies’ race with a time of 36.43

Carys Mai Hughes maintains her lead at the top of the female overall Super Series standings, but the race for second and third is hotting up going into the final stage in Llandudno.

Age groups meant that Rhian Roxburgh became Welsh Veteran Female champion, with Carys Mai Hughes taking the title in the Senior age group.

Elsewhere in the Welsh Championships, Jack Southam is our new Welsh Junior Champion while David Murray’s impressive twelfth place overall saw him crowned Welsh Veteran champion.

There were equally impressive performances amongst our more mature Welsh athletes with Paul Belcher of Pen Y Bont becoming Super Vintage Veteran Welsh champion with GOG’s Alison Shepherd taking the female Super Veteran title.

 

The Super Series standings after Stage 5 can be found here

 

Bala Race Results 

 

Superseries Stage 5

Superseries  Male Female
1st Chris Standidge Rhian Roxburgh
2nd Kieran Morris Caris Mai Hughes
3rd Ross Hosking Chloe Dooley

 

Welsh National Standard Distance Championships Results

Junior  Male  Female
1st Jack Southam  
2nd Johnathan Price  

 

Senior Male Female
1st Kieran Morris Caris Mai Hughes
2nd Ross Hoskings Chloe Dooley
3rd Guto Morgans Claire Walters

 

Veteran Male Female
1st Jonathan Phillips Rhian Roxburgh
2nd Matt Blue Catherine Marks
3rd Neil Fulstow Caryl Willaims

 

Vintage Veteran Male Female
1st David Murray Elizabeth Williams
2nd Clive Tilbury Jennifer Aylward
3rd Gareth Bowyer Gail Osborne

 

Super Veteran Male Male Female
1st Paul White

Alsion Shepherd

2nd Malcolm Harrison Llinos Davies
3rd Emyr Williams Christina Smith

 

Super Vintage Veteran  Male Female
1st Paul Belcher  
2nd Tony Clements  

 

Any podium athletes from the Welsh National Championships at Bala who didn’t attend the medal presentation, please contact zoejames@welshtriathlon.org who can arrange to post your medal to you. 

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