The British Elite Duathlon Championships take place at Rockingham Motor Racing Circuit this Sunday 29 March 2015 and an all-star field has assembled to get the domestic elite season underway.
Three-time British Elite Duathlon Champion and member of the UK Sport Lottery funded World-Class Performance Programme Mark Buckingham comes into the event having finished second at the ETU Triathlon European Cup in Quarteira last weekend.
Mark has high expectations in Rockingham, commenting: “I’m looking forward to racing at Rockingham again having done a cycle race there before. To use the same track as they use for motor sport is great; we don't get to race at these types of venues very often in the UK.
“The Elite Duathlon Championships is one of the most exciting races of the year. It’s so intense and fast with the last run leg being only 7-8mins long, you can go really hard straight out of transition.
“I've made the podium in all of the four championships I've done, so that's the minimum performance I want to deliver at Rockingham.”
Adam Bowden, another member of British Triathlon’s World-Class Programme, will be another one to watch and Mark Buckingham believes he could be one of the challengers for the title. Mark added: “My good friend and rival Adam Bowden will be my biggest opposition, we both have run personal best’s under eight minutes for 3km and it's likely that the race will come down to a 2.5km foot race.”
Mark and Adam won’t have it all their own way, as defending champion, Phil Wylie will be on the start line and aiming to leave Rockingham with his second successive title.
Youth Olympic Champion, Ben Dijkstra will also be racing in the senior field this year and after a phenomenal season in 2014, he will be another athlete aiming for a strong performance following his impressive win at the 2015 Quarteira ETU Junior Triathlon European Cup last weekend.
In the women’s field, Emma Pallant will be aiming to make it two successive victories at Rockingham after beating Katie Hewison to the finish line in 2014. Emma has already got the season underway competing in the ITU World Triathlon Series race in Abu Dhabi, and will be keen to get the domestic racing season off to a winning start.
British Elite Junior Triathlete of the Year and member of the UK Sport Lottery funded World-Class Programme Sophie Coldwell will also open her season at Rockingham. Sophie finished second in the junior race in 2014, and this year moves up to the senior ranks.
World Paratriathlon Champion, Lauren Steadman (PT4) will get the domestic season underway racing in the paraduathlon race along with fellow UK Sport Lottery funded paratriathletes, Joe Townsend (PT1), George Peasgood (PT4) and Andrew Lewis (PT2). Athletes will complete a 5km run, 20km bike and 2.5km run.
The seniors will also compete over sprint distance duathlon (5km run, 20km bike, 2.5km run), battling it out for a share of a £5,000 prize fund as well the first British Elite Championship honours up for grabs in the 2015 season. The juniors will also compete over sprint distance and will be aiming to secure points in the opening race of the 2015 British Triathlon Youth and Junior Super Series.
Youth duathletes will also be racing in the Youth Super Series opener and will compete over half the distance of the seniors (2.5km run, 10km bike, 1.25km run).
All races will be held over a multi-lap format, making it a great event for spectators to enjoy at what is a truly impressive venue. However, if you can’t make it to the Rockingham Circuit, British Triathlon is delighted to announce that this year’s event will once again have comprehensive live timing available on www.britishtriathlon.org
