The championships were held by Big Cow Events at Emberton Country Park and began in foggy conditions on a cold autumnal morning, as the recent mild weather finally gave way.

 

The sun did not make a significant appearance until the event was drawing to a close, meaning competitors crossed the finish line with very cold hands and feet, but this did not stop them enjoying what was a well-organised championship event. 
 

The fastest man overall was Julian Lings, who won the M25-29 age group in 1:51.57, and the fastest woman was Wendy Nicholls, putting in a superb performance in the F45-49 age group to beat her younger rivals in 2:10.01.
 

Lee Piercy was second man in 1:53.26 and Phil Melling third in 1:53.45, while Victoria Smith was second woman in 2:11.50 and Sam Aplin third in 2:12.17.
 

Lings was delighted with the result, particularly as it came just four weeks after he won his age group at the 2014 Powerman ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships. “It was a really great race," he said. "But having just returned from the World Championships I wasn’t sure how I would perform so I’m really happy with the result.”
 

Nicholls was equally pleased with her result, and with the race itself. "I absolutely loved it," she said. "The run's my strong point so that was good and I just had to keep battling on the bike and then no one was going to get past me on the run."

 

Of the returning champions from 2013, Esther Evans (F40-44) and George Black (M75-79) both won titles again.

 

2014 British Age-Group Duathlon Champions

M17-18 Benjamin Hindley 2:11:27 

M20-24 Lewis Eccleston 1:56:00 

F20-24 Joanna Wright 2:13:54 

M25-29 Julian Lings 1:51:57 

F25-29 Sam Aplin  2:12:17

M30-34 Peter Ellis 1:53:59  

F30-34 Hannah Troop 2:16:58 

M35-39 Phil Melling 1:53:45  

F35-39 Sian Birks 3:23:10 

M40-44 Lee Piercy 1:53:26 

F40-44 Esther Evans 2:14:13 

M45-49 Jim Burdett 1:58:51 

F45-49 Wendy Nicholls 2:10:01 

M50-54 Stuart Hall 2:00:27 

F50-54 Juliet Vickery 2:18:28 

M55-59 Jeremy Tomlinson 2:07:30  

F55-59 Nora Haggart 2:29:47 

M60-64 Nigel Gates 2:10:19  

F60-64 Margaret Hollamby 2:31:02 

M65-69 Mick Anglim 2:22:55 

M70-74 Vernon Thomas 2:46:32 

M75-79 George Black 2:43:01 [ENDS]