Lesley Patterson won an elite silver medal at the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships in Den Haag, Netherlands and the British Age-Group team scooped two gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
Great Britain sent its largest ever cross triathlon team to the Netherlands to contest the sea swim, beach and trail bike and beach run, which included sand dunes before finishing on the crowded boulevard of the seaside resort of Kijkduin.
Course changes from last year, when the venue hosted the ETU Cross Tri Champs, meant that more soft sand and less hardpack trails were included. This made the course extremely challenging with no respite.
Off road triathlon legend, Conrad Stoltz of South Africa won the men’s race, whilst Helen Erbenova (CZE) used her experience of having raced here last year to lift the women’s world title.
Lesley Patterson, the 32 year old USA based Scot, was unable to retain the world title that she won in Alabama last year, but was impressive winning the silver medal having missed training through illness recently.
In the Age-Group events Victoria Wilkinson (F40-44) and Peter Norman (M75-79) were outstanding in winning gold medals.
Results
Elite women
1. Helena Erbenova, CZE, 2:22:11
2. Lesley Paterson, GBR, 2:27:25
3. Chantell Widney, CAN, 2:30:43
5. Jacqueline Slack, GBR, 2:36:44
Elite men
1. Conrad Stoltz, RSA, 2:01:38
2. Ruben Ruzafa, ESP, 2:01:52
3. Brice Daubord, FRA, 2:02:37
17. Asa Shaw, GBR, 2:11:13
24. Rory Downie, GBR, 2:18:08
25. Doug Hall, GBR, 2:18:35
DNF Samuel Parker (U23), GBR
GBR Age-Group Medallists
Gold
Victoria Wilkinson (F40-44)
Peter Norman (M75-79)
Silver
Steve Ferguson (M30-34)
Bronze
Rachel Clay (F35-39)
Louise Hanley (F40-44)
Elizabeth Adams (F30-34)
