After a run of poor weather, in particular the afternoon before the race, sunny skies and calm sea conditions greeted over 250 athletes who took part in the 8th TriExercise Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon in Broad Haven.
After a run of poor weather, in particular the afternoon before the race, sunny skies and calm sea conditions greeted over 250 athletes who took part in the 8th TriExercise Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon in Broad Haven.
Competitors either took on the 1.5k swim, 43k bike, 10.6k run challenge single-handedly or formed a relay team for this iconic event in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which once again hosted the Welsh Triathlon Championships.
The event saw some superb performances, none more so than from local winner Oliver Simon (Pembrokeshire Tri/ TriExercise) who exited the water in second place, but took the lead after the first hill on the bike and went on to build a victory that stretched to nearly 7 minutes by the finish, completing the course in 2:15:16, just outside the course record he set last year.
Top female was Carol Bridge (Rhondda Tri) who dominated the women’s race finishing over 12 minutes clear of the next lady in 2:31:19, with second placed Clair Davies (Pembrokeshire Tri/CD Training) coming home in 2:43:40 scooping the veteran’s title in the process. First super-veteran was Christina Smith (Celtic Tri) in 3:13:02.
The men’s veteran’s title went to David Murray (Pencoed Tri) in 2:26:37, and an excellent 6th place overall. First super-veteran was Steve Pryke (Pembrokeshire Tri) in 2:46:43 and the first vintage veteran was Charles Cowan in 2:54:37.
The hotly contested club prize, sponsored by Eddie Thomas Garage, was won yet again by Pembrokeshire Tri (Oliver Simon, Jonathan Pryke and Paul Davies) in a combined time of 7:15:42. In the relay category, the honours again went to Pembrokeshire with Beauty and the Beasts (Jenny Manners, Mark Jones and Luke Watson) coming home in 2:26:55. The fastest corporate relay team was won by event sponsors TriExercise, winning a prize donated by Newgale YMCA.
Mike Griffiths once again completed the event dressed as Batman, and collected money for event charity Wales Air Ambulance as he went around the course. Further funds were raised for this worthy charity by the raffle of a week’s holiday kindly donated by Timber Hill.
The local community really got behind the event, including The Ocean who provided the event HQ and food for the volunteers. In addition to the sponsors mentioned already, the event had great support from Harcourt Colourprint (who also entered 2 relay teams), Rockpool Design, Broad Haven YHA, Drew Buckley Photography, Speedy Hire, St. Bride’s Bay Clothing, Station Self Drive and Physiofit West Wales.
Members of Pembrokeshire Paddlers and Haverfordwest Kayak Club provided safety cover for the swim alongside David Perry and Bob Hannaford in a RIB, with further support from the RNLI inshore lifeboat and beach lifeguards.
The event organisers were delighted with the support provided by Pembrokeshire County Council, who provided support from several services including highways and Pembrokeshire Leisure, and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park by allowing use of their car park for the event. Amongst the 80+ volunteers on the day, several were from Valero’s Community Volunteers and event charity Wales Air Ambulance.
Full results can be found on the Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club web-site www.pembrokeshire-tri.org.uk, along with details of the club’s final event of 2012, the Pembrokeshire Half Marathon and 10k in Dale on 30th September. Photographs from the event can be found at www.drewbuckleyphotography.com.
Results
1500m Swim – 43km Bike – 10.6km Run
OVERALL MEN
1 Oliver Simon, Pembrokeshire Tri/TriExercise 2:15:16
2 James Hockin, Celtic Tri 2:21:55
3 Ross Simpson, Urban Cyclery Swansea 2:22:08
OVERALL WOMEN
1 Carol Bridge, Rhondda Tri 2:31:19
2 Clair Davies, Pembrokeshire Tri/CD Training 2:43:40
3 Davina Rutledge, BAD Tri 2:44:26
JUNIOR MEN (17-19)
1 Charles George 3:03:18
VETERAN MEN (40+)
1 David Murray, Pencoed Tri 2:26:37
2 Andrew Maclean 2:32:35
3 Alun Wood, BCTTT 2:39:43
VETERAN WOMEN (40+)
1 Clair Davies, Pembrokeshire Tri/CD Training 2:43:40
2 Celia White, Pembrokeshire Tri 2:51:06
3 Jane Lewis 2:53:59
SUPER VETERAN MEN (50+)
1 Steve Pryke, Pembrokeshire Tri 2:46:43
SUPER VETERAN WOMEN (50+)
1 Christina Smith, Celtic Tri 3:13:02
VINTAGE VETERAN MEN (60+)
1 Charles Cowan 2:54:37
RELAY TEAMS
1 Beauty & The Beasts 2:26:55
2 OMD 2:29:10
3 TriExercise 2:36:39
THE LATEST GRAND PRIX SERIES STANDINGS WILL BE PUBLISHED SHORTLY
Photos
Photo credits: www.drewbuckleyphotography.com
