Mega July World Champion Cole in Denmark, Challenge Roth, Bala Big Bash and more!
GOG Triathlon Club were proud to be represented in a group of Team GB Age Group Athletes in the World Championships Multisport Festival in Fyn in Denmark last week. Angie Hughes and husband Geran took part in the sprint duathlon event. Angie raced well for the first time at this level and finished in 1.17.38 taking 10th in her age group. Geran fought hard against some of the fastest sprinters in the world and finished strongly in 1.05.22, 16th position in his age category. The GOG’s duathlon expert Simon Cole had a great race, finishing in 1.44.08 narrowly missing first place, but taking a place on the podium with a silver medal for team GB in his M35 category. Victoria Cole raced the Aquathlon and had a fine performance on the run and swim to finish 5th in her age group in 37.27.
Some of the GOG Squad returned from Germany last week where they took part in the iconic long distance race “Challenge Roth”. The 3.8 km swim takes place in the Main Donau Canal, the 180km bike is though the Bavarian countryside and the 42km run takes athletes back along the canal and villages surrounding Roth. First timers taking on this distance Laurie Griffiths and Emer Sandham finished the race in 14.38.47 and 12.11.22 respectively. Greig Best was the first GOG male to finish in 10.50.34, he was followed by Simon Roxburgh 11.00.58, David Griffith 12.01.05 and Carlo Galeotti 12.43.52.
Last weekend Welsh Triathlon hosted the Bala Big Bash at Llyn Tegid where several members of the GOG Squad took part in events including a relatively new mixed relay format race on Saturday. In this exciting event teams of four compete against each other, individually swimming 300 metres, then moving onto a 9km bike leg, finishing with a 2km run, before they pass the baton onto the next athlete. First place in the mixed team open event was won by the combination of experienced triathletes Rhian Roxburgh and Gareth Bowyer, and novices Jon Seymour and Gemma Morgan. Other teams comprised of Richie Bartlett, John d’Albquerque, Cheryl Stewart, Paul Sanders, Simon Hick, Neil Vicars Harris, Andrew Elwood, Dinah Hazeldine, Andrew Williams, Steph Conway, Sasha Jones, Stu Goldsack, Mared Dafydd, Paula Stephens, Geri Evans, Joni Stubbs Thrush, Sarah Massey, Bleddyn Evans, Sarah Gallacher, Rob Stewart, John Farrell, Michelle Lindfield, Michelle Farrell, Ann d’Albquerque, Llinos Jones.
On Sunday last Dinah Hazeldine and Lisa Hughes raced the Diva Devas sprint triathlon in Chester, with Lisa finishing in 1.51.55 and Dinah finishing in 2.08.33.