14 Sep Bumper Weekend of Action for Torbay Tri Club
As the end of the triathlon season quickly approaches members of Torbay Tri Club were out in force representing the club over the weekend in the busiest weekend of the year.
Saturday 12th September 2020
On Saturday 12th September three members headed up to the popular Cotwolds lakes. The area hosts numerous triathlons throughout the year and is an ideal place for triathlon with the flat quiet roads and calm sheltered lakes providing the perfect setting for fast racing. Bobby Singh and Jon Glasser took on the standard distance race whilst Holly Jones tackled the aquabike race. Bobby had a strong race finishing 131 in 2:42, unfortunately Jon had a chip problem and was omitted from the results.
In the aquabike Holly had a strong race finishing as 5th female and 16th overall in a time of 1:33:46 with the swim in particular playing to her strengths.
Photo Credit – Bobby Singh
Sunday 13th September
Not one to shy away from a tough race Steve Donnelly performed well at the Croyde Ocean Triathlon. The swim took place in a stretch of coast more renowned for surfing, before moving onto an out and back cycle route that takes in some of the most stunning countryside the area has to offer. The race then continued onto a hilly 12k trail run to really test the athletes until the finish. The race which was longer than the normal Olympic distance triathlon is certainly not for the faint hearted with a segment of run on the beach to sap the remaining energy the legs may have. Despite all of this Steve had an excellent race finishing in 33rd overall with a time of 2:40:51.
The postponed Torbay Triathlon finally took place at Torbay Leisure Centre with plenty of members lining up for the race. The format of a pool swim before heading out onto the Velopark and finishing with laps of the playing fields is a popular race for athletes of all experiences. Despite the turbulent year Torbay Tri Club membership continues to grow and several of the competitors were not only racing for the first time representing Torbay Tri Club, but this was actually their their first triathlon ever. Notable performances of the day included Frank Reay winning the Vet 50 category, Emma Jefferys winning the female senior category, Sue Hayes 1st female Vet50, Mark Colombini coming 3rd Vet40 category and Richard Rollings 1st male Vet60. Nicky Washbrook in her first sprint Tri claimed a well earned 3rd Vet 40. The ever consistent Great Britain athlete Gary Burman finished 5th overall and knocked 2 minutes off his previous course time.
5th Gary Burman 50:58 (2nd male Senior), 12th Mark Colombini 55:01 (3rd Vet40), 21st Frank Reay 58:08 (1st Vet50), 22nd Emma Jefferys 58:19 (1st female senior), 25th Paul Chamings 59:23, 29th Nik Langdon- Ward 1:00:41, 35th Nicky Washbrook 1:01:16 (3rd female Vet40), 46th Jamie Kingston 1:04:30, 49th Francesca Wright 1:05:07, 52nd Danny Davis 1:05:28, 57th Sue Hayes 1:07:14 (1st woman Vet50), 58 Richard Rollings 1:07:22 (1st male Vet60), 69th Rachel Carter 1:12:42, 78 Naoko McKinnon 1:18:10, 83 Sarah Mills 1:23:14.
Photo Credit – Howard Brugge