Three triathlons and more
- brian17harris
- May 18
- 4 min read
This week we lead with plenty of triathlon and aquathlon news.
The club had two athletes competing for GB in their age groups in the European Triathlon Middle Distance Championships in Pamplona-Navarra in Spain, incorporating MD Aquabike and Aquathlon Championships. The events had two venues - Alloz for the Swim and T1 and Pamplona for T2, Run and Finish, which may be the “logistical issue” mentioned below.
Ann Sherrington was competing in aquathlon on Thursday, and Kate Kilby was in the middle distance triathlon on Saturday.
Kate finished 2nd in her age group and sent this report
“The start was at a reservoir with clear water in lovely surroundings. It was a hilly bike leg in hot weather. Both legs went well. The run was always going to be a challenge as my foot has been preventing training. I decided to walk-run and joined a fellow athlete who was also struggling to finish. So you can imagine my surprise when we overtook the French lady also in my age category and so I claimed a silver medal. It was a tough race and logistically challenging, so I was delighted with the result.”
Ann shares her experience
“Evening start to the Aquathlon at the same reservoir as Kate. Sprint distance of 1k swim and 5k run with a steep 200m run to transition inbetween. The Age Group women aged 55-84 lined up in my start wave. Swim was full of elbows and quite feisty but went really well, as I eventually managed to draft off some fast feet. Managed to pace the hilly run to have enough left at the end for a sprint finish which felt good. (Thank you Ciren running coaches!). Came 10/16 which is much better than last year’s 14/17. Think I did enough to qualify for Euros 2026. Very happy with the result!” Fingers crossed for next year Ann.
Back in the UK, Nottingham was the venue for the popular Outlaw Triathlon weekend.
On Saturday, Rich Allen representing his “works team”, competed in the RAF sprint triathlon championships (held within the overall open event) over the flat and fast open water course. Finishing very well up in a big field (37/505) his time of 1.06.53 earned him the following :-
1st AG RAF 🥇. 3rd overall RAF 🥉. 5th/30 AG overall
{Ed. - not being personally familiar with “what does good look for a triathlon”, but having just re-started road cycling myself until I can run again, Rich’s 24.5mph bike leg looked pretty damn fast. If I’ve read the website results correctly it was indeed - being the 5th fastest bike leg of all the 500-odd finishers. Cracking ride!}
On Sunday, Corinne Clark competed in the Outlaw half ironman triathlon event.
She says she was a holding a little back on the swim and bike legs as she was concerned about the last run leg (a half marathon), but was pleasantly surprised with that, and indeed finished with a podium place (3/25) in her F40-44 age group. She was overall happy with her performance (4.54.18) and is looking forward to another event in 2 weeks time. Good luck with that one Corinne.
More local still, Jack Bonnick took part in the Fiver Cotswold middle (Olympic) distance triathlon. With his Strava post modestly reading “First tri in 2 years, some cobwebs but overall a great morning” you wouldn’t have realised he finished in an impressive 7th place in a field of almost 500 in a time of 2.08.30.
This should bode well for Jack's planned half distance event in July leading up to his A race, a full ironman in September assuming training goes well.
TRAIL RUNNING
Also on Saturday, three club members took part in local trail races, organised by club member Gareth James and his wife, in aid of North Cerney village hall. James Thomas won the shorter 5k event whilst Simon Campbell (getting into shape for the Fairford 10K) and Angela Hilditch took on the 10k. This was Angela’s first trail race, but not her last – “will definitely be back! It was such a beautiful race, I loved it!”
Speaking of back, see photo below of James in the beautiful environs of North Cerney modelling the club's new cool aero vest (Ed. sorry James, your frontal photo had unidentified kids in it ).
17 May 2025, North Cerney Scamper, 10km trail
1 Scott Williams (unattached) 44.237 Simon Campbell (Cirencester AC) 48.33
53 Angela Hilditch 1.08.34
78 finished
5km
1 James Thomas (Cirencester AC) 20.44 (course record)
30 finished www.northcerneyvillagehall.com/fun-run
PARKRUNS
The Cirencester event saw a good turnout of both senior and junior members, several with family also running (sign them up!).
The first 3 members home were all juniors - Edward Knight and Toby Conway setting new PB’s in the process, and Albert Platts equalling his. Congratulations boys.
The first senior home for the club, and with the best age-graded score of the day at 82.7% was Karen Higuera.
Cirencester: 12 Edward Knight (J) 20.44, 16 Albert Platts (J) 21.00, 19 Toby Conway (J) 21.54, 33 Karen Higuera 23.08, 35 Jon Young 23.22, 45 Neal Broadley 23.46, 55 Paul Timms 24.21,57 Isabella Stickney (J) 24.22, 91 George Platts (J) 25.53, 124 Jocelyn Randall 27.15,131 Gordon Jones 27.37, 139 Bill Leggate 27.59, 160 Tom Morgan 28.32,179 Pam Wheeler 29.02, 192 Richard Edwards 29.33, 193 Jonathan Higgs 29.37,204 Kirsty Leggate 30.07, 363 finished.
Lydiard Park, Swindon: 40 Andy Duff 21.52, 437 finished.
Stratford Park, Stroud: 28 Stephen Hale 26.43, 94 finished.
University Parks, Oxford: 327 Phil Davey 27.22, 763 finished.
Weymouth: 55 Ben Hilditch 22.07, 475 finished.
Worcester: 45 Martin Croucher 21.52, 561 finished.
Chelmsford Central: 532 James Hunton 30.16, 871 finished.
Exmouth: 402 Ruth Fulford 33.50, 483 finished.
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