Leeds Castle Tri 2019 – Sprint & Standard

The Striders were out in force over the course of the Leeds Castle Triathlon weekend, competing, marshalling and supporting. The Sprint distance on the Saturday and the Olympic on the Sunday are both included in the club championships with it all still to play for.

Kicking off on Saturday for the 7 Striders taking part in the Sprint Distance with a 750m open water swim in the moat, a 26km bike along the foot of the north downs and a challenging 5k around the Castle estate on a very hot June day. Special mention goes to Paul Bowditch who was first male strider home in a time of 1.32.59 placing him 47th out of a field of 493 entrants, 5th in his age group. Rachel Ward was first female strider home just missing a podium position with 4th in her age group and 148th overall and a big well done to Claire Wright for her first triathlon. Results

Sunday’s Standard was an ITU 2020 World Championship Qualifier so the competition was hot as well as the weather! A non-wetsuit swim was called because of the moat temperature, which set for a challenging start for the 8 Striders taking part in the longer distance. James Reeves took it in his stride coming first home for the Striders men in 2.34.00, 126 overall out of 475. Lisa Hammond was first lady Strider home in 3.02.11, 350th overall. Results

What a great weekend for the Striders and all that took part in this great local event.

Ocean Lake, Bridge Duathlon, White Oak Triathlon

Ocean Lake Sprint Triathlon – Leybourne Lakes – 2nd June- 750m Lake Swim; 18k Bike; 5k Run

Nick Freeman represented the Striders in the first of this seasons sprint tris held at Leybourne Lakes. He came 41st overall out of a field of 77 entrants crossing the line in 1.23.18.

The Bridge Midweek Duathlon – Cyclopark, Gravesend – 4th June – 5k Run, 20k Bike; 3.3k Run

Alison Davey took part in her first solo duathlon, which was 2 of a series of 5 mid week duathlons being held at the Cyclopark at Gravesend. She crossed the line 1.38.42 for which she was presented a trophy for 2nd lady! Alison has now got the duathlon bug and said it won’t be her last!

White Oak Triathlon – White Oak Leisure Centre, Swanley – 9th June – 400m Pool Swim; 22km Cycle; 5k Run

Ian Gower travelled to Swanley to take part in the White Oak Triathlon which in its 30th year is one of the oldest Triathlon events in England. He crossed the line in 1.21.13 placing him 47th overall out of a field of 169 entrants, 5th in his age category.

South East Team Duathlon Championships

On Sunday 4 Novemer 21 Striders made up 7 teams for the South East Team Duathlon Championships held at Cyclopark in Gravesend.

The event, in which 31 teams were entered, involved a 3km run followed by a undulating technical 12.5km bike leg arpund the cyclopark and finished with another 3km run. I’m completion of the 18.5km the athletes tag their team mate to do the distance again until all 3 have finished.

First team back for the club and taking 2nd in the ladies competition were Liz Weeks, Ellie Hynes and Sally Smith. They had a combined time of 2hrs 40mins with Liz the fastest of the trio in 50mins 50secs.

Afterwards Sally said: ‘I felt really privileged to race alongside Liz and Ellie. They are fantastic athletes and taking a podium spot was a real bonus.’

The next team back taking 9th in the mixed team event were Claire Wright, Shelley Coker and James Reeves. They completed the event in a combined time of 2hrs 48mins.

Bragging rights for 3rd strider team home and takong 10th in the men’s event were Darren Billings, Andrew Howes and Daniel Edmondson in 2hrs 49mins.

2.40.47 – 2nd Womens Team

Sally SMITH 55:36

Liz WEEKS 50:50

Ellie HYNES 54:20

2:48:09 9th Mixed

Shelly COKER 1:01:47

Claire WRIGHT 56:33

James REEVES 49.51

2:49:20 10th Men’s Team

Darren BILLING 58:33

Andrew HOWES 1:00:51

Daniel EDMONDSON 49:58

2:52:12 10th Mixed

Paul BOWDITCH 54:20

Gina WOODFINE 1:04:05

Joseph LOVELOCK 53:49

2:54:06 12th Men’s Team

Kevin EASTOP 58:35

Steve PRINCE 53:59

John NUNES 1:01:34

3:07:46 12th Mixed Team

Ross PILCHER 56:51

Danielle SMITH 1:07:51

Lisa HAMMOND 1:03:06

3:24:39 6th Women’s team

Clare EASTOP 1:07:09

Katy JACKSON 1:07:24

Nicola GARNER 1:10:07

Milton Creek Duathlon

2 Striders stayed local taking part in the Swale Tri Club duathlon held at Milton Creek Country Park on Sunday 28 October.

The event involved a 2.5km run, 10km off road bike and a final 2.5km run.

Sean Bootes and Sally Smith were both racing. Both athletes had to contend with absolute deluge on the bike leg making for tricky conditions.

Sally finished 2nd lady in 50mins. Sean completed the event in an hour.

European Triathlon Union Multisport Championships 2018

Sittingbourne Striders’ Lynne Hacon competed in the 2018 European Triathlon Union Multisport Championships held in Ibiza, representing the GB Age Group team in the Aquabike event. The Aquabike event should have been a 1.2 mile swim followed by a 56 mile bike but torrential rain on the day delayed the start of the event and the bike course was reduced to 28 miles. Lynne finished 6thin her age group in a time of 2hr 20 minutes.

Hever Castle Triathlon

Testing conditions did not put 7 striders off as they entered the waters of the spectacular 38 acre Hever Castle Lake and River Eden. After completing the open-water swim of the Hever Castle Triathlon they hopped on their bikes for an undulating circuit through the High Weald of Kent which dipped into the stunning Ashdown forest. The largely off-road run circumnavigated the estate before returning to the award-winning castle grounds where they completed this challenging triathlon with a tree-lined finish beside the lake.

Steve Prince took part in one of the longer distance triathlons on offer…’The Guantlet’ middle distance triathlon involved a 1900m swim; 90km cycle & 21km run which he completed in 7.07.58 placing him 70th overall out of 182 entrants.

Andrew Howes was first home out of the 5 Striders who took part in ‘The Hever’ Olympic distance triathlon which consisted of a 1500m swim; 40k cycle & a 10,500m run.He completed the course in a time of 3:53:35 placing him 474th out of 631 who completed the event. Kevin Eastop was close behind him crossing the line in 3:55: 34 – 490th overall. Rachael Robertson 4:00: 21 – 513rd overall. Unfortunately some confusion lead Clare Eastop & Phil Robertson to not complete the full distance of the bike course but they still went on to finish the event.

Ellie Hynes took part in ‘The Anne Boleyn’ super sprint distance triathlon involving a 400m swim; 20k bike & 4k run. Ellie completed the course in 1:22:49 placing her 106th out of 827 competitors.

London Duathlon 2018

In Richmond Park on Sunday the 16th September three Sittingbourne Striders competed in the world’s largest duathlon. The three entered the 15th annual London Duathlon, completing a 10 km run, a 44 km bike race and a final 5 km run to the finish line, while dodging suicidal squirrels and six foot stags!

1423 Ian Gower 02:50:59
1450 Steve Shrimplin 02:54:57
2308 Andy Settle 03:27:30

Left to right: Steve Shrimplin; Ian Gower; Andy Settle

Ocean Lake Sprint Tri & Go Tri

Leybourne Lakes were busy with 2 events…the first was a Sprint tri which 2 Striders too part in. A 750m swim in the lake followed by a 18k bike and 5k run around the lake Katy Jackson crossed the line in 1:30:24 placing her 61st overall out of 80 entrants with Kevin Eastop close behind in 1:36:50 70th overall.

The second event was a GO TRI event a great way for novices and beginners to have a go at Triathlons for the first time with a 400m swim in the lake, a 10km bike and a 2500m run to end.

This was the first Triathlon for 2 Striders…Andrew Howes who crossed the line in 38:43 4th overall out of 17th entrants and Gina Woodfine 40:04 1st lady and 5th overall!

RideLondon 2018

Developed by the Mayor of London in 2013, Prudential RideLondon is the world’s greatest festival of cycling. 6 Striders took part in the 6th edition of the event where, taking a cue from the London Marathon, amateur cyclists get to take on a 100-mile challenge on the same closed roads as the professionals, with the added incentive of raising money for good causes.

Paul Williams crossed the line in 5.21.15
Danielle Smith 7.35.15
Roy Shears 8.01.22
Gill Holmes 08:02:08
Lorraine Neale 08:07:01
Darren Billing 08:20:37

Paul Williams who did ride 100 as his 3rd and final challenge this year, 2 marathons in April being the first 2, to help raise money for Motor Neurone Disease Association:

Ironman Bolton

New club member Michal Nowak took on Ironman Bolton, setting off on the swim in Pennington Flash which was tough from the start with a detour adding an extra 400m, he had a quick transition 1 then off out onto what was a very difficult and technical bike course, which had been slightly altered due to the recent moors fires. Off the bike for Transition 2 and onto the final discipline, a hilly marathon in 27 degrees. Michal crossed the line in an amazing time of 10 hrs 18 mins 6 secs, this time placed him 24th out of 315 in his age group category and 161st overall out of 1891 competitors.