Ironman 70.3 Western Sydney

Christopher Williams, one of the clubs two antipodean Striders, took on Ironman 70.3 in Western Sydney.

He swam the 1.9k 1 lap swim course in the man made, sheltered Penrith Lake home to the 2000 Olympic Sydney International Regatta Center. Swim completed and onto the bike with scenic views of the Blue Mountains on the 90k two-lap course. Bike completed onto the final run section of the race, Chris will have got to re-live the best of the 2000 Olympic venue with the course encircling the iconic Penrith Lake.

Chris finished the race in a time of 5hr 12m 10s.

Descente London Duathlon

10k Run; 44k Bike; 5k Run

2 Striders took part in the Descent London Duathlon, the world’s biggest duathlon, within the stunning surroundings of Richmond Park.

With a long history of racing together this time it was Ian Gower who was first to cross the line of the duo in 2:38:50 with Steve Shrimplin in 2:54:19.

Oysterman Triathlon 2019

500m Sea Swim; 20k Bike & 5k Run

Lorraine Neale and Sam Harraway represented the Striders at the 5th Oysterman Triathlon in Whitstable. Based in the heart of the town, along the beautiful Tankerton Slopes this unique sprint distance event consists of a 500m sea swim followed by a 20km cycle, finishing with a stunning, flat 5km coastal run.

Sam crossed the line in a time of 1:31:07 placing her 5th in her age group,157th overall out of 218 entrants. Lorraine finished in a time of 1:34:39, 7th in her age group, 179 overall.

Ironman Hamburg 2019

18 Striders, family & friends travelled to Germany to take part & support @ Ironman Hamburg. This was a record number of entrants into a full distance triathlon for the club for which they were awarded the title of 3rd largest club at the event. With the weather hot a non-wetsuit swim was feared but luckily just avoided for the competitors setting off on the 3.8k swim in the city’s lake Alster.

Out of the swim and transition 1 complete they set off on the 183km fast, flat bike route, not as easy as it sounds with cobbles to negotiate and fierce cross winds to battle against.
The bike and transition 2 complete they just had the 42k run to tackle! The hot afternoon sun was unwelcome but supporting friends and family did all they could to try to keep their tired bodies moving forward to complete the 4 lap course, which took them alongside the lake they had swum in early that morning.

Michal Nowak lead the way from the start and was 1st Strider to cross the line in a time of 10:35:14 which placed him 72nd in his age category and 308th out of a field of 2005 competitors overall.
Neil Hacon was 2nd Strider home in a time of 10:39:38 placing him 26th in his age group and 342nd overall.
Andy Baptie was 3rd Strider to cross the line in a time of 12:18:14 placing him 168th in his age group, 1125th overall. This was Andy’s 1st Ironman.
Lynne Hacon was 1st female Strider home with a new PB of 12:43:14 placing her 10th in her age group and 1328th overall; this was Lynne’s 3rd Ironman.

Unfortunately it wasn’t to be this time for 2 of the Striders who did not manage to complete the course but they are returning to try again next year in true Strider spirit!
Amazing team comradeship and support for each other was shown at every step of the way during the long months of training right up to race day, 7 of whom were taking part in their 1st full distance triathlon. A fantastic achievement for the club.

London Triathlon 2019

A quiet weekend for running races this weekend so all eyes were on the Stiders Triathletes. A team of Striders took part in the Hamburg triathlon (full report next week) and Lorraine Neale represented the club at The London Triathlon at the Excel Centre. Lorraine completed the Olympic distance; a 1500m swim, a 40k cycle race and a 10k run, in the fantastic time of 3:14:15

Owler Half 2019

James Reeves travelled to Lydd to represent the club in the Owler Half Triathlon. Hailed as one of the fastest middle distance triathlons in the South East he set off on the 2 lapped 1.9km swim in Lydd Lake a speedy swim placing him 9th coming out of the water. Onto the bike for a scenic flat 90k bike through Lydd, Brookline and Camber before returning to the lake for the traffic free 21k 2 lapped run. James set a new PB finishing in 5hr 4m & 26s placing him 16th overall out of a field of 63 and 6th in his 35-39 age category.

Leybourne Go Tri & Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz

GO TRI – Leybourne Lakes – 14th July – 200m Lake Swim; 10k Bike; 2.5k Run

Dionne Grant dipped her toe into the world of triathlons completing her first GO TRI event held at Leybourne Lakes Country Park. Quickest out the lake she jumped on the bike for the 10k ride and off onto the 2.5km run which she completed in 1hr 29m. Dionne loved it and is already looking forward to entering her next triathlon.

Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz – Spain – 14th July – 3.8km Swim; 180km Bike; 42.2km Run

Steve Fisher travelled to northern Spain to compete in an Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz. Steve set off on the 3.8km swim in lake Ullíbarri-Gamboa, the biggest water reservoir in Euskadi. Onto to the 180km fast and scenic bike course which follows the lake shores and the beautiful countryside and towns of the Álava region. Onto the 4 lapped 42.2km run through the old town in the heart of the city Steve finished in 12hr 3mins 35s placing him 101st out of 198 in his age category and 1042nd overall out of a field of 1730 competitors. Well done Steve.

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