FOUR Farnham Triathlon Club members travelled to Bedford Autodrome for the British Age Group Standard Distance National Championships – the climax to the spring duathlon season.

The purpose-built motor racing track provided smooth fast tarmac for a mass start as the triathles tackled a non-drafting 10km run, 39km cycle and 5km run on the five-mile circuit.

Leading the way for Farnham was Joanna Wright, last year’s 20-24 age group world champion, now racing in the F25 category.

A solid opening four-lap run of 41mins 28secs kept her on the heels of the leading ladies when starting out on her strongest discipline for an eight-lap cycle section where a time of 1-03-21 propelled her into third position overall.

With the front two not for catching, Wright set about consolidating her position on the closing two-lap 5km run. She did this with ease and her time of 2hrs 7mins 40secs secured a place on the overall podium, together with a silver medal in the 25-29 age group.

Best recognised at the club for her swimming ability, Lynda Coggins’ preparation for the season included taking on the run-bike-run format and she was rewarded with a national silver medal in the 50-54 age group behind overall race winner Gill Fullen (2-01-47) of Bedford Harriers.

In the men’s race, John Nicholson just missed out on the medals with fourth in the 65-69 category, while John Wright clocked 2-11-49 for 10th in a very competitive 25-29 age band.

Overall race winner and national age-group champion was Phil Melling (1-45-31).

Farnham TC results:

Joanna Wright, Cat.Pos 2 F25-29, Run 1 41:28, Bike 1:03:21, Run 2 21:38, Overall 2:07:40; John Wright, 10 M25-29, 44:52, 1:03:52, 22:00, 2:11:49; Lynda Coggins, 2 F50-54, 48:44, 1:11:03, 26:12, 2:27:40; John Nicholson, 4 M65-69, 47:36, 1:12:15, 26:04, 2:27:58.

Also competing at Bedford was James Porter in the youth elite race over a 2.5km run, 10km draft-legal cycle and 1.25km run. In a close bunch race, Porter placed 39th in 31mins 59secs behind a winning time of 29-01.

With the triathlon season just around the corner, Farnham Tri Club organised their popular curtain-raiser, the Ironman Training Weekend. First held in 2003, the concept of completing a long-distance triathlon over a three-day weekend has since been replicated nationally and remains an integral part of the club calendar.

With a swim on Friday, cycle on Saturday and run on Sunday, the friendly competition enables members old and new to get together pre-season while experiencing the distances involved in a full or half Ironman, albeit with the luxury of a rest between events.

With the option to pick and choose distances and disciplines, nearly 40 Farnham members made an appearance. The most popular choice of 1900m swim, 90km cycle and 20km run generated an unofficial half Ironman competition which was ‘won’ by Matt Winn-Smith.

Times:

Matt Winn-Smith, Swim 29:22, Bike 2:40:50, Run 1:16:06, Total 4:26:18; Craig Bickerton, 34:02, 2:50:49, 1:21:02, 4:45:53; Steve Riley, 33:33, 3:02:49, 1:38:08, 5:14:30; Charles Miller, 34:09, 3:21:00, 1:38:53, 5:34:02; Martin Jackson, 40:34,03:18:38, 1:47:45, 5:46:57; Fiona Miller, 40:02, 3:45:20, 1:51:46, 6:17:08; Charlie Gray, 49:06, 3:48:55, 1:43:23, 6:21:24.

Full times can be found on the club website at www.farnhamtri.com

The event was again seamlessly organised by club chairman Ali Wigg and her team of helpers.

FTC’s George Gray and Mark Richardson trained hard during the winter in preparation for an early southern hemisphere Ironman in South Africa.

Both experienced over the distance, Richardson was returning for the third consecutive year in his now annual quest for Hawaii qualification, while Gray’s previous times pointed at another attempt at a sub 10-hour finish for the 2.4-mile swim, 122-mile cycle and 26.2-mile run.

Based in Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay provided the sea swim location as Gray led the Farnham duo out of the water in 58mins 53secs. Richardson emerged well up in his vet 50 age group, clocking 1hr 50secs.

The pair went on to record remarkably similar times over the two-lap fast, flat and scenic cycle section, returning 5-16-36 and 5-16-15 respectively.

With a faster second transition, Gray held his advantage going into the four-lap seafront marathon and as the temperature peaked in the 30s, it became a question of adjusting to the unfamiliar heat.

Both Farnham athletes paced conservatively and completed the run in under four hours.

Gray finished in an overall 10hrs 15mins 32secs for 43rd M35-39, while Richardson placed 13th M50-54 with 10-27-24.

Results:

210, George Gray, Cat 43 M35-39, Swim 58:53, Bike 5:16:36, Run 3:54:30, Overall 10:15:32; 270, Mark Richardson, 13 M50-54, 1:00:50, 5:16:15, 3:59:20, 10:27:24.