Sixteen runners from Freedom Tri battled the elements at this weekend’s Cambridge Half Marathon. Despite driving rain and freezing temperatures there were some excellent performances all round. First for Freedom was James Parsons 282nd in 1:26:44 closely followed by Michael Day 587th in 1:31:24; Chris Clark 596th in 1:31:39; Mat Freeman 930th in 1:36:13; Declan McCabe 1068th in 1:37:37; Jenny Cotter 1150th in 1:38:27; Andrew Jones 1184th in 1:38:49; Mark Allen 1201st in 1:38:58; Dean Heuer 1431st in 1:41:17; Rachel Lynes 1716th in 1:43:17; Angela Phillips 1723rd in 1:43:19; Mark Lacy 2527th in 1:50:28; John Phillips 2913th in 1:52:59; Emma Kinsey 3156th in 1:54:43; Sara O’Callaghan 6136th in 2:25:12 with Emma Croxon 6567th in 2:35:56.
Back by popular demand, the Freedom Tri 2017 Duck N Dash aquathlon is now open for entries!
This years race will be on Sunday 3rd September, kicking off from Letchworth Outdoor Swimming Pool, followed by a challenging run around Norton Common.
Full details of the race can be found on our dedicated event website: http://www.duckndash.org.uk/
Or if you’ve raced before, and are ready to take the plunge in 2017, enter directly here: http://www.activetrainingworld.co.uk/events/2017/09/03/duck_n_dash_aquathlon
For adults and relay teams, the distances are 400m swim and a 5k run, aligned with the common Sprint Aquathlon, with kids races from 8 years to British Triathlon specified distances!
Suitable for anyone from 8 to 80, with a relay option for adult competitors, this race really has something for everyone!
For full details of the race please visit: http://www.activetrainingworld.co.uk/events/2017/09/03/duck_n_dash_aquathlon
Anglain Water Duathlon
Last Sunday saw a sporting couple from Freedom Tri take on the Anglian Water Duathlon at Grafham Water Reservoir. This early season opening event consisted of 5km run, followed by a 20km bike then finished off with another 3km run. First over the line for Freedom was Greg Cairns in 23rd place with an excellent time of 1:26:28 closely followed by wife Helen Cairns in 33rd place in 1:31:40.
Ashridge Duathlon (race 1)
This weekend saw several athletes take on the Ashridge sprint duathlon. This race consisted of a 5km run followed by a 22km bike and another 2.5k run through the beautiful grounds of the Ashridge Estate near Berkhamsted. Michael Day was first over the line for Freedom in 11th place in 1:19:42 hotly pursued by Richard Springall 13th in 1:20:38 ; Rob Sedgwick 23rd in 1:25:20 and Declan McCabe 31st in 1:28:03. In the longer standard distance race (10km / 44km / 5km) there was an outstanding performance by Suzy Hawkins who came in 1st in the female 40-44 category and 20th overall in 2:48:38.
Sunday saw the last of the Run Herts Cross Country league series being played out on the frozen slopes of Royston. The 5 mile off road course saw 19 local clubs take on the snowy challenge. First home for Freedom Tri was James Parsons 57th in 41:29; Gareth Charles 68th in 42:40; Chris Clark 106th in 45:41; (Team Captain) Paul Fairchild 152nd in 48:47; Jenny Cotter 179th in 51:20; Mark Allen 210th in 54:31; John Philips 213th in 54:41; Angela Philips 221st in 56:04; Matt Cotter 222nd in 56:17; Emma Kinsey 232nd in 56:55 and Monica Corcoran 249th in 58:23. The cumulative series results ensured that Freedom’s Tracey Palmieri came 2nd in her age group – a fantastic third year in the top three. Plus the ladies Vets Team came away with the 2016-2017 trophy for 3rd place in the series.
On Sunday, six Freedom Tri athletes raced at the St Noets half marathon. Tracey Palmieri (pictured below), Jenny Cotter, Rachel Carling, Angela Phillips, Mickey Day and Declan Mccabe took on the 13.1 miles running race in tough, wet and windy conditions. Despite the tough conditions all six performed fantastically well, all finishing in the top 100 of their age categories, and a personal best time for Declan Mccabe. Tracey Palmieri finished 7th in her category in 1:36:58, Jenny Cotter 9th in category 1:39:13.
Rachel Carling 20th in category in 1:43:25.8, Angela Phillips 36th in category in 1:54:02, Michael Day69th in category in 1:36:56, and Declan Mccabe 82nd in category in 1:39:12
Letchworth locals Freedom Tri have been busy racing over the weekend. The swim season may have come to an end, but there's still multi-sport events going on in the form of duathlon, a run/bike/run event. 7 athletes raced at the Bedford Autodrome Duathlon, a qualifier even for the European Championships. Michelle Reeves, Chris Belcher, Michael Day, Chris Priestly, Gareth Charles, Thomas Sauka and Rob Sedgwick lined up at the start in wet and wild conditions, contending the race over a 5km run, followed by a 20km bike ride, then finishing off with a 2.5km run. Reeves finished in 7th position in her age group in 1:09:16, Belcher in 11th in 1:00:31, Day in 11th in 1:03:15, Priestly in 11th in his age group in 1:14:33, Charles finished 14th in his age group in 1:03:48, Sauka finished 20th in 1:05:36. Unfortunatly Sedgwick did not finish due to a puncture on the bike.
James Knight raced in the fourth round of CycloCross league at Leighton Buzzard. A twisty course weaved its way round Cedars Upper School playing fields. The torrential downfalls of the morning creating a slippery and tricky course, but despite that James finshed 39th in category.
Running the Manchester half marathon was Jenny Cotter (pictured below), finishing in a fantastic personal best time of 1:40:03, 30th in her age group.
Saturday saw the second fixture of the Central CycloCross League season at the Milton Keynes Bowl. 4 Freedom Tri athletes took part, with two of them finishing on the podium. Rod Sedgwick finished 2nd in his category in 32:53, and Jackie Livings (pictured below) finished 3rd in her category in 36:54. Rob Clarke fininshed 22nd in 33:07, while James Knight finished 35th in his category in 44:59.
Freedom Tri were well represented at the Standalone 10k, with over 20 athletes running the 10k course around Letchworth. Gareth Charles was 57th, and home first for the club in a fantastic personal best time of 39:16. 62nd was James Parsons in 39:35. 81st was Lee Hayes in 40:11. 87th was Mathew Freeman in 40:21. 91st was Chris Clark in 40:36. 131st was Michal Day in 42:16. 158th was Gareth Bates in 43:36. 206th was Mark Allen in 44:50. 272nd was Jenny Cotter in 46:10.
310th was Lewis Green in 47:21. 322nd was Rachel Carling in 47:29. 474th was Emma Kinsey in 50:27. 641st was Mark Bullivant in 53:30. 777th was Matthew Wainwright in 54:48. 803th was Rob Evans in 57:01. 854th was Gareth Sharp in 57:23. 912th was Robb Lockwood in 57:43. 1053th was Jane Britten in 1:01:11.
1072nd was Jackie Livings in 1:02:39. 1209th was Sarah Taylor in 1:08:04. 1306th was Samantha Sharp in 1:16:37.
9 Freedom Triathletes made the journey down to Dorest this weekend to race the Ironman Weymouth. Thankfully, they were blessed with pan flat a sea for the swim. Half Ironman first timers Liz Aitkin, Emma Croxon, Martin Hawke, Robb Lockwood, Sara O'Callaghan, Michele Reeves joined Suzy Hawkins and Rob Sedgwick opting for the 70.3 distance, swimming 1,900m in the sea, then off on a 57 mile bike ride, including 3,500 feet of elevation through out the course, and finishing off with a 13.1 mile half marathon run along the promenade.
Suzy Hawkins (pictured below) did fantastically well, finishing on the podium in 3rd place in 5:30:20, adding to the bulging trophy cabinet. Michelle Reeves finished in 13th in her age group in 5:47:33. Sara O'Callaghan, 32nd in age group in 8:18:22,
Liz Aitkin was 34th in age group in 7:41:51. Emma Croxon finished 37th in her age group in 8:30:54, Martin Hawke finished 119th in his age group in 5:57:31, and Robb Lockwood finished in 131st place in his age group in 8:27:37. Rob Sedgwick was on track for a great race, but unfortunately became very unwell during the bike ride, and was taken from the bike course by an ambulance. Thankfully he is recovering well now.
Ironman specialist David Wright doubled the challenge, taking on the full Ironman distance of 140.6 miles, swimming 2.4 miles in the sea, cycling 112 miles, and finishing off the day with a full 26.2 mile marathon run. David did fantastically well to finish 75th in his age group in 15:34:44. David is now part of a select group of people who have finished all 3 UK full Ironman events; Wales, UK in Bolton, and now Weymouth, and was presented with a special polo shirt.
Also racing on Sunday at the St Neots Triathlons were Jeff Thompson and Dean Heuer. Jeff raced the sprint distance of 750m river swim, 24km bike and 5km run. Jeff raced hard from the start, finishing in 54th position in 1:34:39. Dean raced the standard distance race, 1,500m river swim, 45km bike and 10km run. Dean finished in a fantastic 36th place in 2:51:48.
Sarah-Jane Court was representing Freedom Tri and Team GB on Sunday at the 2016 Gran Fondo World Championships in Perth Australia. Lining up shoulder to shoulder with professional road racers, former Olympians, and Tour de France veterans, Sarah-Jane did fantastically well on the 100km ride, finishing 25th in her age group, in a time of 3:51:28.
