Wasn't it only last week the country was battling blizzards and covered in a thick blanket of snow? Well before you know it the multisport season has arrived! Keen to blow away the winter cobwebs and put all that winter training to good use was Freedom's Chris Belcher and Peter Carpenter. Nice Tri's annual Bedford Autodrome Duathlon is always a popular early calendar race, run on the slick professional motorsport track. The race format comprised 5k run/20k bike/2.5k run and was a hotly contested ITU age group qualifying race too. Chris crossed the line in 107th place, 13th in AG with 1:01:17 and Peter 231st place, an impressive 3rd in his AG with 1:38:04. Chris awaits the results from Clumber Park to see if he was successful in his bid to join this year's GB squad in Denmark. Good luck Chris!
Over at the Barcelona Marathon James Parsons & Chris Clark crossed the finish line together in 1076th & 1077th place in a very impressive 3:12:29.
Chris Belcher at the Bedford Autodrome Duathlon. Photo credit: Nice Tri
XC Club Captain Paul Fairchild writes:
Well done to everyone who took part this season, it was great to see so many of you. Some special mentions to Rachel Carling, Richard Pitcairn, Tracey Palmieri, Bettina West and Jenny Cotter who came 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 10th in age group respectively. Huge congratulations to Rachel and Richard who have each won a trophy to be presented at the AGM in April which you are welcome to attend if you wish.
League running continues with a series of 5 x 10k races in the mid-week league organised by Angela Phillips during May/June/July. As with the XC league, ALL are welcome. Don't be shy, come and try it, they are fantastic events with free cake at the end!
Last Sunday saw Cambridge play host to it's annual half marathon. The day was marked with scandal after race winner Jack Gray was disqualified having used his colleague's race number at the last minute and hadn't even paid an entry! Laying down an early season marker, Freedom Tri were out in full force with James Thomas leading the charge in 1:26:36 closely followed by Martin Hawke in 1:28:17 and Paul Fairchild in 1:28:59. Other Freedom times: Mark Allen 1:40:07; Rob Evans 1:54:34; John Phillips 1:58:32; Emma Croxon 1:58:41; Emma Kinsey 2:01:23; Andrew Fenton 2:03:24; Gareth Sharp 2:10:47; Sarah Taylor 2:13:56 and Sara O'Callaghan in 2:15:50.
Martin Hawke & Rob Evans at the Cambridge Half Marathon. Photo credit: Mark Allen.
Last weekend the cross country season was brought to a close with the most challenging of courses. Set on the rolling hills of Royston Heath. This meant runners with either hyper ventilating up a hill or down the 5.5 mile course, with very few flats to recover in between. As to be expected Freedom Tri had an impressive turn out with everything to play for in the last race of the season, with 5 Freedom league points up for grabs too. The combined results were as follows: 32nd Matt Sayers 38:22; 36th James Parsons 38:35; 80th James Thomas 42:08; 100th Ben Field 43:25; 102nd Paul Fairchild 43:35; 112th Chris Clark 44:08; 113th Adam Jenkins 44:10; 133rd Tracey Palmieri 45:27; 156th Rachel Carling 47:37; 180th Bettina West 49:07; 230th Adrian Robinson 52:08; 247th Matt Cotter 53:54; 308th Richard Pitcairn 58:49; 316th James Knight 60:06; with 317th Jane Britten 60:07. Huge congratulations to all, but especially the women's masters team who resulted in coming FIRST out of twenty teams! Not bad for a triathlon club!
Freedom Tri cross country team out in force at Royston. Photo credit: Jane Britten.
Another crackin' turnout at the Watford 5 mile cross-country race last weekend saw James Thomas leading the club home in 41:54 followed by Chris Clark in 42:23; club captain Paul Fairchild in 42:43; Adam Jenkins 44:11; Steven Carrod 44:16; Tracey Palmieri 44:29; Tom Rix 47:16; Jenny Cotter 48:32; Bettina West 49:07; Anna Weller 50:58; Matt Cotter 53:03; James Knight 54:25; Jane Britton 54:25; Christine Caine 54:57; Amanda Maylin 55:00; Richard Pitcairn 57:14; Mark Bullivant 60:22; Rachel Kelley 62:25. Gareth Charles unfortunately DNF. Freedom Tri are currently 12th out of 20 teams with the women's masters team currently in 5th place!
After his successful XC race James Thomas then went onto successfully complete the Gran Canaria Half Marathon this weekend in 170th place with a very impressive time of 1:29:53.
Freedom Tri cross county team at Watford.
And so it was, 26 blurry eyed Freedomites gathered together on Willian green for the third installament of the Run Herts cross country league. With temperatures barely above freezing and the excesses of the previous night's Christmas party sadly all too visible. Pirate bandanas and bad eye liner were the favoured look for this morning's sporting endeavours, with energy drinks being exchanged for tots of Morgans rum. The starting gun was the first realization for most that they were actually at a race and that people would have to dig deep to complete the frozen 5 mile course. In the women's race Rachel Carling, Tracey Palmieri and Jenny Cotter were the first three for Freedom over the line in 37.06; 37.07 & 38.20. Over in the men's race Bryon Nicholl, James Thomas and Paul Fairchild led the charge in 31.02; 32.41 & 33.35. The overall club standings after race three put Freedom Tri in 12th place in the league. The women's team are in seventh place with the men's team in 10th. Special mention goes to the women's masters team who are in sixth place! Arrrghhhh me hearties!!!!
A trio of Freedom athletes braved a bitterly cold Sunday morning to race at the fourth running of the Bass Belle 10 miler at Bassingbourn. Why the name Belle? Firstly, Bassingbourn is linked with the famous WWII flying fortress the Memphis Belle. Secondly, the course itself is beautiful or in French - 'Belle'. It is a fast, flat course which consists of 8.5 miles on road and 1.5miles off road along a grass track. James Thomas ran a stormer, finishing in 01:09:17, 11th in age group. Amanda Maylin finished in 01:31:35, 20th in age group, with Gareth Sharp finished with Amanda in his sights in 01:32:32, 58th in age group.
The ever popular St.Neots Half Marathon was held over the weekend with yet another impressive showing from the Freedom ladies. Jenny Cotter continued her great form by posting 1:40:46 (5th AG) with Rachel Carling hot on her heels in 1:42:30 (23th AG); Bettina West 1:44:56 (12th AG) and Angela Phillips 1:45:46 (15th AG). Matthew Sayers was first Freedom male in 1:19:16 (7th AG) with Mickey Day 1:29:20 (46th AG) and Lee Gilchrist 1:36:31.
Over at Knebworth House they were launching the inaugural Hertfordshire Half starting off in the grounds of the iconic house and then onto closed roads. Again some great times to be had with Emma Kinsey running the 13.1 mile race in 1:55:19 (54th AG); Ryan Nicholl 1:28:58 (8th AG); Luke Nicholl 1:29:10 (30th AG); Richard Springall 1:29:11 (29th AG) and Paul Sowter 1:37:08 (73rd AG).
Ann Tryssesoone ran the Brighton 10k along the seafront of Brighton & Hove starting off in Madeira Drive. Ann was delighted to complete the race in 49:36.
Angela Phillips, Rachel Carling, Bettina West, Jenny Cotter & Mickey Day at St.Neots Half Marathon.
The Tour de Force that is Freedom Tri once again wore their running singlets with pride for yet another cross country lung busting mud fest. This time Trent Park in Cockfosters, north London played host. This 320 hectare site dates back to the 14th Century, and once was a favoured hunting ground of Henry IV and has many Grade II listed statues & buildings to admire. After race 2 Freedom Tri are positioned 12th in the combined rankings, with the women's team still holding on to their 7th placed spot just below FVS - with the women's Masters team an incredible 5th! The men's team are placed 14th in the standings. Special mention once again goes to Rachel Carling's impressive time of 36:46 with James Parsons leading the men home in 31:29.
Freedom Cross Country team at Trent Park.
