Wight Tri members have enjoyed an action-packed spell of competition recently, with GB qualification, a gruelling middle-distance finish and a last-minute duathlon among the highlights.
Penn Impresses at Wimbleball Triathlon
Wight Tri’s Katy Penn delivered a strong showing at the notoriously tough Wimbleball Middle Distance Triathlon on Sunday, finishing in 7:35:03.
She completed the 1.9 km swim in 53:53, powered through the hilly 93 km bike in 4:13:04, and ran the half marathon in 2:17:38.
Penn placed 11th female and 7th in her age group, a notable result for an athlete still new to long‑course racing.
Barry Island Tri – Scholes GB Qualifier
Wight Tri’s Helen Scholes delivered a standout performance at Sunday’s Barry Island Sprint Triathlon, securing 2nd place in her age group and qualifying for Hamburg 2027.
She completed the 750m swim in 13:00, the 20km bike in 40:01, and the 5km run in 27:56, finishing in a total time of 1:24:39 despite challenging sea conditions and a technical bike course. Her top‑four finish guarantees her spot on the GB team for next year’s championships.
Wight Tri Stages Last‑Minute Duathlon After Sewage Disruption
A sewage discharge in Cowes forced Wight Tri to abandon its planned swim‑bike‑run Club Championships on Bank Holiday Monday, prompting organisers to rapidly convert the event into a duathlon. Despite the setback, 19 athletes took part in a smooth and good‑spirited competition.
The revised format featured a 2.5km opening run to Gurnard, followed by a 27km cycle through Porchfield and Shalfleet – with a shorter 20km option available – and a final 2.5km or 5km run to finish.
New members Mike Green and Dave Blake impressed on debut, with results tightly packed at the top:
- Mike Green – 12 seconds from predicted time
- Craig Wilson – 21 seconds
- Dave Blake – 1 minute 06 seconds
- Paula Griffiths – 1 minute 11 seconds
Wight Tri’s swift reorganisation turned a potential cancellation into a successful Bank Holiday race – and the club now looks ahead to future events in clearer waters.
