After a long time away from competition due to the COVID-19 restrictions, Wight Tri members were able to complete the final event of the Wight Tri Winter Duathlon Series – the Chale Duathlon.
The event took place on Sunday from the grounds of Niton Football Club, which was a great venue allowing lots of space for social distancing. It was the perfect setting for one of the hardest duathlons in the history of the club. However, the weather gods were not being kind as the strong winds made it even more hard work on both the run and bike legs.
Starting with a choice of either a short 2.2km run with a 70m ascent or the longer 3.75km run up to the Pepperpot, taking in 120m of ascent, the run course was not for the faint-hearted, but fortunately, it retraced the downhill route back to transition.
The cycle route headed west to Appleford Cross and then onto Chale, passing the green and the church and turning up to Blackgang and back to Niton. Competitors had the choice of 1 or 2 laps of the 12.3km loop.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the competitor numbers were limited with 27 members of Wight Tri taking part.
The organising team of Kevin Winchcombe and Neil Cooper put on a very well structured event, ensuring the guidelines were strictly adhered to, setting off the runners in seeded waves, which gave opportunities for good competition between the triathletes.
1st in the nominated event was new member Josie Greenan, who completed the short run/2 lap cycle/short run course in 1:24:57 – a remarkable 3 seconds off her nominated time. 2nd was her husband Adam Greenan, 22 secs inside his nominated time of 1:35:00 for the L/2/L course.
Nick Kenney was 3rd, completing the L/2/L course in 1:29:32, 28 seconds better than his nominate time.
Even after such a long time without racing, the competition element was still there between many of the Wight Tri triathletes, with several posting exceptional times in such a tough event. Strong running from the front by Sean Williams (16:47) and Natalie Lawrence (16:57) saw them enter transition in 1st and 2nd place, with Nick Kenney close behind in 17:15.
Sean continued to take time out of all competitors with a fast bike split of 46:25, and a final run of 18:40, to finish in first place overall in 1:23:35. However, his fast bike time was still not good enough to beat the time of cyclist Dave Dent, who posted a 43:16 for the cycle as part of a team with partner, Michelle Lock.
Natalie Lawrence put in an awesome performance to top the ladies with a final time of 1:30:38, finishing 4th overall and posting the fastest female bike split (54:36) and the fastest 2nd run time overall of 17:18.
Huge kudos must go to the efforts and enthusiasm shown by many of the new members who took part in their first duathlon, including Abigail, Josie, Adam, Mike, Nick, Tom and Jonathan.
Wight Tri would like to thank Niton Football Club for the use of their venue.
Although being stuck behind a line of these tiresome people is a drag, still (just) preferable to noisy, dirty, smelly, motor cycles tearing about the West Wight.
All these people and events makes a long cold, windswept winter seem almost welcome when we can have the Isle back to ourselves.
Agreed, 100%
You’re a cheerful little chap.