The Ripon Triathlon, promoted by NYP Tri Club, was held yesterday in brilliant sunshine without a breath of wind. Perfect for the spectators, of which there were many enjoying the family day out, but hard going for the triathletes who suffered badly during the later stages of the race. Ripon racecourse is a perfect venue for an event of this kind with the lake in the middle of the course and this triathlon is thought to be the largest club-organised event in the country. In fact even though this event is not strictly speaking in the north east region so many of the regions triathletes raced here last year that it was decided to include this event in the north east region grand prix for 2005.

294 triathletes including those in the youth race hit the water in two waves 30 minutes apart starting at 2.30pm. All of the leading contenders in each category were in the first wave in order to produce a fair race for the honours. This was based on estimated times submitted by the competitors but one or two, notably Nathaniel Williams, escaped the seeding and ended up in the wrong wave.

Left - Joe Rafferty

The fastest 1500m swim times were by Joe Rafferty (18.23) and Cathy Allen (21.03) but whereas Rafferty was to continue to dominate the race, Allen retired after the bike leg. The 42k bike section contains a mixture of quiet, undulating country roads and fast flat dual carriageway. It is two kilometres over-distance and very technical. Rafferty continued to forge ahead although the fastest bike leg was by Ashley Norie in 1.06.22.

Only nine seconds covered Rafferty, Norie and Tony Dixon at the start of the run but Rafferty had incurred the race referee’s wrath with a helmet violation and was to receive a two minute penalty. Rafferty is a strong runner but the pressure was now on!

Right - Rachael Mellor

Kath Blakey put in the fastest ladies bike split of 1.15.53 but she had lost too much time in the swim and Emilie Verroken had a lead of 51 seconds over Rachael Mellor who in turn was 58 seconds in front of Louise Hanley.

In the men’s race Rafferty put nearly four minutes into Norie with a tremendous run of 34.04 and emerged a comfortable winner even with the two minute penalty. Kim Critchley of NYP Tri ran the day’s second fastest time of 34.56 and moved up twenty places in the process. Norie held on to second with Dixon third.

Mellor posted the fastest ladies run time of 45.09 to easily overhaul Verroken who was suffering in the heat and was also overtaken by Hanley for second place. As Mellor is a veteran Christine Buckley of White Rose Tri received the lady vets first prize. There were also team prizes and former National Champions Hartlepool Triathletes won the men’s event with Leeds and Bradford taking the ladies award.

Left - Christine Buckley

The first thing that strikes you when you arrive at Ripon is the sheer scale of the venue. This is a national ranking series event in all but name and that is the direction that Mark Rees, Iain Wallace and the NYP Tri team are heading. Let's hope they get there.

Photographs of 200 competitors (sorry I couldn't include everyone) are now available to view at:-

Leading Results

Youths – Male
1. Philip Graves … White Rose Tri … 1.12.05
2. Dom Brook … Sheffield Tri … 1.26.30
3. Tommy Fox … Unattached … 1.32.40

Left - Michael Hall

Youths – Female
1. Rebecca Milnes … Unattached … 1.38.29
2. Victoria Graves … White Rose Tri … 1.40.22
3. Rosie Clay … NYP Tri … 2.06.23

Senior Men
1. Joe Rafferty … Loughborough … 2.03.20
2. Ashley Norie … Team Sabar … 2.05.24
3. Tony Dixon … Hartlepool Triathletes … 2.06.20

Left - Eric Blakie

Senior Ladies
1. Rachael Mellor … Holmfirth H … 2.26.20
2. Louise Hanley … Leeds & Bradford … 2.28.19
3. Emilie Verroken … Sheffield Tri … 2.30.56

M40
1. Mike Hall … Hartlepool Triathletes … 2.10.12
2. Tim Ashelford … Leeds & Bradford Tri … 2.10.48
3. Andrew Senior … NYP Tri … 2.14.09

Left - Roz Layton

F40
1. Christine Buckley … White Rose Tri … 2.34.24
2. Jo Short … Durham Tri Club … 2.35.14
3. Kath Blakey … Cleveland BikeTraks … 2.37.26

M50
1. Eric Blakie … Ryton Tri … 2.24.36
2. Richard Makin … Holmfirth H … 2.26.03

F50
1. Roz Layton … Durham Tri … 2.53.14
2. Dot Wagstaff … White Rose Tri … 2.58.21


Left - Ashley Norie


Full results are available on John Schofield’s UK Results website:-