The second annual Hartlepool Marina Sprint Triathlon took place yesterday, 27th August in the beautiful setting of the Historic Quay. Unlike last year the weather was perfect, the water level was spot on, and no jellyfish were reported! Also unlike last year British Rail (or whoever it is passes for British Rail these days) decided to renege on assurances given that no trains would be using the level crossings. The barriers came down holding half the field back during the bike section! Hold-up times were taken as best as possible and times adjusted at the end. No-one seemed to mind too much though.

At 8.00am 99 hardy souls braved the North Sea to start the swim in the marina and were led out 10 minutes and 15 seconds later by Paul Jones of One Life Racing. Like several others in the race Paul was using this event as a sharpener for next weeks world championships in Switzerland. Following close behind were veterans Roger Godley of Cleveland Bike Traks Tri Club and Tom Doughty of Sun City Tri with Paul Devlin making the long trip from Reading in fourth. First lady out of the water was unattached Louise Roberts in 10.46 followed by Lisa Tweddle 32 seconds later.

Left - Tom Doughty

This race is an ideal event for anyone wanting to take a first step into open water triathlons. A safe swim in the marina is followed by pancake-flat, out and back bike and run routes with no complications, if all goes to plan! However on this occasion BR decided to make things interesting and brought down the level crossing barrier after half the field had gone through. This was unexpected and probably caused some blue air but one or two people said they enjoyed the rest!

The main protagonists got through ok and it was at this point that the cycling specialists showed their hand. Last year’s fastest cyclist was Steven Wrigglesworth of Vegetarian Cycling Club and he duly obliged again, knocking 1.20 off last year’s time with a 32.07 clocking. Also inside last year’s time was Gary Blakie of Ryton Tri in 32.46 and Phil Smith of One Life Racing in 33.00. Of the ladies, Amanda Cantle (right) of Sun City Tri (supposedly having a rest year!) also blitzed the bike course in a new record of 35.49 knocking 1.10 off last year’s time by Donna James. Tracey Sample of Alnwick Tri was also inside the old time, 44 seconds behind Amanda.

At the end of the bike only a few seconds separated Jones, Godley and Doughty and although Wrigglesworth had passed over half the field he had still lost too much time in the swim and was never really in contention.

Below - Paul Jones

Once out onto the run Tom Doughty showed that he has fully recovered from the injury that prevented him from racing in the early part of the season and recorded the fastest run time of 17.46 to take an easy victory in 1.01.54. This was 2.26 behind last year’s winning time but that was by Will Clarke of Loughborough who is now in the GB Elite team for the World Championships next weekend. Behind him unattached David Mayall (18.11) and Richard Kay of Mersey Tri (18.34) were moving quickly through the field but Mayall had left it too late to influence the outcome. Godley held on for second but only 2 seconds ahead of Kay who had a steady race of seventh swim, tenth bike and fourth run to place third overall in 1.03.43.

Amanda Cantle followed up her fastest bike split with the quickest run time of 21.37 to take victory in the ladies race (and complete a fine double for Sun City Tri Club) with a total time of 1.10.28. Although Louise Roberts recovered much of the time she had lost on the bike with the second fastest run of 21.44 she could only finish third as Caroline Findlay of Alnwick Tri Club who performed consistently throughout, held on to the second place she had secured during the bike section. The ladies fight for second and third places was the closest of the race with Natalie Batey of Ryton Tri and unattached Carlota Rosales only 6 and 8 seconds respectively behind Roberts. (right)

On a sad note, one competitor, seasoned campaigner Chris Foote-Wood crashed during the bike section and was taken to hospital for treatment. He is not thought to be seriously injured and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Photographs of all competitors are available in the usual place:-

Hartlepool Marina Sprint Triathlon
27 August 2006.

750m swim – 20kms bike – 5kms run

Prizewinners

Overall Men
1. Tom Doughty (Sun City Tri Club) 10.18 / 33.50 / 17.46 / 1.01.54
2. Roger Godley (Cleveland Bike Traks Tri Club) 10.16 / 33.52 / 19.33 / 1.03.41
3. Richard Kay (Mersey Tri) 11.00 / 34.09 / 18.34 / 1.03.43

Overall Ladies
1. Amanda Cantle (Sun City Tri Club) 13.02 / 35.49 / 21.37 / 1.10.28
2. Caroline Findlay (Alnwick Tri Club) 13.00 / 37.20 / 21.54 / 1.12.14
3. Louise Roberts (Unattached) 10.46 / 40.17 / 21.44 / 1.12.47

Junior Ladies
1. Jennifer Batey (Ryton Tri Club) 14.22 / 42.29 / 28.19 / 1.25.10

Senior Men
1. Paul Jones (One Life Racing) 10.15 / 33.49 / 19.44 / 1.03.48
2. Phil Smith (One Life Racing) 11.35 / 33.00 / 20.13 / 1.04.48
3. Gary Blakie (Ryton Tri Club) 13.18 / 32.46 / 21.04 / 1.07.08

Senior Ladies
1. Natalie Batey (Ryton Tri Club) 12.03 / 38.31 / 22.19 / 1.12.53
2. Carlota Rosales (Unattached) 11.48 / 38.37 / 22.30 / 1.12.55
3. Lisa Tweddle (NE31 Tri Club) 11.18 / 39.50 / 22.59 / 1.14.07

Veteran Men M40
1. Stephen Rimmer (scienceinsport.com) 11.10 / 33.58 / 19.09 / 1.04.17

Veteran Ladies F40
1. Kath Blakey (Cleveland Biketraks) 11.52 / 39.05 / 23.34 / 1.14.31

Supervet Men
1. Frank Whitelock (Durham Tri Club) 12.37 / 36.19 / 22.37 / 1.11.33

Supervet Ladies
1. Roz Layton (Durham Tri Club) 14.56 / 41.47 / 22.57 / 1.19.40

Full results, courtesy of Richard Coates, are now available here:-