A long-awaited BTA National Grand Prix Ranking Series event for the North-East of England, the Blyth Standard Distance Triathlon was held on a closed circuit at the Links, Blyth. Northumberland on Sunday 11th September. Unfortunately for the organisers a miserable entry of only 80 was further compounded on the day when only 57 competitors turned up to race.

A clear blue, sunny sky greeted the competitors but even though it was warm the waves in the North Sea were ferocious and proved difficult for all but the strongest swimmers. Unfortunately, after the start the strong sea dislodged the furthest away of the marker buoys and it began to drift. The sea swell was too great for the competitors to notice this and the decision was taken by the referee to reduce the swim to one lap instead of two. This upset the leading swimmers but there is no doubt it was the correct decision.

Loretta Sollars

First out of the sea was local man Andrew Wilde of Alnwick Tri in 17.26 for the revised course of 750m, which proved the wisdom of the referee’s decision. Wilde was followed 6 seconds later by Tony Weed of hartlepooltriathletes.com with North East RDO Paul Jones a further 8 seconds back. First lady to exit in 20.35 was Loretta Sollars of BRAT, who needed a good result here to take the F40 award overall in the series and she was nearly three minutes ahead of Tracey Kaye of White Rose Tri.

The bike section is a pancake-flat route over 6 laps of a closed 4 mile course. It makes for good viewing for the spectators but on this day meant that the return leg of each lap was into a strong headwind. Paul Skipper of Team Sabar (Swim And Bike And Run!) put in the fastest bike split of 56.44 with Robert Bee of Ryton Tri next in 57.36. Leading vet Tom Doughty was 7 seconds behind on the bike leg but now had a lead of 4 seconds over Jones going into the run.

Right - Tom Doughty

Sollars increased her lead in the ladies race with the fastest bike split of 1.01.33 but this was only 20 seconds ahead of fellow-vet Donna James of Durham Tri. James however had suffered in the sea and had too much time to make up. Denise Parkin of Ryton Tri moved up amongst the podium contenders with a time of 1.05.06 for third quickest of the day.

The run route is a very pleasant, almost perfectly flat track through the sand dunes.

Here Tom Doughty and Loretta Sollars both showed their class and increased their leads with the day’s fastest 10k runs of 35.58 and 38.24 respectively. Sollars’ time was the 5th fastest of the day overall. Behind Doughty, Robert Bee closed on the leaders with the next best run of 36.22 but he too had left himself with too much to do and had to settle for fourth overall behind the consistent performances of Mark Roberts and Paul Skipper, both of Team Sabar, who were 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Mark Roberts

Behind Sollars, James put in a solid effort of 42.28 but had to be content with 2nd place, 12.13 behind Sollars but 8.15 ahead of Tracey Kaye in third place.

This was an excellent race in a perfect venue for a Grand Prix event. Just a shame that more triathletes couldn’t be tempted to travel north. Blyth Sports Centre do intend to run with this race again next year. Let’s hope the turnout is better.

Photographs of all of the competitors can be viewed and downloaded if you wish at:-

Sea conditions on the day - it's not always like this! Leading Results Overall – Men 1. Tom Doughty Sun City Tri 1.51.34 2. Mark Roberts Team Sabar 1.55.07 3. Paul Skipper Team Sabar 1.57.26 Overall – Ladies 1. Loretta Sollars BRAT 2.00.32 2. Donna James Durham Tri 2.12.45 3. Tracey Kaye White Rose Tri 2.21.00 Junior Ladies Swim / Bike / Run / Total 1. Lisa Tweddle NE31 Tri 24.19 / 1.13.46 / 51.58 / 2.30.03 20-39 Men 1. Mark Roberts Team Sabar 18.08 / 0.58.32 / 38.27 / 1.55.07 2. Paul Skipper Team Sabar 23.03 / 0.56.44 / 37.39 / 1.57.26 3. Robert Bee Ryton Tri 23.45 / 0.57.36 / 36.22 / 1.57.43 20-39 Ladies 1. Tracey Kaye White Rose Tri 23.32 / 1.12.45 / 44.43 / 2.21.00 2. Caroline Findlay Alnwick Tri 25.26 / 1.09.50 / 46.53 / 2.22.09 3. Denise Parkin Ryton Tri 31.04 / 1.05.06 / 50.21 / 2.26.31 40-49 Men 1. Tom Doughty Sun City Tri 17.53 / 0.57.43 / 35.58 / 1.51.34 2. Stuart Robinson Team Sabar 21.43 / 0.59.28 / 37.53 / 1.59.04 3. Dave Stephens One Life Racing 21.51 / 1.00.39 / 42.20 / 2.04.50 40-49 Ladies 1. Loretta Sollars BRAT 20.35 / 1.01.33 / 38.24 / 2.00.32 2. Donna James Durham Tri 28.24 / 1.01.53 / 42.28 / 2.12.45 3. Deborah Sheridan BRAT 24.18 / 1.08.42 / 55.14 / 2.28.14 50-59 Men 1. Simon Edye Tri Anglia 24.21 / 1.04.26 / 46.55 / 2.15.42 2. Allan Kenny Blyth Tri 23.50 / 1.05.58 / 48.43 / 2.18.31 50-59 Ladies 1. Roz Layton Durham Tri 33.25 / 1.14.55 / 47.51 / 2.36.11 60+ Men 1. Anthony Lummis Alnwick Tri 31.21 / 1.08.35 / 50.38 / 2.30.34 Full results can be found on the Triathlete's Homepage website at:- Blyth Valley Triathlon 2005 Results