Running around the world for Tri Club - with great success as well

It was a scorching weekend of red hot action both home and abroad for Torbay Tri Club members.

Cotswolds Lake 62 played host to a variety of events, attracting a team of super seven members for a weekend away racing. In the triathlon race Paul Whitehead led a trio home in 2.29.35 securing 3rd AG and was joined on the finish line by Cathy Parkinson 2.44.16 (1st AG) and Simon Swift 2.59.21 In the Duathlon
Tony Hodge raced his way to third place overall in 2.03.41 and just ahead of Wendy Urban 2.06.04 who was first lady for the run/bike/run event. Kevin Crocker 1.44.23 (2nd AG) and Graeme Kay 1.56.14 (1st AG) continued the collection of superb podium positions in the aquabike (swim/cycle) while Steve Waters also got in on the action by claiming second place in the relay event and completing the whole event solo.

For many people a weekend in the south of France sounds rather, well 'Nice' but for triathlon age group supremo Donald Brooks it was all business in the IRONMAN World Championships. Having won the 70.3 age group title only two weeks prior, Donald stepped up to the long distance and secured a magnificent age group title by just 17 seconds in 9.25.39 to add another title to his incredible CV. A brutal day of racing on the French Riviera saw Donald execute a perfect race against the best long distance triathletes in the world.

Peter Hayward Laura Amelia and Sarah Luxton headed along the coast to Bournemouth for some sprint distance triathlon racing. Comprising of a 750m sea swim, 20k bike and 5k run, the trio put in superb performances against a strong field of racers. Laura secured 3rd lady overall and 2nd AG in 1.15.09 with Peter 1.19.03 7th AG from 115 triathletes in his age group and Sarah ran a 5k PB on her way to finishing in 1.28.55

Up north and Kate May represented the club at the world's biggest half marathon, the Great North Run which attracted 60,000 runners who began in Newcastle and ran their way to South Shields. Kate ran a great time to complete the 13.1 miles in 1.39.41

The City to Sea Marathon proved a brutal challenge for runners as they set out on a coastal challenge taking them from Exeter Quayside to Babbacombe Downs. Luring you into a false pretence with the relatively flat terrain leading to Shaldon, this is where the tough coastal path section begins to really test runners. Louise Lewry showed her endurance running credentials to finish a great third place lady in 4h 26m. Jo Loten was close behind in 4.34.03 and was joined by Jonathan Hiscoke 5.14.57 Stuart Batten 5.14.58 and Michelle Coles 6.17.25 Hans Edwards took part in the Half Marathon distance, which incorporated the toughest part of the coastal path and finished in 2.39.01

A midweek blast along the Exeter canal attracted runners aiming for a speedy 5k time. Jason Hurford raced his way to a time of 16.40 and was joined by Stephen Wilbraham 24.56.