Ni triathletes bring curtain down on season with fine show at Dawlish

It was a truly memorable end to the Triathlon Season at Dawlish on Sunday for the N1 Tri Club and all the emphasis was on teamwork.

The race was in fact a duathlon comprising of a 4km run followed by a 21 km cycle and finally a 5.8 km run as the rough sea meant swimming was unsafe. The club attended the race ‘gang handed’ and many individuals gave excellent performances.

However, pride of place goes to the club’s number one relay team (there were in fact three club teams taking part) as they tore around the course to win the race in a time of one hour 12 minutes and 43 seconds. ‘Ironman’ Tom Bland was deprived of his early morning swim, but he ran the first leg in borrowed trainers and ensured that when Matt Player got on to his bike he was in second place ahead of a large field of racers.

Player had a new experience for soon there was only the race ‘pace car’ ahead of him with warning lights flashing announcing to early morning spectators and pedestrians that the race was coming.

By the time he returned to transition Player had established a clear lead and what an athlete to hand over to as Alex Todd roared out of transition. No one was going to catch Todd and he tore around the course in what for him is almost a sprint distance.

As the Club relay teams and individual racers moved around the course they were greeted by 14 of their club mates who had donned marshal jackets and were putting something back into the sport they all love. The individual performances and other relay teams were too numerous to mention but the clubs team work and spirit were there for all to see and enjoy. Well done to everyone.

It was also good news from Bath where Patrick Livingstone, one of the clubs outstanding junior athletes, came home second in a super sprint event and Roger Breadner in his first ever race was on the podium too in Weston-super-Mare as he came second in his age category in a sprint event.

The season is drawing to a close but training for next year will begin next week. For those who are interested in this rapidly growing sport you can learn more on our website www.n1triathlon.co.uk