Huge turnout for Newbury Triathlon

The 34th Team Kennet Newbury Triathlon took place on Sunday, September 4, writes Martin Colston.

The race is a perennial local favourite which welcomes beginners, old hands and everyone in between.

There were an impressive 250 entries for this year’s event, which meant the race was at maximum capacity.

The 300 metre swim usually takes place in the outdoor lido at Northcroft Leisure Centre, but had to be in the indoor pool this year as the lido is awaiting a major refurbishment.

As a result the swim went off in waves of 20 swimmers, who all had to complete their 12 lengths before the next wave could start.

The first wave set off at 8:45 and the pool was a hive of activity all the way to 11:25 when the final wave finished.

Bradley Thomas posted the fastest swim of the day at four minutes and 19 seconds, while the fastest female swimmer was Gemma Jones with a time of four minutes and 43 seconds.

The 22 kilometre bike course starts up the steep cycle path in Goldwell Park before heading out to Welford, across to Wickham and back along the B4000 to Stockcross before culminating back in Northcroft.

The bike is the longest of the three triathlon disciplines and it’s here that the best cyclists can really make a difference.

It was a real tussle at the sharp end with Graham Stent’s time of 34 minutes and 20 seconds just piping George Westall by 15 seconds.

Both of them averaged around 25mph and were almost an hour faster than the slowest rider.

The fastest woman was Mireille Cook at 37 minutes and 39 seconds, three minutes ahead of Hannah Quay.

Stent and Westall were thus neck and neck at the start of the four-and-a-half kilometre run which takes the runners along Moor Lane to the A34, south along the A34 and then down to the canal towpath for the final stretch back to Northcroft.

In the end, Stent produced the fastest run of the day, clocking 16 minutes and 24 seconds, to take the overall victory in a total time of 58 minutes and three seconds, ahead of Westall who was second in 58 minutes and 56 seconds.

Mike Turner was third, finishing in one hour and 51 seconds.

The fastest female runner was Gemma Jones, who came in at 18 minutes and 12 seconds, but, even though she also had the fastest swim, she was pipped to the overall victory by Mireille Cook.

Cook’s excellent bike time proved decisive as she took the title in one hour, three minutes and 40 seconds.

Nicci Clay finished second while Hannah Quay was third.

Both the men’s and women’s races were won by athletes over the age of 40 – which surely goes to show it’s never too late to have a go at your first triathlon.

If you can’t wait for next summer’s triathlon, the Newbury Duathlon – which comprises a five kilometre run, a 25 kilometre bike ride and then a second five kilometre run – takes place next April, 2023.

An impressive 190 competitors completed the race, many crossing the line in their first triathlon.

The event would not be possible without the small army of amazing volunteers who make it happen.

The full event results are available here: https://dbmaxresults.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=16421&RId=2338