Arundel Lido Triathlon 29th May
A great turnout of 22 Tuff racers, with several more on the organising team and some great results were returned. When we add in several club members riding around the bike route supporting, it proved a very successful morning for Tuff Fitty.
The weather seemed to be more like autumn than summer with a strong breeze blowing across the Lido and it was cold at 6am as the Long course competitors jumped into the much warmer pool. It would warm up as the morning progressed but some more exposed sections on the bike would still catch people unaware.
Best placed Tuff in the long course race was John McGrath. He had been playing things down as this was his comeback race from injury and stated he had only been in the pool once. No one would have noticed however crossing the line in 10th position overall. Close behind in 12th was Gavin Sewell, a great result but considering he shaved 12 minutes 41 seconds of last years time, that was very impressive. Chris Robinson was 14th and Huw Williams 17th.
Those who competed at Steyning may recall that this year Raw Energy are staging a Tri Club competition with the first four from each club combining to form a winning time. The above four ensured that Tuff Fitty were the lead team in the long course – superb! All the Long course results for our members are here
10..John McGrath……. 2:01:23 2nd Supervet, Quickest Tuff Bike
12..Gavin Sewell……….2:04:04 Quickest Tuff run split
14..Chris Robinson……2:06:59 Quickest Tuff swim split
17..Huw Williams……..2:09:17
23..Tom Gray……………2:18:44
36..Olly Sampson……..2:25:33
52..Tony (Bear) Day…..2:40:47
54..Louise Sivyer………2:42:52
….Bob Thomas…………2:48:02 1st in age group
….Chris Evans…………..3:11:53
The sprint race was next off and there would be some more Tuff’s commencing their comeback races. Dom Chapman was unsure how he would go having been forced to take things easy on his journey back from injury. Really? no one would have guessed as he pumped out an epic 6:07 swim, and 31:24 bike leg to not only finish 1st Tuff but 1st overall – what a comeback. Ollie McDonald also secured a top ten finish crossing in 9th, Phil Lintott-Clarke in 17th and Ben Abbott in 23rd. So what Long course could deliver, so could short course – Tuff Fitty came home 1st team in the Sprint distance with the above four.
No doubt Brighton Tri Club and Team THE will comeback strongly as they were in the lead at Steyning, particularly at Worthing as a qualifying event for one of the remaining two races in this series, but if we can maximise our turnout at Worthing and Arundel Castle??? maybe.
The good news didn’t finish there with birthday girl Miki Floyd second female and Karen McGrath 1st female supervet to make it a McGrath family double. Adam Parsons and Catharine Western finished in the top 50 and well done to Nicole Ewer for finishing having had a recent nasty fall at the recent Trundle Hill Run
Our banner photo above shows all four individual trophy winners – add to this two team victories and this was an excellent mornings work. Congratulations to all.
01..Dom Chapman………0:59:20..1st Overall
09..Ollie McDonald……..1:07:37
17..Phil Lintott-Clarke…1:10:45
23..Ben Abbott…………..1:12:10
29..Miki Floyd…………….1:13:17..2nd female
42..Karen McGrath…….1:16:14..1st female supervet
44..Adam Parsons……..1:16:28
50..Catharine Western.1:17:47
68..Debbie Boxall………1:21:35
84..Wendy Frost………..1:24:50
88..Simon Barker……….1:25:35
124.Nicole Ewer………..1:35:18
