Race Report by Lisa Tweddle
The Berwick Sprint Triathlon is another new event for 2009 and is held in conjunction with the 'Active Berwick' scheme. The scheme aims to promote healthy living in the community, and the triathlon is a part of that initiative.
The event consisted of a 600m pool swim, 20k bike and 5k road run. Conditions were cool and breezy and thankfully the heavy rain which has been a factor over the last few days, stayed away. For Alnwick Tri club athletes, there was extra incentive for a good race as this event was also their club championship's.
Junior athlete, Ben Davison of Alnwick Tri Club lead the men out of the water in a swift 8.50. He was closely followed be team-mate and fellow junior, Jack Ferguson in 9.00 as Keith Haldane of Borders Triathletes exited 3rd in 9.33.
Ferguson lifted the pace on the bike and rode away from his team-mate and the rest of the field in 37.07, entering T2 with a commanding 90 second lead. Meanwhile, the 2nd and 3rd positions were also changing as Ian Simon of Alnwick Tri Club, who was over a minute down after the swim, clocked 37.03 to move into 2nd place. David Barker of Total Racing Int, who was over 90 seconds adrift after the swim, posted the days fastest bike split of 36.51 to move into 3rd spot.
Ferguson (23.12) continued to race strongly with a solid run but the athletes behind him were not yet prepared to admit defeat. He lead until the final 1k where a fleet-footed Barker (21.16) strode through to win in 1.08.45. Ferguson held on to 2nd place by the thickness of his tri-suit in 1.09.19 as team-mate, Simon came in a mere 1-second later in 1.09.20. Davison was 4th in 1.11.54 with Haldane, 5th in 1.12.26.
The women were lead out of the water by Scottish visitor, Joyce Mark in 10.03, as Emma Pearson of Alnwick Tri followed in 10.16 with team-mate Tracey Sample, 3rd in 10.33.
Onto the bike and Pearson (43.39) moved through into the lead but she was later overhauled by Sample in 42.53 and Jo Short of Durham Tri, who was 45seconds down after the swim, in 42.46. Short's time was the quickest women's bike split of the day.
On to the run and the lead was set to change again as Short (25.29) moved into 1st place. But Pearson (23.52) put in a blistering last effort at half way to move back into lead and take victory in 1.17.47. Short held 2nd in 1.19.44 as Sample (27.47) slipped back to 3rd in 1.21.13. Mark finished 4th in 1.22.09 as Sandra Thompson of One Life Racing was 5th in 1.24.02.
Full results can be seen here:
www.activeberwick.co.uk/Berwick-Triathlon.cfm
Results (Abbreviated)
Overall Men
1) David Barker – Total Racing Int – 1.08.45
2) Jack Ferguson – Alwnick Tri Club – 1.09.19
3) Ian Simon – Alnwick Tri Club – 1.09.20
Overall Women
1) Emma Pearson – Alnwick Tri Club – 1.17.47
2) Jo Short – Durham Tri Club – 1.19.44
3) Tracey Sample – Alnwick Tri Club – 1.21.13
Prize Winners (Men)
U23 – Jack Ferguson – Alnwick Tri Club – 1.09.19
Senior – David Barker – Total Racing Int – 1.08.45
Vet – Keith Haldane – Borders Triathletes – 1.12.26
SuperVet – John Fenwick – Leeds & Bradford Tri Club – 1.19.07
Prize Winners (Women )
U23 – Kathryn Parker – Birmingham University Tri Team – 1.31.27
Senior – Emma Pearson – Alnwick Tri Club – 1.17.47
Vet – Jo Short – Durham Tri Club – 1.19.44
SuperVet – Benita Pickersgill – Alnwick Tri Club – 1.34.18