Grand Prix season begins in excellent fashion - The Stratford Observer

Grand Prix season begins in excellent fashion

Stratford Editorial 28th Feb, 2018   0

SIX Stratford Triathlon Club members were in determined mood as they enjoyed varying degrees of success at Sunday’s Peopleton Duathlon just outside Pershore.

The village hall, homemade cakes and friendly marshals make this a great introductory duathlon to kick off the 2018 Stratford Triathlon Club Grand Prix season and half a dozen club athletes competed, five of whom were doing the standard distance of four-mile run following by an 18-mile bike and two-mile run.

Bogdan Ene was first home for the Stratford contingent in the standard distance, finishing in 1:42.35 (16th in open age male category).

Hannah Osborne, hot on his heels in her first multi-sport event for more than a year, finished third in the open women category in an excellent time of 1:46.21.




Concerned about her lack of cycle training over the winter months, she need not have worried as she posted a speedy time of just over the hour for the 18 undulating miles.

James Purdy, recovering from a nasty chest infection, took it easy on the run, but was pleased with a good result on the bike, finishing in 1:47.30 (22nd open male).


Rebecca Pridham just missed on podium honours, finishing fourth veteran woman in 1:56.28 – a feat she was delighted with given she had raced the day before at the Cross Country Nationals in London and knew her racing would be ‘challenging’ at Peopleton.

Lisa Whittington, also recovering from illness, completed the Stratford standard cohort as she finished in 2:04.20 (fifth veteran woman). She also found the chilly conditions challenging but was still smiling at the finish line.

Ceri Shephard, Stratford’s sole short distance competitor (two-mile run, nine-mile bike, two-mile run) came to a very abrupt halt at the dismount line by coming off the bike in rather spectacular fashion.

This did not deter Shephard – another extremely strong and tough athlete coming back from injury – as she was checked by the medic and then proceeded to complete her run and still finish first female home in just over the hour (1:00.29).

Alex Doherty (Good2Swim) was first male home in 1:15.38 over the standard distance, with first lady being Claudia Wilesmith (Tewkesbury Triathlon) in 1:36.03.

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