Date: 6 June 2010

Location: Emberton Country Park, Buckinghamshire

Format: 750m swim / 20km bike / 5km run

Organiser: Big Cow

Website: www.big-cow.com

Big Cow has hosted events at Emberton Country Park for a number of years now and the experience showed in the slick organisation of the National Sprint Triathlon Championships. The race started promptly at 7am. By 9am the vast majority had finished and by midday you’d hardly know an event had taken place.

The course followed a tried and tested route starting with a brisk swim around the park’s lake. The biggest, and perhaps only, grumble of the day was the too-short two minute gap between start waves. The organisers did this to ensure all swimmers cleared T1 before the fastest triathletes returned and started running as the run route crossed both the T1 and swim exits. Faster swimmers found themselves struggling through hoards of swimmers from earlier waves and no doubt some weaker swimmers suffered being swam over.

Overcrowding in the water

The bike route heads out into the Northamptonshire country side on mainly quiet undulating roads. This year perfect weather conditions (dry, calm, comfortable temperature) made fast bike splits almost routine. Many people came back grinning. It was almost like riding the entire 20km with a tail wind. On top of that, a 2km descent back into T2 gave legs a chance to recover for the run.

As for the run, the only change in gradient over the entire route was a couple of speed bumps, which again meant fast splits even though the two lap track around the lake was slightly over-distance at 5.3km. I didn’t hear any complaints. A compact transition area just a few steps away from the swim exit also ensured quick change over times.

Andy Tarry (Ceepo TFN TR) dominated the race finishing nearly three minutes clear of Christopher Stuart (Army Triathlon Association). Alex Young (Cambridge University) rounded out the top three, all of whom broke the hour. It’s worth pointing out that Tarry now competes in the 40-44 age group and Stuart in the 35-39. For these triathletes it seems that age is only a number, as the cliché goes. Emphasising the point Mark Hirsch, who won the 45-49 category and came 10^th overall was only another minute behind Young, and Kevin Partridge, 50-54 winner, finished just two minutes behind Hirsch.

Way over 40 but not yet over the hill - men's 45-49 winners

In the women’s race, Karen Axelsdottir (Optima Racing Team) finished a minute ahead of Danielle Stuart. Eimear Mullen took third place.

Finally, Big Cow should be commended for a very usable results service that allows you to analyse your splits in almost any way imaginable.

For more pictures see our facebook page.

Do this race if:

• You want to try for a PB
• You want to do a well-organised, no razzmatazz event in a scenic location

Don’t do this race if:

• You need a couple of hours to get into your stride
• You want the buzz and glamour of a big prestige event

Samantha Wilson sprints for the finish

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