Date: 27 June 2010

Location: Ellesmere, Shropshire

Format: Olympic Distance

Organiser: Shropshire Council

Results: StuWeb Race Timing

After weeks complaining about numb feet and becoming increasingly fed up with racing in the cold and rain, along comes a scorcher. As temperatures at the Shropshire triathlon approaching 30 degrees one competitor found it all too much and ended up with a disqualification for nudity. Unfortunately we don’t have a picture to go with it. As the final qualifying event for the age-group World Championships in Budapest later this year, the event also witnessed plenty of hot racing.

The course has a reputation for being fast and, looking at the times, this seems to be the case. Tom Sturdy (Team Nemesis GB) finished first in 1.53.55 (winning himself a mountain bike in the process), closely followed by Colin Dixon (competing in the 40-44 age category!) and James Ratcliffe. First woman home was Holly Lawrence (Swansea University) in 2.09.27, then Catherine Pickthall and Jennifer Eilertsen. Holly also won herself a mountain bike.

"I won"

The swim takes place in ‘The Mere’ at Ellesmere, a lake formed by a massive ice block burying itself in the ground as the last ice age receded. The single lapped diamond shape course looked long from the bank but was possibly a tad short judging by how long it took to complete. In previous years the water has apparently been a little chilly: this year was comfortably cool. With plenty of space, good visibility and clear markings, the swim section was a joy.

The bike route is a single loop along smooth A roads through the Shropshire countryside. Unlike races in the South East of the UK that need to start at dark o’clock in the morning to avoid traffic, the roads around Ellesmere remained relatively traffic free throughout the race, despite the 11.00 am kick off. After a short flat section, the road climbs for several hundred metres and then undulates gently for much of the rest of the course. The first half was also gloriously wind assisted, but this pleasure had to be repaid in the second section.

Kieron Jackson and Edward Farnell set off on the bike

The run loops out and back along two arms making it ideal to keep track of the competition. However, the steep hill in the first kilometre made several people want to stop competing. It was also on the run that you felt the full force of the sun. Fortunately the organiser arranged for plenty of much-needed water stations along the way. The final kilometre is downhill and takes runners into the welcoming cool shade under the trees next to the Mere.

Do this race if:

• You like to get your head down on your aero bars, but don’t mind a couple of hills thrown in
• You run strongly on hills after cycling

Don’t do this race if:

• You like to get your racing done before most people get out of bed on a Sunday

Olly Jose checks who's behind

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