Triple test for record entry field (From Malvern Gazette)

Triple test for record entry field

11:50am Sunday 19th July 2009 in Sport

MORE than 350 athletes completed the gruelling Upton triathlon.

A record number of entrants took part in the race which involved swimming in the river Severn, cycling along country lanes and running down farm tracks to the finish.

Competitors ranged from elite triathletes to novices and travelled from all over the country to take part.

Vickie Wilkinson was the fastest woman over the standard distance with a time of two hours, 19 minutes, 48 seconds. She crossed the finish line an impressive nine minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

Nick Malynn, from London club Ful-on Tri, beat off stiff competition to become the fastest man on the day, completing the standard distance (1,500-metre swim, 40km bike, 10km run) in 2.02.55, a winning margin of just 13 seconds.

He said: “It’s a great race with the combination of a fast downstream swim and fairly flat bike and run routes, which make it fast for the more experienced triathlete and perfect for first timers.”

The shorter sprint distance (750m swim, 10km bike, 5km run) was dominated once again by Rhys Davey, who continued his remarkable form at Upton with a third successive win in a time of 1.05.9. The women’s sprint was won by Sarah Gailey in 1.21.36.

The race wasn’t all about speed, however, with 20 per cent of the competitors taking part in their first ever triathlon and many simply happy to just cross the finish line.

Upton Tri+ presented Iain Patton, from local charity Farmers Overseas Action Group, with a cheque for almost £1,700 to help their work supporting rural communities in Uganda.

If you would like to take part in next year’s Upton Tri+ on Saturday, July 10, entries will open on January 1, 2010, at uptontriathlon. com.