Davey grabs fourth straight win (From Malvern Gazette)

Davey grabs fourth straight win

3:40pm Saturday 17th July 2010

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HUNDREDS of athletes battled with the sweltering heat to compete in the fourth annual Upton Triathlon.

A record 500 racers piled into the river Severn, setting off in waves of around 70 athletes at a time, to begin the race in the relatively cool water before the temperature rose significantly during the cycling and running stages.

Athletes of all standards travelled from far and wide to take part in what is fast- becoming one of the most sociable triathlons on the circuit. Novice Tom Faulkner, 29, journeyed from Aldeburgh in Suffolk, to take part in his maiden race.

He completed the Olympic distance (1,500m swim, 40km cycle, 10km race) in a respectable time of three hours four minutes.

He said: “This was by far and away the most difficult thing I have ever done.

“But I now feel on top of the world.”

Upton also kept its tradition of attracting local and national sporting names. This year Denis Betts, the legendary former Wigan and Great Britain rugby league star and member of Cheltenham Triathlon Club, tackled the Olympic course in 2.38.

Rhys Davey, 19, remains the man to beat picking up his fourth straight win at Upton in the sprint distance (750m swim, 21.5km cycle, 5km run) in an impressive time of 1.05.

As always the event was a mixture of first time racers and seasoned pros.

The race begins with a downstream swim to Upton, where competitors jump onto their bikes to cycle around country lanes before running along farm tracks to the finish.

Before the prize-giving, race organiser Jessica Surman presented a cheque for nearly £2,200 to the chosen charity, Midlands Air Ambulance.

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