We enjoyed just about perfect weather for this, the last race of the season for 2013. Blue skies, no wind, calm seas and a relatively cool evening. It doesn’t get much better.
A big thank you to Argo Re for continuing their sponsorship of the series. Sincere thanks also to everybody who pitched in to help. Too many folks helped for me to name them all individually, but Ian and Donna Pilgrim deserve a mention for hosting or helping at the race on numerous occasions, while Janet Harrison was once again an absolute star for standing by herself in the middle of the road as the safety marshal at the bike turn, time and time again. Please–if you get the opportunity, thank anyone you know at Argo Re for their support, and also thank the Pilgrims and Janet.
Tonight’s race was really interesting. Tim Fox led after the swim and for most of the bike. Four athletes came into second transition at virtually the same time–Tim, Alex Pilgrim, Jonnie Betts and the winner for the past two weeks, Otis Ingham. Race on!
Or so it seemed. As it turned out, Alex Pilgrim pulled away on the run and in the end won by almost a minute. Jonnie Betts, who is getting race-ready for the Miami Ironman 70.3 in 3 weeks, finished a strong second ahead of Otis and Tim.
In the ladies’ race, Lesley-Jane Smith led after the swim and bike, but couldn’t sustain her position on the run. Sharon Hammond took first place, as she has several times during this year’s series. Rachael Rothwell and Deanna Didyk (fresh from her appearance in London at the Age Group World Championships) came in second and third, respectively.
Honourable mentions to:
- Young Nick Pilgrim, who made a last minute decision to do the long race instead of the shorter distance, and finished 5th in a very strong time
- Tammy Ingham, who proved that’s she’s spent time learning how to turn corners since the last race
- Charles Leonard, both for his first appearance and for entertaining us while he danced around trying to remove his swim rashie. He made up for lost time on the bike, though!
- The Hope family, for competing with the biggest smiles.
I hope to see you all next year! Thanks for taking part in the series and making my role a great pleasure.
Alan
200m swim/ 3 lap Bike/2 lap run
1Alex Pilgrim24:23
2Jonnie Betts25:21
3Otis Ingham25:41
4Tim Fox25:57
5Nick Pilgrim26:56
6Tim Palmer27:02
7Sharon Hammond27:38
8Randolph Smith28:07
9Rachael Rothwell28:31
10Deanna Didyk28:49
11Rebecca Harrison29:07
12 Laura Hope 29:27
13Lesley-Jane Smith29:29
14Charles Leonard 31:33
15Deborah Pharaoh-Williams32:01
16Dave Hope34:15
Other distances
Tammy Ingham 27:52 200m swim/3 laps bike/1 lap run
