This year’s winter duathlon series sponsored by Angus Bike Chain and SG Baker Ltd came to a sunny and successful conclusion on Sunday as 143 of the 180 starters completed the final 4k run, 40k bike and a final 4k run in cold and bright conditions in and around Monikie Park. Race day was one of those that makes you appreciate how perfect the Park is for these events, with the reservoirs forming a flat but challenging figure of 8 run, and the quiet, lumpy local roads forming a testing challenge in the south westerly breeze.

Series leader Drew Sharkey had some serious competition for the race win from top triathletes Fraser and Blair Cartmell (Stirling Tri Club) and last year’s series winner Graeme Stewart (Dundee University). The pace at the front of the race was blisteringly fast with Fraser Cartmell covering the 4k in 13:50 which must be the fastest times over the course. Sharkey was not far behind in 14:14 with Stewart third, a further 15 seconds back. The speed of transition from run to bike with these athletes is quite astonishing. The first lady out of transition was the Cartmell’s team mate Alice Hector in 16:06 closely followed by the first junior Matthew Norris (unattached) in 16:34.

Out on the bike, Sharkey and F Cartmell could not be separated with them coming back into transition together. This was always going to work against Sharkey as he was the slightly slower runner and by the finish Cartmell had built a lead of almost a minute as the efforts began to tell on Sharkey. Third on the day was Blair Cartmell, followed by Stewart, Jonathon Ferry (The Bicycleworks) and John Blunsdon (Deeside Thistle CC). There were several crashes out on the course, mainly due to cornering too fast, despite being well warned at the pre race briefing of the greasy roads. Thankfully any injuries sustained to over exuberance, including from some of the series leaders, were confined to cuts and bruises.

Race results 1. Fraser Cartmell 1:40:13, 2. Drew Sharkey 1:41:10, 3. Blair Cartmell 1:43:05, 4. Graeme Stewart 1:43:50, 5. Jonathon Ferry 1:44:03. The first veterans home were Edinburgh Road Club’s Tim May in 1:46:27 and Dave Muir, East Fife Tri Club 1:47;12. Leading the Super veterans was Howard Horsfall (Fairport Tri Club) 1:50:25, and for the ladies it was Alice Nector in 1:55:12 then Erni Hamilton (The Bicycleworks) 2:00:56 and Catharine Sinclair (East Fife Tri Club) 2:03:00. Junior athletes Andrew Hood (East Fife Tri) and Douglas Chamers (Deeside Thistle CC) were well up there with the seniors in 2:00:32 and 2:00:49 respectively.

Despite coming in second on the day, Sharkey won the series overall, Andy Brierley (Fife AC) was runner up, with May taking third place in the series and the trophy for the veteran. Erni Hamilton took the ladies trophy with Catharine Sinclair claiming second. Horsfall successfully defended his super veterans title for the third year running, Andrew Hood was top junior and east Fife Tri Club won the team trophy thanks to some consistent and trouble free racing.

Other local times include Derek Clark (Dundee Wheelers) 1:50:53, Craig Grieve (Spokes Racing Team) 1:55:04, Neil Raitt (Angus Bike Chain) 1:55:48, Nick Bryan (Tayside Fire and Rescue) 1:57:14, Stephen Mason (Fairport Tri Club) 1:57:30, Steve King (Dundee Thistle CC) 2:06:18, Keith Anderson (Unattached) 2:09:41, Bill Butterworth (Tayside Fire and Rescue) 2:11:18, Ron Milne (unattached) 2:12:46, Colin Garness (unattached) 2:16:18, Caroline Stewart (Unattached) 2:18:00, Alan Soutar (Tayside Fire and Rescue) 2:19:50, Dominic Cowieson (unattached) 2:21:18, Ian Wilson (unattached) 2:24:29, Julian Parsons, (Unattached) 2:29:21, David Cowie (unattached) 2:29:57.

As well as to the sponsors, thanks must go to Monikie Park for their assistance in running of the series, Caledonia Catering for providing refreshments after each round, the club members and friends who turn up to marshall and time keep and the British Red Cross for their volunteers who were kept busy in this last race. Full series results can be found at www.eventfull.biz/monikie