Thanks to the sponsorship of local company SG Baker Ltd, Friockheim and local bike shop Angus Bike Chain, Arbroath the Monikie Winter Duathlon Series continues to grow and grow and must now be the biggest annual multisport event in the area. Five years ago a strong field was 60 competitors, however the latest round this month saw nearly 3 times number that on the start list, only 2 shy of the maximum 180.

A few injuries and illness saw to it that there were a few numbers left behind as the athletes tackled a 4 km run, 20 km bike section on the lumpy roads around the village and a second 4 km run within the Park.

Leading the series from round 1, Drew Sharkey (The Bicycleworks) started where he left off, leaving the field in his wake and running and riding solo to victory with another comfortable 2 minute margin over second placed Mark Cooper (Edinburgh Road Club) with Stephen Terwey (unattached) a further 90 seconds back. The wind did have quite an effect on all the athletes, both within the park and especially out on the road as the long drag up to the Douglaswood TV transmitter was into the teeth of a stiff headwind. The conditions also saw several retirements and these may have an effect on the final overall standings when the series is decided at the third and final race next month.

Race results top 6 - 1. Drew Sharkey 1:06:10, 2. Mark Cooper 1:08:08, 3. Stephen Terwey 1:09:40, 4. Andrew Brierley (Fife AC) 1:10:02, 5. Neil Young (unattached) 1:10:45, 6. Timothy May (Edinburgh Road Club) 1:11:06. First junior racer home was East Fife Triathlete Andrew Hood in 1:15:17. First lady home was Shona Robertson (Westerlands) in 1:18 42, closely followed by Sharkey’s team mate Erni Hamilton 1:19:30.

Other local times include Derek Clark (Dundee Wheelers) 1:11:44, Stephen Mason (Fairport Triathlon Club) 1:13:16, Howard Horsfall (Fairport Triathlon Club) 1:13:25, Neil Raitt (Angus Bike Chain CC), 1:14:36, Nick Bryan (Tayside Fire and Rescue) 1:15:46, David Stewart (Dundee Road Runners) Gary Milne (Unattached) 1:23:38, Stephen King (Dundee Thistle) 1:23:56, Bill Butterworth (Tayside Fire and Rescue) 1:24:44, Ron Milne (Unattached) 1:24:49, Claire Murray (Forfar Road Runners) 1:26:01, Dominic Cowieson (Unattached) 1:30:19, Colin Garness (Unattached) 1:32:23, Julian Parsons (Unattached) 1:32:57 and David Cowie (Unattached) 1:42:48.

Sharkey, Hamilton and Hood all lead their respective categories after round 2 and will be looking to consolidate that with strong performances at the final round on Sunday 4th February.