Weert 2019: GB Age-Group medals ETU Triathlon Standard Distance

Oliver Crossley sets the Age-Group pace in Weert, Netherlands

Claire Danson returns to form as fast female Brit

The latest Great Britain Age-Group team medal roundup features the ETU Triathlon European Championships over the Standard distance from Weert, The Netherlands, where the AG events were held over two days this past weekend.

Given the relative ease of travel, no surprise to see another significant number of Brits travelling – well over 300 athletes from the 700+ racing were in GB colours, but it’s good to see more than 20 nations represented.

As well as a total of 30 podiums, seven of which were Gold (and all listed below), in the usual manner we like to take at the overall times too. As well as winning M25-29, Oliver Crossley was also the fastest AG male across all divisions too, by more than two minutes. Oliver thus defends his AG title while also moving up one place overall, as he was second fastest last year in Tartu, Estonia.

Making quite a return to form (and health) was Claire Danson. The second fastest athlete overall, she took Gold in F30-34 (having won Bronze in Tartu). That follows what was a very scary time earlier this year at IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai, covered here by her Instagram post at the time:

View this post on Instagram

It’s not very clear but it’s exactly 4 weeks since this happened and time for some reflection. What you can see is the state I had been in for about the last 700m and only a little better than this 2km out from the end of the race. Up till the run things couldn’t have been going better. First amateur off the bike and beating 3 of the 9 pros. The run started great and then it went downhill. I thought I was just having a bad day and was having to stop at all the aid stations where I wobbled around, took on some water and then carried on. I never knew what was in store. Had to walk from around 2km. I didn’t know what was going ok around 700m and have no idea how I dragged myself to the end but pleased I did as that’s where I got the medical help I needed. With a temperature of 40 degrees oxygen saturation at 60 and heart fibrillating I was in a state but they stabilised me quickly. I spent the next two days in hospital and have been recovering since. The hardest part is not being able to train. I still feel weak and I don’t know how long it will take. I know I will get there as I don’t know how to give up but it’s taking all my mental power to keep believing it will get better. I’m desperate to get back out there. I’ve gone from being at my fittest to at my worst in the space of one race and I don’t know how to get better. But I will and that’s all that matters now. Friends and family have been amazing. Always send a message to someone having a hard time and remember you will make their whole day and maybe their whole week. #triathlon #recovery #comebackstronger #desperatetotrain #missingtraining #rhabdomyolisis #journeytopro #prolicencegoals #swimbikerun #ironman703

A post shared by Claire Danson (@cdanson10) on Mar 1, 2019 at 2:53am PST

Fastest British athletes overall

MEN

1st – Oliver Crossley – 1:54:13 (Gold, M25-29) – Fastest Age-Group athlete overall
2nd – Edward Castro – 1:57:16 (Silver, M30-34) – Fourth fastest Age-Group athlete overall
3rd – William Grace – 1:58:02 (Gold, M20-24) – Fifth fastest Age-Group athlete overall

Happy to come away with a European silver 🥈 from Weert today. It got hot very quickly and the run was a struggle but I got there in the end. Lovely lake for a swim and straight roads for speedy bikes, and the sprinklers were a lifesaver!#iracezone3 #Triathlon #swimbikerun #hot pic.twitter.com/mcrA5CgDEX

— Edward Castro (@EddieeeC) June 2, 2019

WOMEN

1st – Claire Danson – 2:09;47 (Gold, F30-34) – Second fastest Age-Group athlete overall
2nd – Charlotte Bell – 2:10:35 (Gold, F25-29)- Third fastest Age-Group athlete overall
3rd – Mimi Carlton – 2:11:47 (Silver, F25-29) – Fifth fastest Age-Group athlete overall

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What a weekend! Yesterday I became age group european Olympic triathlon champion 30-34 and second overall female. I still can’t quite believe it. I still feel there were parts I could have done better in. My swim was not great and I went down the wrong row in T2 but to come back from Dubai to this is beyond what I thought I could do. I consider myself incredibly lucky with the people I have around me and the support I have. @precision_race_team are quite simply epic – truly like a second family and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the team. @jjjohn1allen and @lucyje_physio and all the team at @precision_performance_physio for keeping me in one piece. @pedalheaven for looking after me and my bike and being the best bike shop there is. @easportingchamps for the help to support my training with their incredible facilities. My family for being the best support ever and @dansontricia for being my number one support and coming out with me being there every step of the way! Next week is 70.3 Ironman Staffordshire. Let’s see how this goes! #europeanchampion #winner #medalsunday #weert #europeantriathlonchampionships #gbagegroup #triathlon #swimbikerun #lucky #bestsupport #comebackstronger #rhabdomyolysis

A post shared by Claire Danson (@cdanson10) on Jun 2, 2019 at 12:33pm PDT

Weert ETU Triathlon European Championships – Saturday 1st / Sunday 2nd June 2019
1.5km / 40km / 10km – AGE-GROUP

British Age-Group Medals (30)

GOLD (7)

• William Grace – 20-24 Male AG
• Charlotte Bell – 25-29 Female AG
• Oliver Crossley – 25-29 Male AG
• Claire Danson – 30-34 Female AG
• Gwen Kinsey – 45-49 Female AG
• Anita Howe – 50-54 Female AG
• Sue Bathgate – 70-74 Female AG

SILVER (10)

• Rosie Weston – 20-24 Female AG
• Mimi Carlton – 25-29 Female AG
• Edward Castro – 30-34 Male AG
• Rachel Wiseman – 35-39 Female A
• Paul James – 45-49 Male AG
• Linda Russell-Bond – 60-64 Female AG
• Sally Kidson – 65-69 Female AG
• Christopher Owens – 65-69 Male AG
• Hilary Stevenson – 75-79 Female AG
• Vernon Thomas – 75-79 Male AG

BRONZE (13)

• Ben Scott – 18-19 Male AG
• Hannah Mattinson – 20-24 Female AG
• Dan Elliot – 20-24 Male AG
• Lucy Davies – 25-29 Female AG
• Rebecca Goodwin – 30-34 Female AG
• Daniel Jenkin – 30-34 Male AG
• Rebecca Vermeer – 35-39 Female AG
• Alexandra Knowles – 55-59 Female AG
• Richard Bewell – 55-59 Male AG
• Penny Rother – 60-64 Female AG
• Lesley Kernaghan – 65-69 Female AG
• Peggy Crome – 75-79 Female AG
• Nigel Dimmock – 75-79 Male AG