Simone Mitchell returns to racing in impressive style at Aberfeldy Triathlon
A winning Sunday for Munday in Scotland…
The long-standing Aberfeldy Triathlon hosted a championship double on Sunday, featuring both the British and Scottish Middle Distance Triathlon Championships. WIth around 600 entries (224 of those entered in the Scottish Champs), it was a popular event too, attracting athletes from all of the home nations.
Two contrasting races; a close battle to the finish for the men, while the women’s race saw the very welcome return to racing and fitness for an athlete who showed that absence has not impacted her talent.
For the men, a trio of Fraser Cartmell, Douglas Roberts and Matthew Nelson lead the way in the swim, two and half minutes ahead of their chasers. The fastest cycle of the day from Lanzarote-based Brit, Michael Lavender, saw him overcome his swim deficit and start the run two minutes clear of Roberts and Nelson, and they were followed just over a minute later by Cartmell, Peter Fenwick, Will Munday and Oscar Barbour.
The run was dominated by Will Munday, his 1:17:40 split almost three minutes quicker than the next individual athlete, taking him to the British Championship Gold ahead of Nelson and the 2019 Scottish Champion, Douglas Roberts.
For the women, Hannah Munday powered away in the swim – matching the lead men – and three minutes clear of Alice Jenkins. A further two minutes back was Kirsty O’Brien (Lanark Triathlon) and Simone Mitchell, who was so impressive in 2018 when finishing second overall (as an Age-Group athlete) at IRONMAN Lanzarote, and then smashing the course record at the Outlaw Triathlon. Hoping to return to Kona last year and challenge for the overall Age-Group win, she had to withdraw injured – and we’ve not really seen her race since.
Still, Mitchell has proven she can return from a long time out with injury and doesn’t need to race frequently to hit top form – and was about to show that once again. Mitchell produced an impressive 2:37:31 bike split on the tough course, in challenging and windy conditions. That was six minutes quicker than Corinne Moss and Erica Booth – who she started the run six minutes ahead of – before adding the fastest run split too (1:31:27), to win by almost 18 minutes.
Look out for Simone next month at IRONMAN Wales, where she will be racing the Pro field.
Aberfeldy Middle Distance Triathlon – Sunday 18th August 2019
British and Scottish Middle Distance Triathlon Championships
1.9km / 90km / 21km
MEN
1st – Will Munday – 4:21:33
2nd – Matthew Nelson – 4:23:12
3rd – Douglas Roberts – 4:24:07 **
4th – Michael Lavender – 4:26:21
5th – Oscar Barbour – 4:27:12
WOMEN
1st – Simone Mitchell – 4:44:31
2nd – Erica Booth – 5:02:30
3rd – Alison McKenzie – 5:06:22 **
4th – Corinne Moss – 5:06:52
5th – Kirsty O’Brien – 5:10:42
(** Overall Scottish National Middle Distance Champions)
Triathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
