(Just in case you were wondering, no, the header image was NOT taken in Llanelli…!)
While the big (international) race of the weekend was taking place in Yokohama, Japan (Reports: Para | Women | Men), there were also British Elite racing in South Wales.
The Llanelli Super Sprint Triathlon, part of the British Triathlon Super Series, had a restricted entry (for athletes and spectators), thanks to the ongoing restrictions of Coronavirus.
The event was a selection race for several upcoming events later in 2021, including the Junior and U23 European Championships, plus starting slots for Elite (Senior) Continental Cups and European (Junior) Cup races. Because of restrictions limiting athlete numbers, the results will not actually feature now as part of the Super Series.
Deciding not to make the long return trip to Japan, the women’s race featured Vicky Holland and Jess Learmonth, who will both be part of the British Olympic team later this year. Joined by 2019 U23 World Championship Silver medallist, Olivia Mathias, that trio broke away on the swim, stayed together on the bike and finished with Vicky taking the win and Olivia second. Jess DNF’d on the run, we suspect, to protect some early season injury niggles, as she’ll no doubt have her short-term sights set on Leeds in three weeks time.
Sophie Green held off 2018 British Elite champion, Sophie Alden, to complete the podium.
He may represent Barbados, but Cardiff-based Matthew Wright has been a consistent part of the British Elite racing scene for many years now with consistently strong performances in the BTSS races.
A swift T2 could well have played a surprisingly key part in his success yesterday, as when the finish line came into sight – and he was shoulder-to-shoulder with Connor Bentley – the pair were separated on the timing by just two tenths of a second! Cameron Main (who recently ran a rapid 13:53 for 5km, at that same Podium 5k that brought Beth Potter global headlines, just a second behind a certain Jonathan Brownlee), was just nine seconds back to complete the podium.
Special note too for Daniel Dixon, the first Junior (ninth overall), his time coming from a separate wave. We’ve featured Daniel several times in recent years, and he appears to have started 2021 in good form.
Check out the incredibly close finish to the men’s race HERE.
Llanelli Sprint Triathlon – Sunday 16th May 2021
750m / 20km / 5km, Draft-Legal
ELITE WOMEN
1st – Vicky Holland – 58:29
2nd – Olivia Mathias – 59:04
3rd – Sophie Green – 1:01:12
4th – Sophie Alden – 1:01:22
5th – Annabel Morton – 1:01:34
6th – Erica Byram – 1:01:36
7th – Lizzy Edge – 1:01:41
8th – Beth Cook – 1:01:51
9th – Helen Jenkins – 1:10:56
10th – Megan McDonald – 1:02:10
ELITE MEN
1st – Matthew Wright – 54:59.5
2nd – Connor Bentley – 54:59.7
3rd – Cameron Main – 55:09
4th – Guy Evans Haggerty – 55:26
5th – Marcus Dey – 55:32
6th – James Chantler-Mayne – 55:46
7th – Alex Chantler – 55:58
8th – Frederick Webb – 56:00
9th – Daniel Dixon (Junior) – 56:03
10th – Jimmy Kershaw – 56:17
Triathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
