Let’s hope for a few less cancellations than last week! A look at some of the major events on the multisport schedule coming up this weekend.
British Duathlon Championships: Elite, Para, Age-Group, Junior, Youth
After weeks of cancelled races (including the English Duathlon Championships at Clumber Park last weekend), the weather is looking a little kinder for this weekend’s British Championships, hosted by NiceTri Events at Bedford Autodrome.
Last year (same venue – report HERE), the Elite titles went to Adam Bowden and Emma Pallant, ahead of Mark Buckingham / Luke Pollard and Bronwen Owen / Georgina Schwiening respectively.
Pallant, who has seemingly won this championship every year, won’t be there this year – but Bronwen Owen and Georgina Schwiening are set to start. One interesting name on the start list is Lucy Gossage. If you don’t think an IRONMAN triathlete can be competitive in a Sprint distance, draft-legal duathlon… well, the last time she raced this championship in 2012, she won it. Based on the start list, the race looks pretty open to me. Don’t be too surprised in the Duracell Bunny does similar once again…
The men’s race looks super strong – Adam Bowden, David Bishop, Richard Horton, Jimmy Kershaw, Luke Pollard, Cameron Richardson and Philip Wylie are just a few of the proven names who will be fighting for what should be a very competitive podium.
More details on the event and start lists for all categories HERE.
New Plymouth ITU Triathlon World Cup
The last major international draft-legal race before the Commonwealth Games – full preview HERE.
Quarteira ETU Triathlon European Cup and Junior European Cup
Nearer to home, European-based draft legal athletes will be in Portugal for the annual Quarteira European Cup. After a big turn out last weekend in Gran Canaria (won by Georgia Taylor-Brown and Barclay Izzard), a smaller British senior entry this week: Chris Perham, Calum Johnson, Cameron Harris, Hannah Howitt and Lucy Nell. The Senior race takes place on Saturday – with Sunday’s Junior European Cup also featuring a significant British entry. Full start lists HERE.
IRONMAN 70.3 Davao, Philippines
A brand new event – the third IRONMAN 70.3 race in the Philippines – to add to existing races in Cebu and Subic Bay. A $15,000 Pro purse and 500 KPR points on offer for the Elite. 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Tim Reed (Australia) wears #1 and among those also racing are former XTERRA World Champion Mauricio Mendez (MEX), reigning XTERRA World Champion Bradley Weiss (RSA), three-time IRONMAN World Champion Craig Alexander (AUS) and regular Sub-8 IRONMAN finisher, Brent McMahon (CAN).
Anna Eberhardt (HUN) – winner of 70.3 Vietnam last year – and Dimity Lee Duke (USA) feature among relatively small Pro start lists for both genders.
Full start list HERE.
Others to note…
Assuming this weekend doesn’t have another ‘Mini Beast from the East’, other notable races include the Harlech Triathlon in North Wales – which will also host the Welsh Duathlon Championships along side it, while the Scottish Duathlon Championships also take place at the Stirling Duathlon, which is over the non-drafting, Standard distance.