Tritons have been topping the charts with outstanding performances and personal bests abroad and at home!  Ironman Austria had the largest number of British athletes for some years, in the 2011 competiton, five of our Tritons amoung those masses.  It was a marvelous day for the Tritons where Keith Sanders, Matt Winn-Smith and Mitch Dann had sub 10 hour performances! Keith had an amazing race executing a PB of 52 minutes from last year for a 9:08:28 result. Matt had a scorcher completing the course in 9:26:44 showing supreme consistency of form, and Mitch executed a new PB of 1 hour 20 min in only his second Ironman of his career for a 9:56:36. Sophia and Per Jansson blew the doors off of their first Ironman and completed the course in a team effort of 12:50:28. Hands down to you all you are the best!!!

At our middle distance club championships at The Cowman Sarah Dowling and Robert Baker took the female and male Greenwich Triton Club titles in 5:16:56 and 4:40:33 respectively, with Sarah taking 4th in her AG. Following closely behind Rob was our sole M30-34 condender, Steve Wood who finished in 4:50:38. In the M45-49 category, Bruno Mahsoudi and Ed Simpson tracked each other around the course with Bruno just edging it in 5:00:51 to Ed's 5:02:51. This event seemed to be all about the boys, with Simon Carter crossing the line in 5:20:05 and Steve Walker finishing a mere 22 seconds later in 5:20:27.  The conditions were hot, hot, hot and the parched terrain and humid environment made the achievements of all who participated all the more impressive. Jim Kirkland made a cameo appearance and bagged himself 8th position in AG while John Sheliker battled the elements and numerous punctures to finish in 6:48:30 - kudos for keeping going all the way to the finish!!  Congratulations to all who competed-big round of applause and glad to see so many out cheering along the sidelines too!!

The Tritons Olympic Distance Championships this year at the Dartford Bridge Triathlon was a win win situation for both our stars of the day. Simon McGarry, who took 1st overall male and Debbie Coyle who took 1st overall female were crowned our Tritons Olympic Distance Club Champs for 2011!!  The fast flat course allied with perfect weather conditions made for some fast times and there were some fantastic performances. Simon lead the race from start to finish posting the day's fastest swim and 2nd fastest swim split and easily holding on in the run to win by 2 minutes. Competing in her first ever Olympic distance event, Debbie's race was a lesson in pacing as she kept her opponents in sight before despatching them with a scorching sub-40 minute 10k to take first in 2:21:23!  Bringing the medal tallies to 3, Sean Hannan had a great day at the office taking 3rd place in his category!  James Donaldson had a great day with a 15th place overall finish in 2:19:44, Jon Williams taking 21st overall just behind Debbie in 2:21:37 and Stuart Keelan finishing in 2:51:10.  Leading the MV40's was your chairman Ed Simpson who, despite spending far too long in the water trying to swim in the wrong direction, posted the second fastest Triton bike split of the day to finish 9th in AG and 29th overall in 2:24:20. Hot on his heels was Kelly Jorgensen, only 3 spots behind in 2:26:23!  Rounding out our MV40's was David Walker in a time of 2:44:03.  Congratulations to all our Tritons who started on the line!

Well it was a big weekend for the Tritons down in Somerset at the Wimbleball Ironman 70.3 race!  As the sun rose on the lake at the begining of a long day, the masses entered the water and were off for a 7am start. Malcolm Davies had a stormer, finishing in 5th place in M 35-39 and 31st overall, only 20 seconds behind female pro Lucy Gossage and over 5 minutes ahead of the lady of steel, New Zealander Sam Warriner! Malc murdered the course in a time of 5:04:03-what an amazing performance and an incredible confidence booster!

John Sheliker lined up for his second appearance at HIMUK this weekend, unfortunately unkind conditions making it a race to remember! Wimbleball is a tough enough course already without the added weather conditions so its commendable to get there, race and finish, let alone race a personal best.  John made it around the course in a time of 6:51:42 a fantastic time when taking on a new distance. 

You're both ace!

Congratulations to our extremist Glenn Hatrick, who nailed a first place finish in the Avon Tyrell Enduroman 100 mile Ultra Marathon this past weekend!  The race takes place in Hampshire, in the New Forest near the historic site of the Avon Tyrell estate. The Ultra Marathon was all part of a week of events comprising the Enduroman Ultra Triathlon Championships where Glenn had planned to attack the Quintuple triathlon.  However, due to an unforeseen encounter with a doctor's bumper, two splints and a few aches and bruises later, he rallied and decided to do the Ultra instead.  The Ultra consists of 100 laps of a one mile course around the Avon Tyrell estate.  I can't think of anything more monotanous, but Glenn's confidence and fitness carried him through wind, rain and the darkest part of the night to a 21:43 finish.  A very commendable result with so many external factors playing against Glenn and the fact that the race itself takes its toll on the fittest and most seasoned of triathletes.  We are in awe of you Glenn. 

In other news, Bruno Mahsoudi has been picking up the pace and spent a week training up in Pembrokeshire on the Ironman Wales course as part of an official training week. Over the first weekend, athletes were tested over the distance in 3 races, the first of which was The Wales Swim where Bruno posted a solid 1:16:54 over the 1.9km distance.  Day 2 brought The Wales Sportive where Bruno worked to his strengths and finished the 112 mile course in 6:27:08.  On day 3, on top of tired arms and tired legs, Bruno creamed The Wales Marathon in a time of 3:26:49.  After not being able to be on the start line at the London Marathon due to plaguing injury, this time is sign of good things to come and that all is healing well.  Excellent!

It's been a busy month for the club and kicking off May with a start was the Marshman Middle distance in Kent on May 8th.   All 5 of our Tritons competing in the event shone by finishing in the top 20 in their respective categories.  The boys (and the girls!!) have been making massive improvements over the last year, Mitch Dann leading the fray by completing the course in a time of 4:39:43, as well as placing 5th in his category and 18th overall!! Steve Woods was not far behind with a time of 4:52:32 and the second fastest run split of all our Tritons.  Despite a bumpy start with injury Bruno Mahsoudi creamed the competition finishing 4th in his age group only two minutes behind Steve.  A solid swim, swift bike and stalwart run led Bruno to a 4:54:38 keeping him in the top 25% of the overall field.  Following suit in her preparation for Ironman Austria next month, Sophia Jansson came in the top 5 in her category with an outstanding run time of 1:49:13 and an overall time of 5:51:30!  Colin Pickard had a great race following the boys with an outstanding bike split and an overall time of 5:24:36. 

The Challenge Barcelona Maresme on May 29th saw three Tritons on the start line.  Rob Baker, Ed Simpson and Arvid Tage all tested their endurance on the half Ironman course running through the local streets of the city, with the whole area shut down and inhabitants in attendance to cheer on the athletes. All three gents finished in the top 20 of all GB finishers, no small feat in warm conditions!  Rob Baker stormed the race from start to finish with a time of 4:42:08 in 12th position in M 40-44.  Ed Simpson created the 'S' factor with 14th place finish in M 45-49 in 4:59:13, only 1 minute behind Rob on the bike in his first foray into the 'Challenge' events. Arvid Tage rounded out the tough crew of middle distance challengers in a time of 5:26:21, finishing in the top half of his age group.  Diccon Driver drew the short straw and due to illness had to drop out of the half, but ever the sportsman, Diccon and his wife were there to support and provide a lovely glass of Spanish red at the end of the hard days work.  Well done on all your efforts!

It was a great day at the races at the East Grinstead Triathlon where 17 tritons lined up at the start to contest the Tritons Sprint Club Champ!

Robert Baker and Freddie Sumption showed their metal and tanked across the course at amazing speeds! Rob sped out of transition leading the fray of Tritons from start to finish with Dr. Malc Davies steadily closing the gap. Rob finished 4th overall with Malc less than a minute behind in 6th place!

Freddie put a sizeable lead between herself and the next Triton early on in the race, finishing in 2cnd place overall, missing out on 1st place overall by an agonizing 1 second!!

Congratulations to Rob and Freddie who are our new and returning club champions. Well done to all Tritons who raced. Some fantasic effort and times out there on a hard day!