British triathletes return to Norway

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British triathletes travel to Norway this weekend to compete in the 2010 Eidsvoll ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships. The team will include our first elite athlete to compete in a Winter Triathlon, and a GB Age Group Team hungry for more winter success.

Rhodri Buffett, 21 years of age from Pontypool in Wales, is our first elite athlete to compete at World Championship level. He will be aiming to replicate last year’s success, where he won gold in the 20-24 Age Group. The elite races take place on Saturday 13 February, and will see competitors complete a 6km run, 10km mountain bike and 8km cross-country ski.

Rhodri will be joined in Norway by a team of six Age Group athletes, who will all be looking to repeat the team’s silver success last weekend in Lygna at the ETU European Championships.

Our GB Age Group Team includes Stephen Gray and Tom Phillips who competed in the ETU Winter Triathlon European Championships last weekend, with Stephen finishing fifth and Tom winning silver. Katie Williams, Sarah Thomas, Miles Peacock and Matthew Spillman complete the team, and benefit from Stephen and Tom’s experiences last weekend. The Age Group races begin on Sunday 14 February, with athletes completing a gruelling 4km run, 7.5km mountain bike and 6km cross-country ski.

Chris Kitchen, Director of Performance Portfolio said: “The 2010 Eidsvoll ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships provides a great opportunity for athletes to take part in one of triathlon’s toughest multisport events. It is an exciting step for British Triathlon entering our first ever elite athlete, and we wish Rhodri every success. Our Age Group team will have good experience to draw on from the European Championships last weekend, and will endeavour to return with even more winter medals.”