The beautiful village of Broadhaven, on the West Coast of Pembrokeshire witnessed the Welsh Triathlon Standard Distance Triathlon National Championship race.

 

The race involved a beach start, followed by a 1500 metre sea swim in the clear blue waters of Broadhaven, an undulating 43 km bike and a 10.6 km run. The first 3 km of the run is along the beautiful, but leg sapping coastal path. 

 

After registration, racking the bikes in transition and the mandatory safety briefing, the athletes gathered on the beach for the race start. The official water temperature was a balmy (by Welsh standards) 15.5 degrees. A healthy crowd of supporters were gathered on the sea front to watch the race and cheer on all the athletes. Chris Goulden, on the PA system, was cranking up the tension and speculating which athletes were the ones to watch.

 

The start of the race witnessed a mass charge into the sea, with the leaders dolphin diving to get ahead, whilst those athletes at the back, adopting a more conservative, and energy saving approach.

The leaders were soon out of the water and racing up the sandy beach into T1. Helmets on and they were off along the sea front road, heading into the quiet Pembrokeshire roads. Whilst the athletes were off on the bike, the finish shute was erected and the spectators anxiously waited to see who would be first off the bike and on to the run.

 

Sam Webster of Cardiff Triathletes was first out of T2, with a healthy lead, over a chasing pack. Ellie Astins of Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club was the first women. The first half of the run is a gruelling slog along the coastal path, before returning along tarmac roads. So no medals were being awarded just yet.

 

The male and female leaders managed to maintain their positions and lead the field along the beach and into the finish shute. The obligatory cheers, water, bananas and Welsh cake awaited all finishers, as they crossed the line.

 

Tom Roberts, the Race Official, confirmed that no penalties were awarded and so no time penalties or DQs, could affect the race results. 

 

The Standard Distance National Champions for 2015 are;

 

Male Junior

 

1st Jamie Davies (NEWT)

2nd Tomos Dugmore (West Coast Tri)

 

Male Senior

 

1st James Hockin (West Coast Cycles)

2nd Richard Dando (Pencoed Tri)

3rd James Tremlett

 

Female Senior

 

1st Ellie Astins (Pembrokeshire Tri)

2nd Katie Silke (Swansea Bay Tri)

3rd Lowri Phillips (Sam Domenico RC)

 

Male Veteran

 

1st Sam Webster (Cardiff Tri)

2nd David Murray (Pencoed Tri)

3rd Richard Gardiner (Tenby Aces)

 

Female Veteran

 

1st Jayne Arnold (Celtic Tri)

2nd Sian Williams (Pembrokeshire Tri)

3rd Claire Williams (Pembrokeshire Tri)

 

Male Super Vet

 

1st Mike Pfeiffer

 

Female Super Vet

 

1st Catherine Etchell (Brecon Tri)

 

Male Vintage Vet

 

1st Paul Bennett

 

Female Vintage Vet

 

1st Jan Hannaford (Pembrokeshire Tri)

 

For those medal winners, who were unable to be at the presentation ceremony, the medals will be sent to you shortly in the post.

 

Full provisional results can be found by clicking here

 

Welsh Triathlon would like to thank Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club for hosting a superb event. We would like to thank the 85 volunteers who gave up their time, to ensure a well organised and friendly event for the athletes.

 

The next Championship race is the sprint distance triathlon, planned for Sunday 16th August 2015. Pencoed Triathlon Club will be hosting this event, called the Tuska Sprint Triathlon. We hope to see you there.