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Pembrokeshire Coastal Triathlon Kicks Off 2021 WTSS

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Saturday saw the long-awaited return of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series to the domestic calendar with stage one taking place at Broadhaven, home of the Bluestone Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon.

With events slowly re-opening back in Wales, Pembrokeshire was once again our host, having hosted the National Middle-Distance Championships at Fishguard last month. This weekend saw the distance halved as stage 1 of the 2021 series opened with a Standard Distance event at Broadhaven. As a previous winner of the BTF event of the year award, offshore winds meant that the sea of St. Brides’ Bay was as calm as could be for the three hundred eager swimmers. 

Modifications to events across Wales meant that the 2021 event had a slightly different look to previous years. Transitions had changed to the Northside car park, and with a rolling time trial start on the beach, athletes were given clear water to complete their swim and ample space within both transitions.

As the first swimmers set off a little after 8:00am, two regular faces in Alex Matchett (Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club) and Olly Simon (ATAC) led the trail across Broadhaven bay. The pace at the front of the swim was relentless, with both athletes almost making their way out of the water as the final athlete was reaching the first turn buoy. Such is the nature of the new time trial starts, it's difficult to gauge overall positions relative to where you started in the field, but as the flow of athletes left the water, it was Cardiff Triathletes Gillian Hopkins who emerged the first female from the swim, but unfortunately had to withdraw on the run due to injury. This paved the way for Pembrokeshire’s Catherine Marks and GOGs Mared Dafydd and Emer Sandham to battle it for the female podium.

With the weather drying as the day progressed, the technical bike course caught out one or two competitors as the slippery roads dried, but after 40km of lung-busting Pembrokeshire coastline, athletes were then treated to 10km along the coastal path before returning to the beach finish. With Olly Simon heading out on the run first, it was the 2018 series winner Matchett who crossed the finish line in first place, eating into Simon’s 1-minute lead and extending a minute of his own as he crossed under the arch. Daniel Madden, returning from Viceroys for this years’ series ended the race in third overall.

Within the female race, there were some new overall podium names joining Catherine Marks, with Mared Dafydd finishing 2nd overall five minutes behind, and her GOG team-mate Emer Sandham a further three minutes behind in 3rd. Sandham also took the top spot in the female veteran category.

There were some regular names across the other categories with Pembrokeshire’s Sian Williams edging out Celtic Tri’s Jen Aylward in the female vintage veteran category, whilst Karen Munn returned to top the female super veteran category.  Across the male categories, Matthew Davies (Dragon Tri) and Stephen Rowlands (Carmarthen Triathlon Club) joined Simon in the male veteran podium, whilst the male vintage veteran category saw Gareth Bowyer (GOG) and Steve Matchett (Pembrokeshire) also go head-to-head.

Across the club competition, Pembrokeshire sits on top of the tree having won four age group categories and gained a second in another to muster 490 points. A hardy crew of GOG athletes headed south to claim 440 points whilst Cardiff made the most of the West with a large gathering collecting 385 points. The newly formed Dragon Tri, hosts of the next stage collected 270 points, whilst the newly affiliated club, Pembroke RFC Triathlon Club collected a well-deserved 200 points following their showing.

A full list of Welsh Triathlon Super Series Category Standings and results from Stage 1 can be found by clicking here.

Dave Astins, Race Director from organisers Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club was delighted with the way the day played out. "What a day!  After the cancellation in 2020, we were delighted to be able to put this race on and overcome all the hurdles the pandemic had put in our way.  Hugely grateful to all the event team, the competitors, the local community, sponsors and Welsh Triathlon for their positivity and support before, during, and after the event. We’re all looking forward to sitting back and watching it on TV!"

The first stage of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series will be aired on S4C on Friday 23rd July at 8:00pm. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer. The series then heads south to Porthcawl for the second stage, at the Porthcawl Standard Distance event on Sunday 8th August.

Don’t forget, if you want to compete for the overall categories across the Welsh Triathlon Super Series, National Championship Events, or be part of Tim Tri Cymru, join or renew your membership by clicking here.

Overall Results and Category Results – After Stage 1 Pembrokeshire.

Overall Males Top 10

     

 

 

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

 

 
   

1

Alex

MATCHETT

Pembrokeshire Tri

100

   

2

Oliver

SIMON

Atac

90

   

3

Daniel

MADDEN

Viceroys

85

   

4

Matthew

DAVIES

Dragon Tri

80

   

5

Guto

MORGANS

Top Step Triathlon

75

   

6

Stephen

ROWLANDS

Carmarthen Triathlon Club

70

   

7

Tom

GRAHAM

Dragon Tri Club

65

   

8

Gareth

BOWYER

GOG Triathlon

60

   

9

Jonathon

SEYMOUR

GOG Triathlon

55

   

10

Lewis

MURRAY

 

50

   

 

 

Overall Females Top 10

   

 

 

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

 

 
   

1

Catherine

MARKS

Pembrokeshire Tri

100

   

2

Mared

DAFYDD

GOG Triathlon

90

   

3

Emer

SANDHAM

GOG Triathlon

85

   

4

Emily

SHARP

 

80

   

5

Elizabeth

WILIAMS

Pembrokeshire Tri

75

   

6

Melanie

MILES

Pembrokeshire Tri

70

   

7

Jennifer

AYLWARD

Celtic Tri

65

   

8

Natalie

RICHARDS

Cardiff Triathletes

60

   

9

Sara

MORGAN

Taff Ely Tri

55

   

10

Rachael

DAVIES

Cardiff Triathletes

50

   

 

Male Seniors (20-39)

   

 

 

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

 

 
   

1

Alex

MATCHETT

Pembrokeshire Tri

100

   

2

Daniel

MADDEN

Viceroys

90

   

3

Guto

MORGANS

Top Step Triathlon

85

   

4

Tom

GRAHAM

Dragon Tri Club

80

   

5

Lewis

MURRAY

 

75

   
             

Male Veterans (40-49)

       

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

   
   

1

Oliver

SIMON

Atac

100

   

2

Matthew

DAVIES

Dragon Tri

90

   

3

Stephen

ROWLANDS

Carmarthen Triathlon Club

85

   

4

Jonathon

SEYMOUR

GOG Triathlon

80

   

5

Alan

LATTER

Team Watt

75

   
             

Male Vintage Veterans (50-59)

       

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

   
   

1

Gareth

BOWYER

GOG Triathlon

100

   

2

Steve

MATCHETT

Pembrokeshire Tri

90

   

3

Richard

LEARY

Celtic Tri

85

   

4

Nick

ELLIOTT

 

80

   

5

Peter

LLOYD

Pembrokeshire Tri

75

   
             

Male Super Veterans (60-69)

       

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

   
   

1

Simon

OSBORNE

Pencoed Tri

100

   

2

Edward

MORGAN

Taff Ely Tri

90

   

3

Kevin

WHEELER

Pembrokeshire Tri

85

   

4

Michael

BATTERSBY

Cardiff Triathletes

80

   

5

Steve

RICH

Pembrokeshire Tri

75

   
             

Male Super Vintage Veterans (70-79)

     

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

   
   

1

David

HILL

 

100

   

2

Mike

WILLIAMS

Pembrokeshire Tri

90

   

 

 

Female Seniors (20-39)

   

 

 

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

 

 
   

1

Catherine

MARKS

Pembrokeshire Tri

100

   

2

Mared

DAFYDD

GOG Triathlon

90

   

3

Emily

SHARP

 

85

   

4

Bryanie

ALLSWORTH

 

80

   

5

Erika

HOLE

 

75

   
             

Female Veterans (40-49)

       

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

   
   

1

Lisa

MONK

Rhondda Tri

100

   

2

Emer

SANDHAM

GOG Triathlon

90

   

3

Melanie

MILES

Pembrokeshire Tri

85

   

4

Natalie

RICHARDS

Cardiff Triathletes

80

   

5

Sara

MORGAN

Taff Ely Tri

75

   
             

Female Vintage Veterans (50-59)

       

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

   
   

1

Elizabeth

WILIAMS

Pembrokeshire Tri

100

   

2

Jennifer

AYLWARD

Celtic Tri

90

   

3

Jacqui

SWINNEY

TVT

85

   

4

Tej

QUINE

Cardiff Triathletes

80

   

5

Debbi

PAYNE

Coalville Triathlon Club

75

   
             

Female Super Veterans (60-69)

       

Position

Name

Team

WSS Points 2021

   
   

1

Karen

MUNN

Pembrokeshire Tri

100

   

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