The late Spring Bank Holiday weekend saw Pencoed Triathlon Club welcome over 80 Tristar athletes aged between 8 and 14 to compete at the event marking the halfway point of the 2017 Welsh TriStar Series.
The sell-out event took place at Pencoed Swimming Pool and the adjoining Pencoed Rugby Club. Warm and sunny conditions provided an ideal racing opportunity for first-timers and seasoned triathletes alike. After a pool swim, the enclosed bike and run courses on grass were perfect for youngsters, yet provided a demanding challenge for all athletes. As usual, clubs from across Wales were represented at the event and travelling spectators got to enjoy all the action on the multi-lap course from easy vantage and sunbathing points around the field!
In the Tristart Category (8 yrs), Seren Borland of Tristars Conwy won her third event of the season to date, whilst Steffan Penfold of Bynea CC won the boys race.
Finlay Thapa (Cerist Juniors), current leader in the Tristar 1 Boys Series, took his second win of the season, whilst Anna-Rose Merchant, taking part in her first triathlon, was a worthy winner in the Tristar 1 Girls race (9-10 yrs). Second places went to Lily Roberts of Ruthin TriStars and Alfie Smallman of Celtic Tri. Third places went to Ella Harris of Swansea Trisharks and Elliot Jones of Ruthin TriStars.
A performance of particular note was that of Caeron-Lee Jones-Davies (Rhondda TriStars), who took part in aid of Velindre Cancer Centre, raising over £500 for the charity in the process.
There was a good contest throughout the field in the Tristar 2 (11-12 yrs) races, with Ioan Oldfield of Ruthin TriStars taking his second win in the series, ahead of current Series leader, Finlay Catling of Celtic Tri, in second place. Third place went to Luke Wyatt of Aim 2 Tri. In the Girls race, Anwen Nesham of Cardiff Junior Triathlon Club took her first win of the series, just ahead of series leader Abigail Davies of Aim 2 Tri, and Freya Thapa of Cerist Juniors.
In the final Tristars 3 (13-14 years) races of the day, the results were eagerly anticipated for both the boys and girls events. Congratulations to Liam Edwards of Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club who, added a win to a collection of podium finishes so far this season. Current series leader Alex Layzell (Triathlon Coaching Wales) took another good result in second place and third went to Huw Jones of Ruthin Tri Stars. In the girls race, Pencoed Tri Club had a home win with Fiona Bostock finishing first in a close race with Hannah Bidwell (Cardiff Juniors) and Tia Froom (Ludlow Junior Tri Club), who were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Welsh Triathlon would like to thank Pencoed Junior Tri Club for their work in organising the race and thanks also to all the marshals and officials who made the day possible. Well done to all those who took part, some of whom competed in their very first triathlon event. The series is starting to take shape and there has been some great racing throughout.
The next race will be the Cardiff Junior Triathlon on 11th June, with the Denbighshire Junior Triathlon following two weeks later on 24th June.
