Welsh Triathlon report on the first two races in this years Tri Stars Series
Llangefni Junior Triathon - Sunday 23rd March 2014
Report by Roy Healey and Steve Rickard
Sunday 23rd March 2014 saw a 115 junior athletes gathered for the first round of the Welsh Triathlon 'Tri Stars Series' in the historic market town of Llangefni on the Isle of Anglesey.
The day started with high winds and a hail storm, whilst the organisers Ruthin Tri Stars and the Anglesey Sports Development Team were setting out and measuring the course ready for the junior athletes to do battle. Thankfully the hail and rain soon stopped and we were just left with a bright but very windy day. The course for the athletes was going to be a tough one to start the series, what with the rain making the bike circuits top surface a little slippy and boggy in places and the run taking in a cross country feel.
The athletes themselves didn't seem to be concerned by the conditions with a number of them choosing to stick to their road bikes on the grass surface. Once everyone was briefed and set up in transition the race started with the Tristarts, followed by the Super Sprint event for those giving triathlon a go for the very first time. After the first two waves had completed their race the Youths took centre stage which was keenly fought out by a number of the Regional Academy athletes and the local Menai track and field athletes with Anglesey's Cai Linton squeezing out Sam Johnson into 2nd and Jack Brookes into 3rd. Whilst the duel for the youths title was in full swing the T1 athletes took to the field of play and what a great start to the series it was with Eden Rae Davies of Celtic Tri leading home Beth McEachern from Anglsey and Abbi Parkinson of Menai track and field squeezing her sister Georgia out of the placings. The T1 boys was also eagerly fought out by two of Ruthin Tri Stars bright young hopefuls Ioan Hedd Oldfield and Will Stone, with Ioan taking the honours from Will and Conwy Tri Stars Ceirio Evans just behind in 3rd place. The T2 girls was probably the tightest race of the day with Ocean Poultney-Maddy of Celtic Tri dead-heating with Kate Pugh of OO Tri, with both girls starting in the same wave it was always going to be a great battle and was helped along by Ruthin Tri Stars Ella Haf Oldfield who finished 3rd after a great attempt at trying to bridge the gap to the leaders. The boys race was also keenly fought with Joseph James Reardon of Taf Ely Tri pushing out local Menai track and field athlete Osian Perrin and Ruthin Tri Stars Liam Rickard into 3rd. With the final athletes getting ready to go out it was down to the T3 athletes to close proceedings at Plas Arthur and again it didn't disappoint with Annabelle McQueen of Conwy Tri Stars squeezing out Mali Jones of Cerist Tri and Evie Nelson competing in her first triathlon for Ruthin Tri Stars. The T3 boys finalised the day with a meeting of two of North Wales best cyclists Ifan Oldfield of Ruthin Tri Stars and Benjamin Lewis of Hughes Cycles starting in the last wave together with Cedol Dafydd of Anglesey and it couldn't have been more exiting with Cedol leading Ifan and Benjamin out of the water, however the roles were soon reversed on the bike section with Ifan and Benjamin fighting for position with Benjamin leading the way back in to transition, unfortunately Benjamin couldn't continue on the run and Ifan took full advantage leading home Cedol and a spirited Tomos Elian Jones of Taf Ely Tri.
A great day was had by all with all of the athletes doing themselves proud, which was made possible by some great volunteers from Ruthin Tri Stars and Anglesey County Council and the Sports Development team.
Bro Dyfi Junior Aquathlon - Sunday 6th April 2014
Report by Gary Thapa
The Bro Ddyfi Junior Aquathlon took place in Machynlleth on Sunday 6th April, 2014. Frequent heavy showers made for unpleasant conditions, but despite this a fantastic race took place! This year’s race was part of the Welsh Tri-Stars Series for the first time, and entries were considerably higher than in recent years. An impressive 117 competitors started the race, and the Cerist team did fantastically well to get through registration smoothly!
The girls Cerist Kidz (5-7) age group was won by Fallon Haird, with Gwen Haf Jones and Nela Dafydd (both Cerist Juniors) second and third respectively. For the boys, Tygan De Melverda-Davies, and Cerist Juniors Finlay Thapa and Louis Roberts claimed the top three spots.
Tri-Start girls top three were Daisy Davies, Aimee Gorman and Ellen Watts (Cerist Juniors), and the boys were Jac Dolben (Ruthin Tristars), and Ioan Reading and Iestyn Evans (both Cerist Juniors).
The Tri-Stars Series age groups were very keenly contested. T1 girls was won by Eden Rae Davies (Celtic Tri), followed by Demi Williams (OO Tri) and Freya Thapa (Cerist Juniors). T1 boys were led by Leon Heppenstall (Ruthin Tristars), Harrison Coppen and Jac Owen Hughes (Ruthin Tristars). T2 girls winners were Ocean Poultney-Maddy (Celtic Tri), Molly Reardon (Taff Eli Tri) and Shannon Rae Haird (INTRtri), and the boys winners were Joseph Reardon (Taff Eli Tri), Alex Fowler (Taff Eli Tri) and Cian Roberts. T3 girls saw Ellie McCormack (Celtic Tri), Emily Johnson (Conwy Tristars) and Mali Jones (Cerist Juniors) grabbing the top positions, and three Celtic Tri members did best for the boys - Ben and Luc Bartlett came first and second, with Nathaniel Harries third.
Only one girl, Sara Rees (Cerist Juniors), entered the Youth category, and for the boys, Samuel Johnson, Samuel Holt and Jake Tapping (all Conwy Tristars) took the honours.
So, some great racing by the youngsters in very challenging conditions. Support was fantastic despite the rain, and Bro Ddyfi leisure centre was buzzing with activity all day. Cerist Triathlon Club wishes to congratulate all the competitors, and to thank everyone who helped make the event so successful – especially parents and guardians, race marshals (most of whom got very wet!) and Bro Ddyfi leisure centre staff. Hopefully the Bro Ddyfi Junior Aquathlon will now go from strength to strength!
For full results of the Tri Stars Series please click here
For more information on the Tri Stars Series 2014 and how to participate please click here
