Sri Chinmoy Tri Club's SBR-Mini DUATHLON (run-bike-run) 2024

I was not expecting more than a handful of athletes to attend today after the biblical levels of rain overnight, but I was happy to be proved wrong as we had 21 starters in the end and everyone got round the bike course unscathed (and although there was plenty of water on the course, it wasn't actually raining).

With the conditions as they were I was also not expecting the Open Category course record of 32:58 to get toppled, but both Louis Ansfield (our winner with the new record time of 30:04) and Ric Hill (second in 31:11) managed to get under that time. Third place went to John Poole who clocked an excellent 33:10.

In the women's category, Sharon Coultart and Karen Tang were pretty much level after the bike leg, but a quick transition and a strong final run-leg saw Sharon claim first place in 40:37 while Karen was only half a minute behind, finishing second in 41:10. Third place on the podium went to Lottie Sims who finished in a time of 42:34.

Heavy rain on our rural-lane course often means more likelihood of punctures and this time round it was Mark Wilkinson who was unlucky, though fortunately he was still able to finish in a decent time.

Thanks to the marshals and others who managed to snap a few pics of the race which are now in our gallery at https://ukgallery.srichinmoyraces.org/Bristol/2024/Autumn-SwimBikeRun-Mini-Duathlon/i-CGpHxsH.

Thanks to everyone who made the race happen, hope to see you at our 3 Duathlons, Try-a-Tri Triathlon or Eastville Park runs next year!

Despite a damp start, it was a day on which records tumbled in all categories. On the short course, Robin Drewett knocked nearly two minutes off his previous time to come second in 28:18, while Christopher Clarke clocked 26:26 to take first place and a new Course Record.

Out on the 2-lap Long Course, Mark Wilkinson put in another great performance to come first in another new record, 32:58, eclipsing the previous best which he set in April by over a minute. John Poole stormed both run sections and actually crossed the line first, but picked up a drafting penalty which left him a close second in 33:24. Fourth overall, and third in the Open category, was Michael Sandick in 36:42.

The women's Long Course race was won by Tamsin Chick (who finished third overall) in yet another Course Record of 35:53, a good 4 minutes ahead of Alex Brown's April time that was the previous best on the course. Sharon Coultart was runner up again, this time a minute quicker than in her previous race with a time of 41:00, and third place went to Susannah Learoyd-Smith who finished her first ever Duathlon in 44:09.

Thanks again to everyone who came along and made a great day of it. Our next race is our biggest of the year, the 3x1 Mile Relay in Eastville Park which welcomes club teams, veteran teams, junior teams, family teams - you name it! You can sign up a team of three for as little as 6 pounds (9 pounds for unaffiliated runners) and a free ice cream at the finish is included. Online entries for the relay are at Fabian4 - https://www.fabian4.co.uk/default.aspx?EventID=3705

Our next Duathlon is on September 8th, a more traditional time in the calendar for run/bike/run, so we're hoping for a bigger race.  https://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/self-transcendence-go-tri-bike-run-tockington-manor-school. Who knows, with dry roads we might see those records beaten again?

Our first swimbikerun event saw 18 athletes take on the challenge of the new course - in cold but dry & still conditions.

In the 3k/10k/1k Long Course, Mark Wilkinson was first home in a new course record time of 34:04 - he was made to work hard for victory out on the loop by 2nd place John Poole who was less than a minute behind with 34:56 and third place Andrew Dutton (35:37).

First place in the women's category went to  Alex Brown, whose 39:43 is now the women's course record. Sharon Coultart was second with 42:37 and third place went to Sara Vogan (49:32).

Short-course honours went to Robin Drewett who now holds the course record for the 1k/5k/1k event - 30:27. I hope Robin won't mind me mentioning that he qualfies for the Veterans 9 category in Triathlon, aged 80+, so that's a very handy time to set as a benchmark for others to challenge. 

Full results are attached and there is a race gallery (new photos are being added as I receive them) at https://ukgallery.srichinmoyraces.org/Bristol/2024. If you have any pics you'd like to share just send them to me. Hope you enjoyed the race, next we have 2 mile runs in Eastville Park starting May 7th, a Try-a-Tri on 27th May (entries still available) and our next Duathlon in late June.

Thanks for taking part!

Garga Chamberlain

Sri Chinmoy Races Bristol