National Duathlon Championships 2010

After a quiet 2009, Peter Wheddon from Portishead, the 2008 National, European and World Age-Group Duathlon champion picked up where he left off by winning the 50-54 Age Group in this years National Championships held in Clumber Park near Worksop last weekend. Despite this being the first major event of the year there was a highly competitive field of 750 athletes, including Olympic rower James Cracknell, vying for National glory and places in the GB Teams for the European and World Championships.

The event based in the National Trust parkland near Worksop consisted of a two lap 10 km run inside the park followed by a two lap 40 km bike leg on the public roads surrounding the park followed by another run of 5 km on the same undulating course as the first run. Although drying out in the later stages, the event started in damp and drizzly conditions with the temperature at just 4o C. This was not a problem for the run but made for a chilling ride and resulted in many athletes suffering from frozen numb feet for the start of the second run.

Peter started in wave 3 consisting of athletes 45 years and older, 3 minutes after the over 30's and six after the youngsters. An incredible pace was set by 45 year old Philip Makepeace who completed the 10 km run in a time of 33'16. Peter's time was more measured at 37'11 and good enough for second fastest in the 50-54 age group. Peter gained his revenge on the bike leg with a time of 1'00'44, beating fast runner Phil by over 8 minutes and placing him 12th fastest of the 750 starters. Peter gained valuable time by setting the fastest transition (T2) of the day despite feet numb from the cold wet conditions. The eventual Silver medallist, Jeremy Tomlinson closed to within 34 seconds by the finish line, roughly the time he lost in T2.

Peter admitted to not having high expectations for the event due to lack of training and racing to hone his form. His aim had been to gain a place in the GB Team that required a top 4 finish in his age group. In a confusing finish, mixing it with the slower competitors in the younger age groups it was difficult for Peter to judge his final position. "When I finally got to see the electronic score board I could not believe I had won Gold and finished behind just four other athletes from my wave. My plan now is to buckle down to some good training to prepare myself for the European Championships to be held in Nancy, France on 2nd May and then plan how to regain my World title in Edinburgh in September. My next major event is the Steyning Duathlon on Easter Monday. Hopefully my form will have progressed by then and the weather will be better so I do not have to suffer as much as I did in this event". It was good news also for BAD Tri-Fred Baker Cycles team mate Nicky Russell who also won Gold in the women's event.