Hector Returns From World Silver

Sunday 23rd September saw the last race of the year and the return to racing of Somerset RC Tri’s World Championship heros from their recent racing adventures in Hamburg, Germany. The club had 4 members racing in Germany, Julia Hector, Dan Hockley, Nick Smith & Bob Martin. With the race held at the Huish Episcopi Leisure Centre near Langport. The race was sprint distance over a 400m swim in a slow choppy outdoor pool, and 22.5km bike and a 6km run.

Leading the way was World Silver Medalist in her age group Julia Hector, the club’s first world success, an amazing achievement for this very likeable but deeply determined woman. It was pretty much a given that she’d continue her streak of success at this more humble of local events, and she didn’t disappoint by winning her over 50’s section by 11+ minutes from her nearest rival, in a time of 1:19.30. Bob Martin was the only other to also race on the day and came a creditable 2nd in the over 50’s age group - although he would have competed in the over 60’s at the World champs - with a time of 1:16.45, with typically strong bike, run splits which defies his age.

As the curtain closer to the season for most of the club there were typically high numbers out in force with over 30 racing out of a total field of close to 300. In the Women’s race Juliet Rowe was making a welcomed return to Sprint racing for the first time in a couple of years, normally competing over the much longer Ironman distances. She showed she’d not lost any of her speed by picking up a trophy when finishing 2nd on the day in a time of 1:14.37 with impressive splits of 7:05 for the swim, 45:11 for her bike and 22:21 for her run. She may well have only just been warming up by the time the finish loomed, but it was good to see her competing in these less superhuman events. With Julia finishing 2nd out of the club, 3rd home was Lorraine Ayres who was also 3rd overall female vet in her first serious season at the sport with a finishing time of 1:20.03, it was also good to see her not doing any extra laps as has been the case before, but this may have had something to do with being chaperoned through to the finish by her fellow club mate and name sake Jonathan Ayres, as they finished the staggered event together.

The men’s race was much closer amongst the club Triathletes with Jonathan Ayres finishing 3rd overall and collecting the 1st vets (over 40) trophy. His winning splits were 6:25 swim, 39.35 bike, and 20.00 for the run, setting the 5th fastest bike and 3rd fastest run times of the day. His overall time of 1:06:00 was only 36 seconds in front of fellow vet Andrew Kelly who was 5th overall and 2nd placed vet, who drew a very impressive season to a close in which he’d excelled in all manner of Triathlon and cycling events – Culminating with another top 200 finish, at L’etape de tour, the public stage of the Tour De France. Placing him as one of the top Britain’s in the process out of some 7500 entrants. His splits at Langport were 8:14 swim, a lightning 38.07 bike and 20.15 run. 3rd from the club was Nick Mace in 8th Place who has had the most consistent and demanding season of all during the year, close behind with a 1:07.50 time. Clocking 6.29 swim, 39.40 bike and a 21.41 run, all three men beating their previous best times for the course, on what was a windy day that never seemed to be of benefit on the bike. All in all a great day for the whole club who continue to go from strength to strength.

Club results: 3rd J.Ayres 1:06.0, 5th A.Kelly 1:06.36, 8th N.Mace 1:07.50, 15th D Bawler 1:11.13, 16th M. Price 1:11.36, 30th N.Callun 1:14.21, 34th J.Rowe 1:14.37, 36th P.Jones 1:14.49, 41st E.Paull 1:15.09, 46th S.Davis 1:15.39, 56th B.Martin 1:16.45, 61st G.Gilbert 1:17.11, 62nd M.Sauter 1:17.13, 67th N.Lecharpentier 1:17.44, 79th J. Hector 1:19.30, 85th L.Ayres 1:20.03, 95th G.Page 1:22.01, 97th S.Fulford 1:22.18, 111th P.Morgan 1:24.11, 114th B.Farley 1:24.15, 143rd A.Davis 1:27.09, 159th J Steele-Perkins 1:29.44, 179th G.Smith 1:31.56, 193rd P.Steer 1:34.34, 209th M.Baker 1:37.24, 210th I.Murray 1:37.43, 211th J.Gilbert 1:37.54, 242 A.St John 1:44.05, 257 P.Morse 1:49.19.