GB age-group team wins nine gold medals in Beijing

The GE Great Britain Age Group Team delivered an outstanding 35 medals including nine golds across the sprint and standard distance races at the 2011 Beijing ITU Triathlon Age Group World Championships last weekend on 10 and 11 September.



In the sprint distance event, the GE Great Britain Age Group Team delivered seven gold, nine silver and eight bronze.



Laura Siddall (30-34) was the fastest overall female triathlete in the sprint distance race crossing the line in 01:08.57. Anna Turvey (30-34) finished in fourth place overall in 01:11.55, with Katie Henderson (30-34) in fifth with a finishing time 01:12.27. Both triathletes won silver and bronze respectively in their 30-34 age group.



The female 30-34 age group was the most successful category with British triathletes taking the top five places and all nine competing finishing in the top eleven positions. The men’s race added to the British dominance in the 30-34 age group with James Stephenson winning gold and Ian Thwaites adding silver.



The fastest male GE Great Britain Age Group Team triathlete overall was Gareth Daniel (16-19) who finished fourth overall in a time of 01:05.12.



David Bellingham, Team Manager for the Sprint Distance GE Great Britain Age Group Team was delighted with the medal tally commenting: “ The GE Great Britain Age Group Team has delivered some great results over the weekend in the age group races and also the elite events of course! Here in Beijing it was a great sight seeing so many GB flags on the podium during the closing ceremony.”



In the standard distance event, the GE Great Britain Age Group Team have returned from Beijing with two gold, two silver and seven bronze.



Kate Robson (30-34) was the fastest overall British female recording a time of 02:20.13 to win gold in her age group. Graham Leitch (25-29) was the fastest British male overall finishing in 02:02.51, which was enough to secure bronze in his age group.



Britain’s second gold came from Colin Dixon (pictured) in the male 40-44 age group. The 2010 British Triathlon Male Age Group Athlete of the Year retained his world title won in Budapest after delivering a performance that saw him exit the water in second place, before taking the lead on the bike and holding his position all the way to the finish line.



(all results and medal tallies are provisional)



AGE GROUP SPRINT RACE

GOLD (7)

M20-24 Ryan Hanlon

F30-34 Laura Siddall

M30-34 James Stephenson

F45-49 Sara Burling

F50-54 Mary Hardwick

M60-64 Michael Dunne

M65-69 Michael Smallwood

SILVER (9)

F30-34 Anna Turvey

M30-34 Ian Thwaites

F35-39 Gaelle Lebray

M35-39 David McDougall

M40-44 Andrew Shipton

F45-49 Sharon Hill

M45-49 David Hamdorff

M50-54 Ian Smith

F60-64 Elaine Scott

BRONZE (8)

F30-34 Katie Henderson

M35-39 Barry Marshallsay

M40-44 Philip Goode

F50-54 Jane Saunders

M50-54 Keith Mahon

F55-59 Joanna Lewis

F60-64 Christine O’Reilly

F65-69 Georgina Jennings



AGE GROUP STANDARD DISTANCE RACE

GOLD (2)

F30-34 Kate Robson

M40-44 Colin Dixon

SILVER (2)

M55-59 Rob Caune

F60-64 Sarah Barrett

BRONZE (7)

F20-24 Kate Burley

M25-29 Graham Leitch

F40-44 Shona Girdwood

M45-49 Mark Hirsch

F50-54 Penny Rother

F55-59 Kim Shaw

M55-59 Michael Skivington



PICTURE CREDIT: NIGEL FARROW

Matt Baird Editor of Cycling Plus magazine

About

Matt is a regular contributor to 220 Triathlon, having joined the magazine in 2008. He’s raced everything from super-sprint to Ironman, duathlons and off-road triathlons, and can regularly be seen on the roads and trails around Bristol. Matt is the author of Triathlon! from Aurum Press and is now the editor of Cycling Plus magazine.