A team of almost 400 GE Great Britain Age Group Team triathletes travel to Spain this weekend as they look to bring home gold at the 2011 Pontevedra ETU Sprint and Standard Distance Triathlon European Championships on 25 and 26 June 2011.
The qualification process for the sprint event was completed before the 2011 season even started with each of the three qualification races taking place in 2010. The first qualifier was the Grendon Sprint Triathlon, before the Big Cow Sprint Triathlon and Rother Valley Sprint Triathlon completed the process.
The sprint GE Great Britain Age Group Team includes three past medallists from Athlone including Sharon Hill (45-49), Kirsty Anderson (25-29) and Anna Turvey (30-34). Carol Smith (50-54), Matt Clarkson (35-39), Paul Jenkins (45-49) have all been identified as athletes to watch come race day.
The standard distance event followed a similar path with each of the qualifying events, the Little Beaver, Blithfield and Bala Triathlon taking place in 2010. An experienced GE Great Britain Age Group Team will be racing in Pontevedra with 17 past medallists all looking to step onto the podium once more.
Dawn Vaughan, the GE Great Britain Age Group Team Manager for the sprint distance event was looking forward to the event on Saturday commenting: “Last year the GE Great Britain Age Group Sprint Team delivered 16 gold, 19 silver and 13 bronze. This year, having seen these athletes in qualification, I am confident of another great medal haul.”
Michael Griffin, the GE Great Britain Age Group Team Manager for the standard distance event, is confident of a strong medal tally commenting: “We have a very strong GE Great Britain Age Group Team racing in Spain this weekend. I have seen many of the triathletes cross the line in their respective qualifiers and I hope they can replicate that form on Sunday.
