All posts by Jenni Muston

Sadness at death during Bala Triathlon

8th June 2015Latest News, Racing, TriathlonJenni Muston

Celebrate every athlete

We were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic event which took place yesterday at the Bala Middle Distance race. Our thoughts go to the family, friends and loved ones of the athlete who passed away – and to all of the athletes at the race, including one of our own who was close to this very, very sad incident.

Nothing can soften the tragedy of a sudden death, but we hope those involved, and the witnesses, can take some consolation in the fact that this athlete will have passed away doing something they loved to do.

To celebrate the success of a Jackpot athlete at another race this weekend may go against the grain of this post you may think. At the same time we race because we love it – we love doing what we do.

Nigel Ould has qualified for the Gran Fondo Worlds in Denmark later this year in early September. Great news Nigel – reading online about the World Champs I am trying to ascertain if you are in the younger age group race of 160k or the older age group race of 115k.

Nigel Ould - Cambridge Gran Fondo — Nigel Ould – Cambridge Gran Fondo

Cat Jameson has written a fantastic report from her outstanding performance at Challenge Salou last weekend here.

Keep safe.

Jackpot International

1st June 2015Latest News, ResultsJenni Muston

NOTTINGHAM TRIATHLON saw some of our sprinters back on the podium again this weekend. Mika Brown stormed to a massive 7th overall and 2nd in age category position and breaking the hour at the sprint distance. Tremendous race to watch! Chris Brown, already having qualified for Chicago, used the race to test out his swim in particular – the competition in Chris’ age group was high – Chris finished in a fast 1:07.

The ladies were out in action also. Kathryn Dickinson posted a 3rd in age category win! And Claire Pickersgill, racing with a planned non finish due to a hamstring injury put in one of the fastest bike times from the entire ladies race. Geneva looks good for you Claire!

Down to London for the ITU triathlon at Hyde Park…and what a race!

Adam Bowden put in a glorious performance, finishing just one minute behind race winner Alistair Brownlee. Tom Bishop raced to 30th position for this lung buster of an event. Here’s Adam looking cool at the end …spot the Jackpot logo 🙂 :

Then we have a PODIUM at the Royal Wootten Bassett sprint triathlon with a win from Kieran Hill! We await splits but we have a shiny photo:

Kieran - proud winner at Wootton Bassett — Kieran – proud winner at Wootton Bassett

Finally, over to sunny Spain and we have a fantastic race result from Cat Jameson at Challenge Salou. This is Cat’s second ever middle distance race. Cat led the race until 6k to go and finished in 4th place ahead of Vicky Gill. Cat had the fastest bike by 5 minutes (on a borrowed bike!) and the fastest swim by 2 minutes…watch out for this lady…there is more to come from Cat yet. Great, great racing Cat!

Awesome Weekend of Racing

25th May 2015Latest NewsJenni Muston

Kathryn Dickinson - Eton Dorney — Kathryn Dickinson – Eton Sprint

Where to start…

…ETON Sprint, an ITU qualifier for Chicago baby, where a few of our Jackpotters took to the scene on Saturday 23 May. We had two top 10s in the overall position in the mens race: Kieran Hill blasted around the course in 1:02:30 and Mika cruised in seconds behind in 1:02:39. They came first and second respectively in their age group – Kieran gained 40 seconds on the swim over Mika, cancelled one another out on the bike. Mika suffered cramp in T2 and could not get his left shoe on and lost 11 seconds but pulled back 22 seconds on the first run lap but Kieran dug in to just beat Mika.

Chris Brown was 6th in age group and put in the fastest bike split of his age group, meaning Chris will be traveling with Mika to Chicago to represent GB in the Worlds in September.

Chris Brown - nice wheels! — Chris Brown – nice wheels!

Kathryn Dickinson was a little robbed with a lost timing chip and popped an almighty 4th in Age Group position.

At the Bedford Priory Middle Distance race on Sunday, Andrew Whiteley, new to the distance, had a storming race collecting silver overall for his performance. We understand that the swim was a navigator’s nightmare which Andrew led in and though he says he found the distance tough, his position would dictate otherwise! Great racing Andrew!

Andrew Whiteley - smiling at the finish! — Andrew Whiteley – smiling at the finish!

Then to the Lough Cutra Triathlon where Max Hazell scored a 2nd in the elite wave on the Olympic distance! So close to a win, Max is more than happy with his start to the season. Max smashed out an amazing swim and his run! Boy his run! 33 minutes for a 10k!

Max - a proud silver :-) — Max – a proud silver 🙂

Tim Ashelford came 3rd overall in the Hertfordshire Triathlon over the standard distance and back in Yorkshire, the renowned freezing waters of the River Wharfe welcomed two Jackpotters to the Wetherby Triathlon (standard distance). Alistair Cooke had a cracking race coming in with a 4th overall and Richard Knell-Moore 17th. Seeing Richard’s bike split on Strava, it was a mighty fast one 🙂

The race to the Jackpot podiums continues….

Viva Yokohama!

18th May 2015Latest NewsJenni Muston

Funny how Adam Bowden’s favourite race is Yokohama…and this weekend he popped an absolute blinder at the 2015 ITU World Triathlon Yokohama. Just one minute behind the winner Gomez, Adam had one of the fastest bike times of the entire race (and faster than Gomez!), placed 7th overall and was the 3rd Brit in for Great Britain. An absolutely stunning performance Adam!

Tom Bishop came out of the swim in the top 20 however had to leave the race after ‘not feeling right’…’I was sick in Yokohama. The day before I woke up feeling queasy and it went down hill from there. I thought I’d start to see how it went but I had no energy, took a battering in the swim and went on to get dropped on the bike. Coaches told me to pull out. Disappointing, but these things happen’. Get well soon Tom 🙂 still a tremendous swim.

On to the ladies elite race and Heather Sellars took to the stage coming in at 43rd but only minutes from the winner Gwen Jorgensen and 2nd Briton home. Heather suffered a kick to the ribs however which ‘ended’ her race and is now looking forward to a better race at Baku.

But we must head back to Blighty where more action was taking place in the Etape du Dales sportive and there was a little bottom envy happening:

Matt Wilson and Alistair Cook, Etape du Dales

Over at Epworth – we have a WIN! Andrew Whiteley came out to play and destroyed the field at the Sprint distance triathlon over the 400m – 21k – 5k course, smashing out 4.50 swim, 29.39 bike and then an 18.07 run. Kieran Hill also claimed a podium at the Little Beaver Olympic qualifier placing 3rd in his age group (20-24). We hear it was windy climes in Leicestershire, so great going!

Then another WIN! For Kieran Savage at the Tadcaster league road race on Thursday evening last week. Kieran belted around the shortened course (was 10, decreased to 7.1 miles due to road works) in a supersonic 15.30!

The race to the podiums continues….

Majorca 70.3 and more…

12th May 2015Latest News, Racing, ResultsJenni Muston

Sun, sea and sand….and sweaty Jackpotters took to the seas and streets of Mallorca on Saturday for the 5th IM 70.3. One lady and seven gents from Jackpot Racing all gained cracking tans from the days efforts which resulted in one Jackpotter qualifying for the Worlds in Austria in August.

Ladies were first off with men following in age groups. Jen had a cracking swim for her though swallowed half the ocean which came to revisit on the way into transition. Francis at the end of the race looked like he was covered in all the salt from the ocean and came a whopping 7th in his age category. Colin Hill had planned a none-finish due to a plaguing calf injury but golly what a swim and bike! Chris B has vowed never to do another 70.3 – we are to remind him of this. Matt Wilson did himself proud and is currently shopping for Matcha tea. Dave Morley (chicked! CHICKED! ) had a super race and Eddie Howarth, star of the show, finished in a whopping 4.37 qualifying for the Worlds. Jen popped a 4th in age group missing 3rd by 60 seconds. Matt Pears also had a superstar race coming 7th in his age category and is currently sunning himself somewhere on the island.

A few Jackpotters are still on the island. Dave Morley beat Brad up a climb today. Made up for the race, didn’t it Dave 😉

Morley – 1st up the climb against Sir Brad (in his dreams)…

Back in Blighty and we have some podiums #kachinggg! Tim Ashelford was feeling mightily happy with his age group win at the Sprint Champs in St Neots on Sunday. Great going Tim! And Mika!! Won the Harrogate Sprint Triathlon also on Sunday for the second year in a row. The Jackpotters are starting to clamber for the podium prizes….