BRITISH ELITE DUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS took place on Sunday 29th March at Rockingham Motor Racing Circuit with two podium finishes from our elite men, Adam Bowden and David Bishop.  Both men put in sterling performances against a highly competitive field in tough weather conditions.  We are awaiting confirmed times for the race which was changed to a 10k due to the weather….great going chaps 🙂

Over to AUCKLAND for the ITU race where Tom Bishop showed Mario Mola how to race finishing two places ahead of the Spaniard and just 2.5 minutes behind team mate and winner Jonathan Brownlee!

Back to the UK and up north to STOKESLEY and the DUATHLON where a few of our Jackpotters raced their hearts out.  Tom Van Rossum popped a huge top ten placing coming in 6th and in a time of 1:28:20, just 3 minutes behind the course record over the 5k-35k-5k course AND 4th in his age group AND with bike mechanical issues.  Richard Knell-Moore came in 1:33:27 and Eddie Evans close to Rich in 1:33:36 – that will have been a good race to see 🙂  Tom Linton-Neal and China Clarke also had a smackdown with Tom coming in in 1:37:07 and China 1:37:57.  Francis tested his injury out again over part of the race – this man is coming to get you.

As always, we can rely on China for photo footage – the day we do not have one will be a worrying day:

Further north again up to Scotland for the Worlds qualifying race at STIRLING DUATHLON where our own David Morley put in pardon the pun a sterling performance with a 5th in age group position in a time of 1:22:32 over the sprint distance course, just 4 minutes behind the winner in Dave’s age group. Conditions again were shocking – really well done Dave!

Seems the men have pipped the ladies this weekend on podiums – but the ladies were out training hard in treacherous conditions such as in the National Park at the Nidderdale Sportive #moremilesmoresmiles

ETU QUARTEIRA: The first of the ETU races kicked off on Saturday with two of Jackpot’s female elites representing Great Britain. Heather Sellars plucked bronze only a week after racing at the ITU in Abu Dhabi and was the first Brit home.  Hannah Drewett came in close behind taking 7th position and 2nd Brit home.  FANTASTIC results ladies!

Back in Blighty at the NATIONAL DUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS at Clumber Park where Jackpot athletes did our team proud.  Kathryn Dickinson popped a bronze for her age group (20-24) over the sprint distance as did Jenni Muston (AG 40-44) over the standard distance.  Claire Pickersgill who has recently joined Jackpot as a female age grouper claimed a huge GOLD at the standard distance for her age group (30-34).

There is a theme starting here…#girlpower

Over to the men, Matt Hallam had a fantastic race in the standard distance taking 15th place overall and 5th in his age group (25-29) in a highly competitive race.  Tim Ashelford stormed in with a 4th in his age category position (50-54) in a fast 2 hrs 12 mins and China Clarke … what can we say China, apart from stay off the sleeping pills.  And eat breakfast.

Post Script: March 15, GRIZEDALE OFF ROAD DUATHLON – Tom Linton-Neal put in a speedy race taking 10th position last Sunday over the 9k – 24k – 6k off road course – nice one Tom 🙂

Jackpot Racing are proud to announce three new female elite athletes to the team to join Catherine Jameson as part of the female elite racing team. Lois Rosindale, Hannah Drewett and Heather Sellars join the growing all-star cast of elites at Jackpot Racing which now includes a male elite team, female elite team as well as a top performing age-group team.

Heather Sellars started her season with her debut in a World Triathlon Series event, finishing 42nd recently in Abu Dhabi. Heather has already clocked up a cracking 10k time this year at Dewsbury with 36:15.

Hannah Drewett comes from an extremely strong 2014 having claimed first place at the Castle Howard Middle Distance race as well as being selected for the U23 European Team at the European Championships in Russia 2014, where she finished in a solid 15th position. Hannah’s aims for 2015 are for team selection for the U23 European and World Championships.

Lois Rosindale raced her first full year as a senior last year and has hopes to better her fifth placed position from the 2014 European Senior Elite Championships. Lois’ healthy race history includes:

• 5th at the ETU Kitzbühel Triathlon Championships last year.
• 1st ETU U23 Championships, Holten, Netherlands, 2013
• 1st Toshiba Windsor Triathlon (British Elite Championships) 2011
• 2nd 2010 GE Edinburgh ITU World Duathlon U23 Championships
• 3rd 2010 Nancy ETU Duathlon European U23 Championships
• 2009 British Universities Triathlon Champion

Adam Bowden has announced that he is joining the Jackpot Racing Triathlon Team (www.jackpot-racing.com) for 2015. Adam’s first race of the season was the ITU World Triathlon Series Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, where he finished 20th, and second British finisher to Jonathan Brownlee (5th).

Adam has a more than healthy CV in the triathlon world extending back to 2008. Prior to his switch to swim-bike-run, Adam was also an international runner on the track, road and cross country competing for Great Britain. He still maintains the club records at Harrow Athletic Club for the 3,000 metre Steeplechase and the 10,000m. Just a few highlights from Adam’s career so far:

• Finalist at the Commonwealth Games for the Steeplechase at Melbourne 2006
• 2nd at the British Elite Duathlon Championships 2013
• 6th in the ITU World Triathlon Series in San Diego 2013
• 9th in the ITU World Triathlon Series in Yokohama 2014
• 7th in the ITU World Triathlon Series in Chicago 2014

Adam is currently focussing on qualifying for the Olympic Games in Rio, 2016.

STATHERN DUATHLON: Matt Hallam provided another win this weekend coming 1st overall at the Stathern Duathlon.  Having travelled to Leicestershire for Mother’s Day, Matt put in the speediest of times over the 5k/18k/5k course with an overall time of 1:06:54 to get back in time for Sunday Lunch.  Congratulations Matt!

Then over to the west of the Pennines at OULTON PARK for the SPRING DUATHLON.  Craig Boggon entered on the day and came home in an overall glorious 8th position and another 1st in his age category win!  Francis Riley also flew the Jackpot flag testing out his foot after an injury in readiness for the season ahead. Great going both!

Then to the UK Fire Fighters 2Up Duathlon in BOLTON.  Tom Van Rossum and Kieran Savage came home with a podium taking bronze!  Tom comments: it was a hilly course – two x 5.8km off road trail runs (basically a fell run up for 4 km and a short descent!) and a 38km bike leg taking in the unrelenting hills of the Ironman UK bike route. Kieran was under strict orders not to drop me on the hills (which happened frequently!) (hope I am allowed to put that in Tom!) and we were consistently quick on the run and bike. Even on our road bikes we took delight in zipping past the guys ahead of us on full TT rigs and discs! Being wave starts it was hard to know our position on the road but raced hard to the line and happy to take 3rd place.

China Clarke also participated in the 2Up borrowing a Yorkshire athlete, John-Paul Bedarnek (thank you JP!).  Awaiting results however we never have to wait long for a photo 🙂