It’s the final weekend in March, Spring is underway and the weekend weather gleaming. The were no excuses for Jackpot competitors this weekend who remembered to change their clocks before Sunday’s action at the Ripon Hornblower Duathlon.

Chris Brown was also competing in the pool again. Chris said. “Another Sunday slogging up and down the pool.  Well, at least thrice in both directions.  The 50m went well despite a poor turn to record 31.75 closing-in on PB territory in another ‘slow’ pool for third in AG.The 100m we aren’t talking about.  Didn’t happen. Nothing to see.  Move on”

Well done and congrats on another podium Chris.

The Ripon Hornblower Duathlon race was a 5k run, followed by a 24k undualting bike course taking Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal followed by 3k run around the grammar school.

Tom Van Rossum and Emma Stoney were representing the team and did not disappoint Emma recorded times of 21:51 for the first 5k, 51:07 for the bike and 13:42 for the second run of 3k finishing Third in her age group and sixth female home in a time of 1:28:22.

Tom was in devastating form leading the race from start to finish, and recording the fatest 5k run split in 17:54 and the 24k KOM bike split of the day in 37:4. He paced him self round the final 3k run in 11:12 and an overall time of 1:07:43.

Tom Said “Cheers chaps. Really enjoyable race. This has taken over the slot that used to the the Stokesley duathlon. This is a much more interesting route (no industrial parks on course!) with a cracking bike route round the hills of Ripon and past Fountains Abbey.”

Welldone and congratulations to Emma and Tom on their great performances.

With more racing to report on from last weekend’s action Peter Kidd was ravaging through the Hardmoors 55 (miles) event, with 2700 metres climbing and a 16 hours cut off.

Peter reported “The second race in the attempt by Neil Midgley and me at the Hardmoors Grand Slam (30, 55, 60 & 100 mile races). I had high hopes for this one having done it last year and having had a good result then and in the 30 on New Years Day. I hadn’t allowed for the effects of a virus and chest infection. I knew I was in trouble when I had to take walking breaks after 3 miles. I saw my wife Val at 10 miles and was close to dropping out but she told me to MTFU so I carried on to Osmotherley and then to the half-way point at Scugdale. I was surprised to see Neil there, Val had told him that I was struggling and he’d waited an hour to see how I was. We decided to carry on and ultimately finished in 15 hours 17 minutes – 43 minutes inside the cut-off. A bit too close for comfort, a hard day out – but still in the Grand Slam. 110 next…”

Thanks Peter and well done to you and Neil.

Meanwhile across the pennines eight Jackpotters were competing in the 2UP Firefighters duathlon in Bolton (Rivington to be precise).  The four teams comprised of Rich Knell-More(RKN) & Tom Van Rossum (TVR), Eddie Howarth & James Teagle (Teagworth), John Swallow & JP Bednarek (Bedallow)and Richard Roberts & Romeo Rossetti (Robetti). The route was a two 5.6km runs, up and down off road run around Rivington Country Park, followed by a a 37.2k bike loop with climbs from the UK Ironman Course including Sheephouse Lane and Anglezarke.

Following a two stage start with half of the competitors split a minute apart Romeo decided to make a late dash for the portaloos! Back with the main pack by the start of the second starters all the Jackpotters where off. TVR &RKN were set a blistering pace on the first run with Teagworth not far behind and Bellow and Robettti settling into a steady pace. Following a great loop on the bike and a painful final loop of the run for RKN hanging on to the fine form of TVR to finish 8th Overall in a time of 2:04:35.  Meanwhile further down the field team Teagworth after being busted up on the run Eddie had a nightmare suffering a mechanical on the final climb and sending James off on his own for the run and a DNF!

Bedlam and Robbetti were making good progress on the bike and with the final run were only 2 minutes apart, sadly the mismatch pair or Robetti and the descending skills of Romeo had not transferred across from his biking discipline to the run and time was lost on the decent of each run. Team Bedfellow finished in in 2:30:05 and Robetti in 2:33:07.

Another great event by epic events and a good lung buster on a challenging course. Weldone to everyone who took part.

Like any good franchise film there is always a good sequel..with that in mind Jackpot Racing’s Will Cowen was back in action this weekend at the Clumber Park Duathlon following his recents pursuits at the Milton Keynes Half Marathon.  Also in the Jackpot colours were Gordon Kilroy and China Clarke at the Standard Distance, and Helen Drew in the Sprint.

Will finished 2nd overall in a time of 1:51:59 to compliment a good winter of training and racing. Next stop Gran Canaria.  Great result Will and well done.

Gordon was the next Jackpot home in a time of 2:07:26 finishing 5th in his age group.  Gordon said “This was my warm up race for the ETU in Spain. Everything seemed to go to plan and I managed to finish a race without losing anything (gels/bottles/magnets/sensors/will to live), so a good start to the season.”

China getting to grips with his TT bike gave us his views on the race.

“Windy day, aero bars not bolted tight as I realised the left bar was getting longer than the other so I had to pull back a little on the force at times. Not my best prep, felt slightly podgy but all in all I’m reasonably happy with my performance. I paced my 10k so I could match it on my 5k; I’m slowly learning. Good first race of the season and although the weather was challenging compared to what the guys had to deal with the next day I consider myself very lucky.”

China finished in a time of 2:11:41.

The standard distance race made way for the Sprint where Helen Drew had a first run split of 22:26, a 39:48 bike, and finished with run 12:07 over the last 2.5k. Helen finished 1:16:39mins.

Welldone to all the Jackpot Clumber Crew.

Meanwhile a little further west of Clumber Park on Saturday 18th March Jackpot’s Don Corleone (Chris Brown)was racing in the Stafford Master Open Swim Meet.

Chris was third in his age group at 50m freestyle and stated ” A disappointing time but every one else was saying they had slow times as well.”

Following his podium Chris raced his first first ever fly race (Always nice to lose a cherry)  and missed out on a medal by 0.09s.  Chris said. “All i needed to do was fart in the race and I’d have been on the podium.”

Chris’s final race of the day brought him a Silver in the 25m free where Chris went with an aggressive approach and no breathing.  The race had bizarre starts with no blocks and water at deck height.

Welldone Chris and don’t forget to pack the beans next time!

Its been a couple of weeks since our last report and its fair to say that the season is well under way.

The weekend of the 4th & 5th March saw Will Cowen in action at the Milton Keynes Half Marathon giving his legs a run out before the Clumber Park Duathlon later this month.  Here’s what Will had to say.

“It was my first half marathon so I decided to stick to my plan. I watched the front group of 5 go away and settled into my pre decided pace. This was looking good, going through the first 10k in just over 34 minutes and then through 10 miles in just over 56 minutes. Then the race turned a corner with around 3k to go and the plan changed from holding the pace to making the finish. A stiff headwind and seemingly endless uphill gradient to the finish saw the pace drop off to over 4 min k’s, with my final finish time being 1:16:45. Given the course and conditions I’m happy with the time, and looking forward to Clumber Park duathlon in a couple of weeks. After that I’m heading out to Mallorca for a weeks camp which leads straight into my first 70.3 of the year at challenge Gran Canaria- where I’ll be racing as a pro for the first time”.

Thanks and well done Will with a great time and 7th Place.

Meanwhile still South of God’s county the following weekends action saw Ian Gilham racing in his first draft legal Duathlon of 2017.  Ian  said.

“It’s déjà vu all over again at the first Duathlon of 2017 where we left off in 2016 at the Bedford Autodrome. This time the weather was restricted to “light drizzle” without the gale force winds, fog and driving snow of last year. Tropical!

Usual punch up on the first corner after the shotgun run start – settled into a decent, but rusty, run pace into T1. Out onto the draft-legal bike leg found myself Billy no mates in a group of 1 – smashed myself up for 2 laps desperately trying to get onto the back of a group about 100 meters ahead of me – being unable to get there and my heart rate maxed out I looked around to find a chain gang of 14 on MY wheel. My elbow flicks and swings left and right being ignored plan B  (roll back a bit and ask the guy on my wheel what his last f****** slave died of) did the trick and I was able to sit up and catch my breath for a few turns. Given that most of the guys on my wheel were barely half my age I’m getting “Help the Aged” printed on the back of my Jackpot tri suit for the rest of the season – not subtle but these guys clearly can’t take a hint!

Second run was uneventful, gaining a couple of places to qualify in 2nd place for the World Champs in Canada later in the year.

Now back to the pool……….”

Welldone Ian and congratulations on your qualification to the Worlds finishing with a time of 1:03:07.

Meanwhile back in Yorkshire Adrian Stott, Gary Simpson and Howard Bednarek were in action in the YRC invitational 10mile TT on the infamous V910.

Adrian came in 27th in a time of 24:27, Gary a 26:32 and Howard coming home in his first TT in 33:51.  Welldone One and All.

The 89th Academy Awards ceremony, took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday February 26.  While preparations were being made rolling out the red carpet and polishing those Oscars; Jackpot’s very own leading lady Helen Drew featured in her own Motion Picture at Rother Valley Country Park for the Rother Valley Sprint duathlon.

The windy conditions made for an interesting day with Helen having a strong first run over the 5km distance around the lake flowing through the muddy trails and arriving into transition as the fourth female with a time of 21.38.

Helen said “It was after the run where the fun really started!!” with the swirling winds proving difficult for many athletes over the 25k bike course, not to mention the hills.

After completing two laps of the bike course in 59:38 and following a swift exit of transition.  She maintained her position heavy legged over the final  2.5k  to finish 5th female and second in her age group in 1 hour 34 mins.

On finishing the event Helen said ” I thought the event was very well organised and I’m ready to put in some work ready for my next duathlon at Clumber Park in March.Id like to thank my team, family Sponsors and the Academy!!”

Well done Helen.