Lost on the Mountain…could not be more apt after hearing about the trials and tribulations of our athletes Eddie Howarth, Richard Knell-Moore and Neil Midgley in the Wasdale Triathlon on Sunday 28th September…and the Wasdale Tri Facebook page posting 15 minutes ago, ‘Huge Thanks Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team for assisting Norman off the mountain after he fell and injured’.

Still awaiting results as we understand some athletes are still lost in the fog at the top of Scafell Pike but according to Rich, the race went something like this:

‘Swim was warmer and shorter than expected. Beautiful water, then onto a ridiculous ride. Not too bad over Hardknott pass and Wrynose on the way out. On the way back it was like riding into a wall. Eddie did some Jayne Fonda stretching before attempting it apparently. It must have worked though! There is a sneaky climb out of Gosforth that just about did for me, I honestly nearly didn’t bother with the run/walk. Steady trudge all the way up, past the ******* training camp on the Corridor route. Got lost in the mist coming off the top of Scafell Pike, down and then back up Scafell which was effectively rock climbing. Lost the path a few more times, then just as you make it off the descent, you end up in peat bogs (which was fun). I’d already blown to bits by this point in time, enjoyed a little sit down, whist trying to keep food down. Then a couple of little crests and more descending all the way back past Wastwater. I managed a hobble to the finish line, which was lucky as Eddie had the camera out.’

We also await photos please Eddie!  And our good wishes go out to Norman.

Moving over to Alanya where Tom Bishop had a tremendous performance at the 2014 ITU Triathlon World Cup.  1st Brit home – PODIUM in British terms – and 12th overall, Tom finished in a time of 1:46:48, just less than a minute behind the winner and having one of the fastest swims on the day.

Meanwhile, back in Yorkshire Jenni Muston leisurely poled up for the start of the Autumn Skylark sportive of 115k.  Not appreciating the terrain and expecting to be home for lunch, the 8,500ft ridiculous up down up down up down up down up down 74 mile ride took 5.5 hours with Jenni allowing a (male!) cyclist from Lancashire CC to draft behind her up Cragg Vale 50 miles into the sportive.  Joint first lady back with her training pal 🙂

**** WASDALE RESULTS + SOME *****

Wasdale results and grimacing photos now in!  Eddie finished 11th in 7:36:01 and 2ND in AGE GROUP, Neil in 9:11:24 in 74th closely followed by Rich in 9:14:24 in 79th.  Clearly this was more IRONMAN than WasdaleMan!

Then to Eton Dorney – Jackpot will travel far afield to claim these victories…Andrew Whiteley competed in the standard distance as a guide for Haseeb Ahmad who podiumed at the Worlds in London last year.  Haseeb won the vet 40 category assisted by Andrew and was 4th overall.  They came out of the water in 70th and ramped up a massive 65 places on the bike to come off the bike in 5th place then one more to 4th in the run!  Splits were as follows: swim 27:39, bike 58:40 and run 38:55….AWESOME!

Another bumper weekend was had by Jackpot Racing starting on Saturday with Ady Stott at the York Racecourse parkrun smashing out a PB with 20:01 over the 5k course. Next up is the sub 20 we hear…

Onto Sunday at the 2014 ETU Triathlon European Cup in Madrid, Tom Bishop put in a storming performance for the standard distance race.  Tom finished 6th overall though was hopeful for a podium finish. Having ridden 35k of the bike solo, Tom closed down the gap on the run still finishing with a solid result and hindered by tri suit issues! Next stop…Alanya next weekend…with a new suit!

Back to Yorkshire and the Ilkley Triathlon with a WIN from Mika Brown on the infamous hilly course.  Mika took gold in 57:14 with 1 minute 13 seconds ahead of second place!  FANTASTIC! And Ady Stott makes another racing appearance in the same weekend racing in a mixed team pushing out a fast bike leg of 28:30!

Then over to Harewood House and the Brownlee Sprint Triathlon where Ben Garrard popped a 2nd in his age group position and 11th overall!  Ben came out of the swim 2nd in his wave, then a long uphill grassy run to the bike which was on closed roads.  The run consisted of grassy and hard packed tracks around the estate, including two climbs which reduced some athletes to walking…but not Ben!  Ben pushed on to the uphill finish feeling strong all the way.  A much recommended triathlon by all accounts.

Lastly over to the York Rally Sportive where Jenni Muston paced well through the 100k course up into the North Yorkshire Moors finishing joint first lady with her training partner in crime!

The weekend started off with another win for Jackpot Racing on Saturday with Andrew Whiteley racing at the Buttermere Triathlon in the Lake District.  Not for the faint hearted, the swim was 1500m, the bike a hilly 44k and the run a tough 13k.  In Andrew’s own words, ‘it was probably the toughest race I’ve ever done’.

Andrew came out the water in first position and maintained and extended this position on the bike, taking in a technical course on the Honister pass and Whinnlatter pass.

Andrew described the off road run as technical and hilly.  Looks tremendously hilly from the website photos and also looks spectacular!  The last half of the run Andrew dug in deep to take the almighty win!

Then back to Yorkshire on Sunday and the Leeds Triathlon at Roundhay Park.  The water was described as an exotic 16 degrees!  Not sure where they tested the temperature.  After much defrosting, Matt Pears came in first for Jackpot followed by Ben Garrard.  Matt finished 6th overall and 2nd in his age group (25-29) and Ben finished 16th and 4th in his age group (35-39) .  Some cracking swim and bike splits with the men (tips greatly received).  Jenni Muston finished 1st in the ladies camp retaining her crown, 7 minutes ahead of the next lady (no age group given as she is a lady)!