Castle Howard to be precise, and Zurich and Ellerton Park. Another good and punchy weekend for Jackpot Racing.

Colin Hill was crowned King of Castle Howard at the Sprint Plus race (800m swim – 46k bike and 8k run) finishing FIRST overall in 2:06:11! Colin’s stats: 14:13 swim, 1:17:26 bike and 32:40 run.  SUPERB racing Colin! Colin was ahead of probably one of the best team names I have heard of yet: Team Ali’s Stag Do, (2nd time lucky) – there you go. In case you are in need of an idea for a stag do 🙂

The standard distance saw Hannah Drewett strike SILVER and finish in a time of 2:31:08 with the bike leg being long at 45k. Hannah’s stats for you data analysts: 21:49 swim, 1:22:21 bike (hilly!) and 45:19 run. WOW!

Team buddy Will Cowen was also out in action at the standard distance scoring 7th overall in an incredible time of 2:21:47 (21:59 swim, 1:12:44 and 45;243 run)  – super tough competition and super racing.

And now to Zurich and to the man who has the best pout on the team, our very own China Clarke literally skipped over the finish line (having problems embedding the video footage currently!) at Ironman Zurich! It was China’s first Ironman and what a race he had!  Posting a 1:17 swim (BRILLIANT!), China smashed out a 5:37 bike and then a 4:15 run completing the race in 11:28:49 🙂 What a race China – you must be over the moon! Though we see you are now sunning it in Nice!  We are over the moon for you!

Back to the sticky and hot UK and we head up to Northallerton for the Steelman Middle Distance Triathlon. Claire Pickersgill and Jenni Muston were out in force however Jen was doing the swim and bike only as part of a relay. Claire scored a glorious 4th overall lady and 3rd in age group and FIRST CLASS HONOURS in gutsiness and determination…the swim was a strange one for most athletes looking at the results. Everyone spoken to described the swim as a washing machine – it’s a small lake about the size of a washing machine – it just was not a nice swim. Onto the bike and 10 miles in, one of Claire’s tri bars decided to undock itself leaving her in the drops for the last 48 miles (still scoring one of the fastest ladies bike times).  Onto the run and it is now sweltering. After the first lap, Claire had to stop at the feed station with stomach issues…a bit of vomiting, stuffing down oranges and drinking water in a frenzy, Claire was on her way again. Claire, you so deserved a podium overall. Tremendous racing 🙂

Jen was in the same washing machine, thank goodness there was no tumble dryer. The bike was an interesting one with 6 miles of the 58 on newly gravelled roads – average speeds were hit for all competitors.  It caused frustration and mechanicals for a few athletes. Jen had the fastest ladies bike time – va va zoom!

Lastly, Tom Linton-Neal raced at a mid-week super sprint at Ellerton Park last week…according to Tom, finishing in a disappointing 8th overall AND ripping his tri suit….8th is still a top ten 🙂

Some of our elites were out putting on spectacular shows at the weekend at home and abroad (and one age grouper!).

The World Triathlon Series took place in Hamburg over the sprint distance (750m swim, 19.8k bike and 4.96k run). Mario Mola picked up first position in 52:19 – Adam Bowden was 21st…in 53:28! Just how phenomenally close is that! Tom Bishop was close behind with 54:49. Outstanding racing Adam and Tom!

In sunny Derby the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon took place with a few different distance races.  David Bishop and Katie-Jemima Synge both scored silver in the 400m swim, 20k bike and 5k run. David popped a 50:02 seconds behind Ben Dijkstra (49:47) and Katie-Jemima 57:27.

Jenni Muston was back out to play after fracturing a metatarsal back in March. Jen also popped a silver (silver is in fashion this week!) at the Doncaster Standard Distance triathlon and a 1st in age group. Jen described the lake as the cleanest lake she has swum in (not hard when you train in Pugneys just off the M1 in Wakefield 😉 ); the bike flat as a pancake (she’s used to the hills of Yorkshire – check Strava for Jen and Claire Pickersgill for QOMs 🙂 ) and windy and the run hot hot hot. Pleased to be going home with a trophy.

Next week! Ironman Zurich and our very own China Clarke!

Kieran Hill claimed a glorious 3rd (so close to 2nd – 16 seconds away!) overall at The Gauntlet (middle distance) at Hever Castle in Kent over the weekend.  Finishing in 5:05:13, Kieran had the fastest swim of the day!

Back in sunny Yorkshire, three of our Jackpotters raced at the well known Ripon Triathlon – this year with the most entrants received yet. Craig Boggon, Tim Ashelford and Paul Freeman put on a good show for the spectators (I was watching!) under grey cloudy skies. Craig Boggon has written a super account of race day:

Katie Jemima Synge claimed 7th position at the Tartu European Cup in Estonia at the weekend finishing the sprint distance race in a speedy 1:04:59. Conditions look wetter than races in the UK in the photo! Many congratulations Katie!

Ian Gilham’s route to the World Triathlon Championships in Cozumel took in one of the evening races at Eton Dorney on Tuesday evening. Ian was 16th overall in the sprint distance race and 1st in his age group finishing in a very nice 1 hour 6 minutes!

Top racing Ian!

Down in Devon in Lifton on Sunday, Hannah Drewett won (overall!) the middle distance race at The Equalizer event. Described as ‘A battle Royale between the sexes as the entire women’s field set off 32.30 minutes before the men’…Hannah blitzed the flat swim (26:08 – 3rd fastest overall men and women), annihilated the hilly bike (2:47:42, 1st lady) and smashed the road/off-road run (1:42:57, 3rd lady) AND came home with a prize purse of £2000! What a win!

Chloe Scotchbrook also came back with more gold for the silverware cupboard at the Stowe Sprint Triathlon, a whole six minutes ahead of the second lady. The race took part in National Trust property at Stowe House and Gardens and the ride past the Silverstone F1 Circuit and surrounding villages. Tremendous going Chloe!

Meanwhile in Holten (Holland), Jess Learmonth was out racing again (catching Matt Hallam up on number of races!). Jess finished as 8th lady at the ETU Sprint European Cup and 2nd Brit home just behind Lucy Hall – she was first out of the swim and to put the speed of the race into perspective, just 40 seconds behind the race winner. WOW!

At the ITU World Triathlon Stockholm, Adam Bowden put in a blazing performance finishing 10th overall and 3rd Brit home behind the Brownlees. Adam had the 3rd fastest run time overall – 31:04 for the 10k run – just a phenomenal run and an outstanding race. An incredible year of racing so far Adam!