Culford Sprint and Youth Triathlon

25th July 2010

The Hadleigh Hares were out in force early on Sunday morning competing in the Culford Sprint and Youth Triathlon. The event was held in the magnificent grounds of Culford School, nestling in the idyllic leafy green countryside bordering Bury St Edmunds.

The event comprised a 300m pool swim in the school pool, a 3-lap 21km bike ride around flat, local country lanes and a fast, flat 4km run around the delightful school gardens. Nine of the 180 competitors were Hares - Steve Bowen, Jonas Grist, Neil Crisp, Doug Grimwade, Martin Alabone, Richard Hanley, Zoe Griffiths, Carol Nokes and Pam Woodmore. Whilst the male Hares had experienced the delights of Culford in previous races and were eager to renew their rivalry, this was the first time for the ladies and was Zoe's first ever triathlon. The weather was overcast but dry and pleasantly warm with little wind - excellent conditions for a fast race.

The Hares excelled and brought home three age group medals. Hanley's excellent season continued and he took revenge on Grimwade's 3-second win in 2009 by comfortably beating him and being the first Hare home in 14th place overall in a time of 56:40. Grimwade won the 45-49 age group and finished 2nd Hare home in 17th place overall in a time of 57:57. Grimwade was followed by an ever improving Crisp whose 200m sprint to the line saw him finish in 31st place, and more importantly, sneak under the magic 1 hour barrier by just one second. Alabone, aiming for a sub 59-minute time this year, was disappointed to pull a hamstring on the final lap of the run and watched his dream time evaporate as he limped across the line in 34th place in a time of 1:00:23. Bowen showed that age has not withered his abilities with a very impressive performance that won him the 55-59 age group. Grist showed that despite a slight lack of training this year he can still perform well and knocked 3-minutes off last year's time. The novice lady Hares all performed excellently with Woodmore finishing in a time of 1:21:40 in only her 3rd triathlon and Nokes in a time of 1:25:09 in only her second triathlon, but the plaudits go to Griffiths who, in her first ever triathlon, won the 17-18 age group in an overall time of 1:18:48.

Sadly Griffiths and Bowen had left early and didn't realise their excellent performances had won their age groups.

So a very good day's work for the Hares. Whilst Hanley and Crisp left Culford with deservedly huge grins, Grimwade drove home muttering 'next year, Hanley, you are mine' and vowed to improve his bike time this winter. Alabone left sobbing gently and clutching his hamstring whilst trying to convince himself that he could still beat the ever-improving, but youthful Crisp.

Hadleigh Hares results were as follows:

Pos    Name                   Swim           Bike            Run              Overall    14      Richard Hanley       5:05           35:42          15:53              56:40         17      Doug Grimwade      5:00           37:12          15:45              57:57         31      Neil Crisp               5:58           37:59          16:02              59:59         34      Martin Alabone       5:05           37:52          17:26            1:00:23         55      Steve Bowen          5:59           40:03          17:40            1:03:42         75      Jonas Grist            5:46           42:56          16:58            1:05:40       155    Zoe Griffiths            5:44           51:07          21:57           1:18:48        163    Pam Woodmore     8:34            51:10          21:56           1:21:40        171    Carol Nokes           9:03            55:47          20:19           1:25:09