400 people entered the Oulton Park Spring Duathlon, which was held at the famous Oulton Park Motor Racing Track on Sunday 3^rd April.  It incorporated two events, a Standard Distance duathlon (8.61km run, 38.76km cycle, 4.31km run) which was the qualifier event, and a Sprint Distance duathlon (4.31km run, 21.6km cycle, 4.31km run).  The traffic-free course on the motor racing track was set in glorious Cheshire countryside, with nothing but the noise of the birds singing and the gentle hum of rubber on tarmac.  Competitors set off from the starting grid, and took in a thrilling banked hairpin, fast straights and transition in the pits.

35-year old Moorhouse of Athlete Matters/Hewitt Cycles stormed home in a time of 1:41:03, breaking his own course record by over two minutes.  Despite coming from a strong road running background, he was outpaced on the first run leg by Ian Lawton and Jon Fletcher.  However, he was the equivalent of “Lewis Hamilton on a bike” as he averaged 41.3km/h around the track.  Another quick time for the final run leg finally gave Moorhouse the win, a massive four minutes and 41 seconds ahead of second placed Hywel Davies of Planet X.

The female winner was 33-year old Amy Forshaw of Tri London, in a time of 1:57:46; with Team Kennet’s Rachael Elliott taking second.

More course records were set in the Sprint Duathlon when Ian Roberts of Ashurst Bike Club finished in a speedy 1:05:55.  Incredibly, Ian has begun this event several times previously, but this has been the first time he has actually crossed the finish line!  Additionally, first placed female Dominique Searle also set a new female course record with her time of 1:13:47.

The race was started by PONS Racing Formula Renault 3.5 Series racing driver Oliver Webb – tipped to be ‘the next Jenson Button’ on the motor racing scene.  The competitors were then cheered around the track by very supportive marshals from the Northwich Air Training Corps.  Prizes were provided by Royles, the leading bike and triathlon store, and goody bag items included For Goodness Shakes and Accelerade products.

The ITU Duathlon World Championship will be held at Gijon, Spain in September 2011.  Overall, forty GB athletes will be selected - twelve from the four qualifying races.  The top three eligible men and women from the Oulton Park Spring Duathlon will gain places on the GB Duathlon Team.

Full results are available at www.xtramileevents.com/events/results

 RESULTS

Oulton Park Standard Distance Duathlon

03/04/11, Oulton Park Motor Racing Track, Cheshire

(8.61km run / 38.76km cycle / 4.31km run)

MEN

1)      Matt Moorhouse (Athlete Matters/Hewitt Cycles) 01:41:03

2)      Hywel Davies (Planet X) 01:45:44

3)      Richard Wilder (San Domenico) 01:46:28

WOMEN

1)      Amy Forshaw (Tri London) 01:57:46

2)      Rachael Elliott (Team Kennet) 01:59:06

3)      Donna Edmondson-Booker (Leeds & Bradford Tri Club)             02:04:39

Oulton Park Sprint Distance Duathlon

03/04/11, Oulton Park Motor Racing Track, Cheshire

(4.31km run / 21.6km cycle / 4.31km run).

MEN

1)      Ian Roberts (Ashurst Bike Club) 01:05:55

2)      Jason Walkley (RAF Tri Club) 01:06:53

3)      Daniel Ruygrok (Tri Central) 01:07:32

WOMEN

1) Dominique Searle (Unattached) 01:13:47

2) Louise Whittaker (Manchester Tri Club) 01:16:35

3) Nic Rowley (Team Fenton Fitness)             01:19:07