Race report: Cirencester Off Road Duathlon - Sunday November 13, 2011

2 miles - 10 miles - 2 miles or 1 mile - 5 miles - 1 mile

After a minutes silence for Remembrance Sunday, first off in the beautiful surrounding of The Bathurst Estate, Cirencester Park was the Novice/Youth event. From the start it was youths Jake Harrison of Oxford Tri in the mens race and Eilish Gilbert of Ludlow in the women’s who sped off in front along the one mile wooded cross country trail. Once on the undulating one lap mountain bike course, the sun started to shine on Bristol’s Mark Fletcher who powered through and held the lead on the run to take the Novice Senior Male Trophy in 41:04. Harrison slipped back to fourth but took the Male Youth victory in 43:06. Meanwhile a strong cycle and blistering second run saw Eilish Gilbert finish hot on the heals of Harrison in fifth place overall and first female (43:37), nearly six minutes faster than the second female finisher 40+ Tina Wickens.

The morning warmed up further as local runner Marc Fallows of Cirencester AC took control on the two lap run, followed by previous winner Lee Rankin of DB Max. But it was soon all change after transition as the mountain bikers Iain Payne of Bikecity Somerset and 40+ Jay Horton of Certini-McCaulays came to the fore. With very little between on the two lap bike course course they pulled away from the rest of the field. Payne had the edge going into transition and was just quicker than Horton on the run so took victory by 33 seconds in 1:05:43. Mountain biker James Gleave of Cheltenham had the fastest bike split of the day (34:59), which propelled him into third but had heavy legs on the second run which allowed Duathlete Lee Rankin to take advantage and come through for third. As 40+ Horton took second the place trophy, the 40+ title went to Richard Cross of Noah’s Ark in 6th overall. It was the first time Payne had competed at the event and he said after he enjoyed the course and it was great for winter training, which was also echoed by Horton.

In the women’s race Maddie Horton (Certini-McCaulays), showed that mountain bikers can run too by demolishing the women’s field in the run and the bike with an outstanding 9th place overall. Maddie went one better than Husband Jay and easily took the women’s Specialized first prize, over nine minutes ahead of 40+ Claire Hall of Swindon Road Club, who was closely followed by Diane Hier of Black Cannon. Lorraine Kirby, somewhat further down the field, still had enough energy to skip up and collect the 50+ prize whilst competitors and crew waited to cheer on the last finisher Angie Briggs in 2:14:42 who raised over £500 for charity. Once they had had their bacon butty most commented that they would be back to the next Cirencester Off Road Duathlon on 12th February.

Men's long course results

Women's long course results

Click here for full results of the long course

Men's short course results

Women's short course results

Click here for full results of the short course