Poole pulls out all the stops

JEREMY POOLE took the spoils at the first event in the new Ogier and Le Masurier sponsored winter duathlon series at Pleinmont. Competitors were faced with a stiff headwind at the start of the two-mile run which led into a 12-mile bike and a closing two-mile run to the finish.

A bunch quickly formed at the front of the field of 16 competitors and initially, Tim Johns took the lead with a group tucking in behind to shelter from the wind.

Johns, Ian Scholes, Mark Naftel and Colin Ozanne reached the one-mile turn point in about 5min. 45sec., with Poole just adrift, having had to stop and re-fasten a lose shoelace.

At this stage Shanine Wray and Tracey Dowinton were locked in battle for the lead in the women's race.

Scholes, Johns and Poole reached transition one closely knit with only six seconds separating them.

The trio quickly changed into their bike gear for the 12-mile time trial to Grandes Rocques and back.

On the bike section, the lead swapped several times as they battled into the wind. Further back Mark Helyer was showing good form on the bike to pass Naftel and Ozanne.

Scholes posted the fastest bike split of the day, but was unable to hold his form on the second run in which Poole pulled out all the stops to claim victory from Johns by only seven seconds, with Scholes in third.

Helyer faded on the second run to be passed in turn by Ozanne, then Naftel.

In the women's race Wray showed her strength on the bike to lead Dowinton by three minutes going into the second run.

It was an impossible gap for Dowinton to close in only two miles of running.

Sonia Dean finished as third woman in only her second Tri Club event.

The next event in the series will be on 14 December and will be staged over a similar distance.

Anyone is welcome to have a go and potential competitors should contact Mark Naftel on 07781 101819.