Clear winners in Pembroke event
VICTORY arrived in straightforward fashion for James Travers and Amy Critchlow at yesterday’s ‘Extra Summer Triathlon’.
A backdrop of stunning pink-tinged sky welcomed dozens of competitors to Pembroke for the first open local triathlon of the season, making a change from the heavy haze that blighted the Grandes Rocques event weeks prior.
There was no stopping the pair of winners from escaping early on in an event doubling as the final ‘tri’ before the Island Games – although at just half the distance.
Travers had risen first after the opening circuit of the two-lap ‘Aussie exit’ 750m swim, although he had to leave the beach narrowly headed by veteran Dave Crosland.
But the eventual winner was fastest out of transition and remained highly confident of pulling further clear with his strong cycling.
Meanwhile, Critchlow had found competition among some of the outside men’s contenders in the absence of her Games teammates.
They both extended their leads on the 20km cycle and, particularly in the women’s race, there was little room for an upset.
Crosland was still in a clear second and embarked upon the 5km run with a significant but surmountable gap on a pursuing pack harbouring Island Games man Aivis Kergalvis.
Although Travers was nearly two minutes out of reach as he triumphed in 62min. 44sec., Kergalvis’ great run leg allowed him to gap Crosland on the long La Jaonneuse Road stretch and snatch runner-up.
Soon came Critchlow, who clocked just over 69min. to take top woman by over 11min. from the duo of Claire Smit and Adele Perrot.
2018 novice triathlon winner Ryan Dawe was first across the line in the concurrent super-sprint event.
