Travers and Truffitt top the island’s own half Ironman

After settling for third last year behind course record-breaker Chris Norman and Dave Mosley, the 2013 winner showed his lasting quality over the roughly 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run challenge, which features a signature Ronez Quarry section near the end.

Only because of a one-minute technical penalty did he miss out on making the record books – his pre-adjustment 4hrs 17min. 44sec. time was slightly inside Norman’s victory last year.

After two minutes’ silence in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, just over 40 triathletes took on the full distance at a pleasant – if increasingly warm – Pembroke.

While half-Ironman debutante Chloe Truffitt was the overwhelming women’s favourite, the men’s race proved quite open.

Travers started as he meant to go on by leaving the water first in 23-02.

Mosley followed 51sec. behind with a much-improved swim. The leading woman, swim specialist Izzie Grierson, was in the top five overall at the time.

Travers extended his lead on the bike – a two-lap course blending the west coast with a hillier foray into St Peter’s and Torteval – as Norman relegated Mosley into third.

Intriguingly, the reigning champion appeared to be running well, gnawing into the gap.

However, after finishing the first mini-loop – 5km – with Travers seemingly not entirely unreachable, Norman pulled out with persistent cramp. It also transpired that he had picked up a hefty penalty on the bike and realistically could not have contested first place anyway.

Travers simply had to stay clear enough of Mosley over the full 10-mile quarry loop – which he achieved.

His closest rival followed in 4-21-05, and just over 3min. back came multiple past winner Mat Dorrian, who defied his age to post the fastest run overall. James Tipper, Jon Osborn and Ian Scholes completed the top six.

Travers welcomed the win ahead of next month’s assault on the 9hr barrier at Ironman Barcelona.

‘Last year, with my son’s arrival, I just did not put in the time I would have done,’ the winner said.

‘I’ve had a good 12 months of training focused on Barcelona Ironman. I had a good swim, had a good bike, and the run was hard, but it was hard for everyone.

‘It was a hard, hard run going towards the quarry, but I’m just delighted to have won.’

Truffitt lived up to her status as Guernsey’s top locally-based female triathlete, despite not being best prepared for her big challenge.

She admitted she ‘did not expect to be here’ after taking time off in Bali followed by illness, which left her with just one solid week of training in the immediate build-up.

Grierson’s expectedly strong swim gave her a nearly 2min. advantage but Truffitt overcame that early into the bike, only consolidating her lead on the run.

She came home in 4-50-27, nearly 36min. ahead of Grierson, who maintained second. Claire Smit outran Dana Ujhazyova to claim third.

‘First of all, can I just say on behalf of everyone, thanks to Emily [Squire], Sean and Magda [Murphy] and all the marshals and volunteers – couldn’t have done it without them,’ she said.

‘I wanted sub-five, and I got a sub-five. I am really pleased with myself.’

Near the end of a superb season, during which she has ascended to Great Britain age-group level, she added: ‘It’s been amazing. I can only thank Iestyn [Harrett] at Entire for all the improvements I’ve made over the year, and there’s still more to come – I’m really looking forward to next year.’

Over the concurrent sprint, 17-year-old Thierry Le Cheminant maintained his hot streak to win unchallenged in 1-02-16.

Big intervals separated the top three but the next two shared the same Christian name – Jon Greenfield and Downes.

Another emerging force, the even younger Hannah Kennedy, took the women’s honours in 1-14-32.

Her excellent swimming made most of the difference against Sammy McNaught, who followed 2-27 back, as superveteran Wendy Leathem took third.