Saturday 9th July 2022
The 2022 Woodhorn Museum Triathlon has been selected to host the World Standard Distance Triathlon Age Group Qualifier for the 2023 World Championship & the European Sprint Distance Triathlon Age Group Qualifier for the 2023 European Championship.
The Woodhorn Museum triathlon is located within the grounds of Woodhorn Museum and QE2 country Park which is at the start of the beautiful Coastal route of Northumberland. Woodhorn Museum is a scheduled ancient monument and here you can discover over 800 years of history and a range of fantastic events, activities and exhibits for all the family. Woodhorn Museum is situated on the edge of the QE2 Country Park which boasts a 16-hectare shallow, freshwater lake.
The swim was in the warm shallow freshwater QE2 lake set within the park grounds. The bike route takes you out of the Museum along to the coastal route through Widdrington Village, before sweeping onto the coast and along to the beautiful Druridge bay and Cresswell village with some breath-taking views along the coastline.
The run is on the footpath that winds its way through the woodland and open grasslands that surround the lake. The run passes by the finish line within the Museum at the end of each lap making this ideal for spectators to cheer everyone on to a great finish with a big smile.
We have 2 brilliant pieces written below which I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading. We have so many talented and outstanding role models in this club, we are just spoilt. Well done on taking on this challenge on a warm day in gorgeous Northumberland.
Arabella who is absolutely over the moon in qualifying for the 2023 champs that will take place in Pontevedra, Spain took a sunny morning out to write this lovely piece:
This year’s Woodhorn Museum Triathlon organised by the ever excellent V02max racing events team was a European Championship qualifier (sprint distance) and World Championship qualifier (standard distance). As a result, competitors had travelled from all over the country with the hope of getting their place in the GB age-group team. At the very last minute I decided to throw my cap in the ring and have a go. Although I have qualified at sprint distance a couple of times, I’ve never managed the Olympic distance. Last time I tried I came 16th in my age group so no place for me ha ha.
The weather conditions were pretty much perfect, maybe just a tiny bit warm.
The women set off 5 minutes behind the men for a swim in the swamp like conditions of the QE 2 lake, the weeds were the worst I’ve known them which must have been quite alarming for those who were new to open water swimming. Fortunately, I love swimming and managed to get out of the water 4th placed woman over all.
A relatively long run to transition while wrestling with a wetsuit was the next treat and then out onto the bike for 28 miles of undulating countryside. This is where Mike Russell overtook me and disappeared into the distance! Go Mike!
After a little confusion in T2 (I forgot where my spot was and ran up the wrong rack) it was out onto the run.
3 laps of the lake. I usually quite enjoy this run, but after the first mile I was almost doubled over by a crippling stitch. It’s so hard to know how much to eat and drink before and during a race and definitely something had not agreed with me! Anyway, excuses excuses, I kept going and finished in a total time of 2.30.50 which is a big PB on that course.
To qualify for a GB place, you need to be top 3 (I think) or hold out for a roll down place (it’s all very complicated and I haven’t really understood it ha ha)
Happily and amazingly, I was 16th woman overall and 2nd V50 and have my qualifying spot!
Well done to Mike Russell who finished way ahead of me in 2.23.22 and was 13th in his age-group.
Well done to Adam and Andy Bell competing in the Sprint Distance.
Adam Bell 1.18.47 and 10th in age group.
Andy Bell 1.23.37 and 26th in age group.
I’ll exchange swimming tips for running tips guys!
Here is Andrew Bell talking about his Tri Debut: Woodhorn Triathlon Sprint 2022.
This one was always going to be tough having tested positive for Covid earlier in the week and only getting a negative result on the morning of the event. But it seemed doable, so I popped a couple paracetamol and went for it and I’m so glad that I did.
Adam Bell was an absolute star, guiding me through the process of setting up in transition and made the whole experience a memorable one for sure. I always love competing but sharing the experience with my brother makes it all the better.
The swim: while it was short 750m is certainly tough. The melee at the start was hilarious, taking feet to the face and half drowning, but I came out of the water in decent shape and 30 seconds up on Adam. Transition was slow but not terrible and I hit the 14-mile bike leg in good shape. This is my weakest discipline and so expected to drop back in the field, however, after passing some people, I was feeling a little more confident. That was until Adam came flying past me at the halfway point as if I was riding through sand. He told me to grab his wheel (this isn’t allowed) but he was literally 20 metres ahead by time he finished saying those words. It was head down from there and along the coast through Cresswell.
Dismounting from my bike and running to T2 was a good indicator that the run wasn’t going to be easy. Bambi on ice springs to mind. Anyway, the Alphfly went on and I set off at a charge for the 6km 2 lap course around the lake. Within 200metres I couldn’t breathe, and a stitch followed – so bad I had to walk a short stretch before continuing. Not my finest performance by any stretch. Adam put in a solid run averaging 6min miles and happy to finish strong with a good result in both position and category. I rolled home at a jog but thrilled to have finished my first triathlon. Here’s to many more! Great performances from my Elswick teammates Arabella Pearce and Mike Russell too.
Sprint Distance Triathlon field size 268
Distance:750m swim / 24km bike / 6km run
32nd Adam Bell 1.18.47
Swim – 12.20
T1 – 0.57
Bike – 39.58
T2 – 0.56
Run – 24.35
Swim – 11.43
T1 –1.11
Bike – 42.29
T2 – 1.11
Run – 26.02
Standard Distance Triathlon field size 213
Distance:1.5km swim / 46km bike / 9.6km run
62nd Mike Russell 2.23.22
Swim – 22.28
T1 –1.39
Bike – 1.19.23
T2 – 0.40
Run – 39.11
91st Arabella Pearce 2.30.50 and 2nd SVet
Swim – 16.23
T1 –0.50
Bike – 1.27.04
T2 – 1.00
Run – 45.31
http://www.timingupnorthresults.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=16576&RId=6216&EId=1
