Brighton and Hove Standard Distance Triathlon (European Age Group Qualifier)

Wight Tri members and IW Talented Athlete Award recipients, Jan Fletcher and Glyn Jenkins competed in the Brighton and Hove Standard Distance Triathlon, which was also the European Age Group Championship qualifier for Tartu, Estonia in 2020.

The race started at 11.15am by which time it was already very hot and sunny, not a cloud in the sky. Beautiful weather if you’re laying on a beach relaxing.

Jan was first home for the club earning the 1st automatic qualification place for the European Championships in Tartu in 2020 in her new age group (45-49). Subject to confirmation of course!
The 1500m sea swim was two laps. There was a bit of a chop and current to contend with and I think I ended up swallowing a few pints ! As usual it was a frantic start of legs and arms flying everywhere until finding clear water and then repeated at every turn at the buoys! The swim is both competitors week discipline, so both were happy to exit the sea. Jan entered T1 in 33 mins 32, in 8th position in the 40-44 age group, with Glyn in 47:12 and 6th in the 65-69 category.

Onto the bike which was 8 laps of a flat route out and back along the seafront with dead turns at each end. There was a slight headwind building through the laps and Jan finished in a time of 1hr 10mins 14secs and Glyn in 1:17:52.

The run was 4 laps out and back along the sea front. With nowhere to hide from the sun, it was extremely hot. Jan completed the 10km run in 46 mins 34 which she was very happy with in the conditions and having been nursing a foot injury for the past few weeks. She felt strong and able to pick up the pace for the last lap and completed the race in an overall time of 2hrs 33mins 17sec, 5th in her current age group (40-44) but as she moves go up to the next age group (45-49) next year, she took the first qualification place for Tartu.
Glyn finished in 3:06:49, having completed the run in 57:33, also finishing 5th overall in his age group. As only the first 4 places qualify automatic, he will have to wait to see if he earns a roll down spot.
Both Jan and Glyn have had a super year wearing the GB colours.
Glyn has represented Team GB in The European Standard Distance Triathlon Championships in Weert, Netherlands and also the World Standard Distance Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Jan has represented team GB at her first European championships also in Weert, and has now qualified for the Age Group World Standard Distance Championships in Canada, the European Standard Distance Championships in Tartu and also the European Sprint Distance Championships in Malmo in 2020.
“It’s going to be a busy 2020 but I’m looking forward to donning the GB kit again ”says Jan.