Europe Triathlon

The strength, power and talent of Great Britain’s Age Group athletes was on display in Horst as they won 27 medals at the European Sprint Distance Duathlon Championships.

Over 200 athletes took part in the Sprint Distance Age Group race and nine different nationalities secured a podium finish.

In the 16-20 Male category, Gareth Smith led home Matthew O’Connor and Harry Pink for a British one-two-three.

In the 20-24 category, Dieuwertje Poort (NED) was victorious in the Women’s race with Anna Noguera (ESP) and Eloise du Luart (GBR) in third place. In the Men’s race, Tim Van Hemel led home a Belgian one-two with compatriot Sam Valgaeren in second place and Juul Van der Kruijs (NED) in third.

India Lee (GBR) won gold in the 25-29 age category ahead of Maria Hivner (GER) and Juriena De Vries (NED). In the Men’s race, Alexander Picard (NED) finished first with Christopher Bernard (LUX) and William Dierckx (BEL) completed the podium.

There was a British one-two-three in the Female 30-34 category as Mathilde Pauls led home Charlotte Harris and Erica Martin. In the Men’s race, Daniel Mannweiler claimed gold for Germany with Lienhard Hersel (GER) winning silver and Peter Hawkins claiming bronze.

Britain dominated the 35-39 female category with another top three finish. Fran Bungay (GBR) finished first with Christine Bertram and Jennifer Spillane in the medal positions. In the Men’s race, Maiko Mattiussi (ITA) was the winner ahead of Octavio Perez (ESP) and Bas Van Beek (NED).

As the only competitor in the female 40-44 category, Sue Walker (GBR) celebrated becoming European Champion by virtue of completing the course. Alan Murchison made it a GBR double in this age group with victory in the Men’s race. Caen de Wit (NED) secured the silver medal ahead of Roland Besseling (NED) who finished third.

Jacqui Phillips continued British success with victory in the Women’s 45-49 category. Germany’s Anke Lakies was second and Polly Rogers-Dixon (IRL) was third. In the Men’s race, John Aalbers (NED) was the winner with Marcel Montag (GER) and Craig Dyce (GBR) finishing in the medal positions.

Haike Nillesen crossed the line as the first female in 50-54 age category. Elizabeth O’Connor (IRL) and Gabi Hirseman (GER) were second and third respectively. In the Men’s race, Richard Parker secured another gold for Britain with German duo Peter Altner and Hermann Josef Lindberg finishing behind him.

Sandra Powell-Bevan secured another gold for Britian in the 55-59 age category. There was a German double in the Men’s race with Ralf Laermann (GER) and Heinrich Wilmik first and second respectively while Roy Flanagan (GBR) picked up the bronze in third.

Ria Jotter (GER) held off the challenge of Sharon Bardsley (GBR) in the 60-64 age category to secure a gold medal. But Britian were not to be denied in the 60-64 Men’s race as Barry Jameson and Dave Littlemore finished in first and second with Italy’s Dino Beretta in third.

There were another two medals for Great Britian in the Men’s 65-69 age category with Clive Faine securing gold and Michael Smallwood bronze. Sandwiched between them for silver was Roland Jochem (GER).

Freida Metz (GER) completed the course to become European Champion in the 70-74 female age category while in the Men’s race, Karl-Heinz Tiefengraber won Austria’s only Age Group medal at these championships with first place. Ernst Zeh (GER) and Bob Thomas (GBR) completed the podium.

Gabrielle Pelz (GER) was the oldest female competitor and becomes European Champion in the 75-79 age category. Theo Herberger led home another German one-two in the Men’s race with Josef Osterkamp taking second place. Maurice Young completed the podium in third.

Finally, the oldest Age Group competitor overall was Brian Foster and the British athlete did his job to bring home another gold medal in the 80-84 category.

Full lists of Age Group results are available on the ETU website here.