GREAT START TO 2017/18 TRIATHLON SEASON

Great start to 2017/18 Triathlon Season

The bumper attendance of around 130 triathletes took part in Sunday's Nelson Mandela Bay Triathlon Championships, hosted by About IT despite the strong off-shore winds making for a tough cycle leg.

Defending champion Keegan Cooke had a great race taking just over 4 minutes off his winning time from last season when he crossed the line in 2 hours 1 minute and 23 seconds after having completed the 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run. Louis de Villers placed 2nd with Jarryd Cooke in 3rd place. Claudia Harcus snatched the ladies title in a time of 2hrs 27 minutes and 42 seconds from Mariette Hattingh and Jeanette van Tonder.

Recently crowned World disabled triathlon champion, Charl Parkin from Port Elizabeth, took part on Sunday and won the disabled category over the Sprint Distance in a time of 1 hour 27 minutes and 37 seconds whilst Dewald Klinkenburg defended his Junior title over the Sprint Distance in a time of 1 hour 14 minutes and 55 seconds from Shane Hall with Danieke de Kock from East London taking the girls title from Martelize Kruger. In the Youth category for children under the age of 16 years, Andrew Bosch and Chelsey Cooke were the victors.

Social triathletes were also able to take part on the morning with Graeme Renard and Lizelle Truter winning the Olympic Distance race, Paul Mason and Jackie Strydom the Sprint Distance race with Siphosethu Nomoyi and Kiara Herman winning the Super Sprint Triathlon.

The top 3 championship winners in all age groups all received Nelson Mandela Bay Triathlon medals together we Champagne sponsored by Distell. Whilst all finishers enjoyed an ice cold organic Soga frozen orange Ice rocket and a Score Energy Drink as they came through the finish.

The next triathlon event in Nelson Mandela Bay will be the About IT Triathlon Summer Series which is a 4-part Sprint Distance triathlon starting on the 16th December at Pollok Beach. Full results from Sunday at on the Zsports website together with information on the above mentioned Series.