THERE was no doubting the performance of the day in Farnham Triathlon Club’s first championship event of the season – a run/bike/run duathlon starting from Farnham Sports Centre.

New member Jo Wright took the ladies’ title by a 20-minute margin with her overall time of 1hr 36mins 04secs. This was also a full seven minutes quicker than the women’s course record.

Bright but chilly conditions greeted the 25 contenders. In a break from tradition, the run disciplines were switched from previous years to bring the format into line with national events. So the opening run comprised the longer 7km circuit of Farnham Park, followed by a 28km out-and-back cycle on the A31 to Chawton and finishing with the 4km run back in the Park.

Showing strength in both disciplines, Wright duelled with the overall leaders on the first run and started the cycle section in third place – a position she held for the rest of the race to show remarkable potential for the forthcoming season in FTC colours.

Second lady was Kelly Thomas in 1-56-01, while third-placed Lindsay Bamford (2-02-18) earned the female super-vets crown. The first female veteran award went to Billy McCulloch and Sue Graves retained her FSV60 title.

The men’s race was dominated by some familiar names, with another clear overall and male veterans category victory for James Long in 1-28-15. Dom Brooks followed his perennial rival home in 1-34-00, with the consolation of first in the male super-vets (50) category.

A very creditable third place, courtesy of two swift runs, went to another new member, Leo Maliphant (1st male senior), while Rob Grande took MSV60 honours.

Results:

1, James Long, 1 MV, 01-28-15; 2, Dom Brooks, 1 MSV, 01-34-00; 3, Jo Wright, 1 FS, 01-36-04; 4, Leo Maliphant, 1 MS, 01-37-38; 5, Nick Sheppard, 2 MV, 01-37-45; 6, Paul Manning, 2 MS, 01-37-55; 7, Mike Pounds, 3 MV, 01-38-13; 8, Bruce Thomas, 3 MS, 01-46-16; 9, Steve Wallace, 4 MV, 01-46-35; 10, John Wright, 4 MS, 01-47-40; 11, Rob Grande, 1 MSV60, 01-52-50; 12, Carl Atkinson, 5 MS, 01-54-32; 13, Kelly Thomas, 2 FS, 01-56-01; 14, Christopher Ogilvie-Thompson, 2 MSV, 02-02-02; 15, Lindsay Bamford, 1 FSV , 02-02-18; 16, Derek Graves, 2 MSV60, 02-04-44; 17, Charlie Gray, 3 FS, 02-04-56; 18, Billy McCulloch, 1 FV, 02-07-28;19, Chris O’Connor, 3 MSV, 02-08-14; 20, Helen Collett, 2 FSV, 02-15-04; 21, Sue Graves, 1 FSV60, 02-21-52; 22, John Bennison, 3 MSV60, 02-26-50.