Great location, excellent course, warmish swim, flattish bike, very flat run, superb organisation, very good value and a good holiday opportunity too.

8 reasons to consider entering Ocean Lava Montenegro in 2018 (and there’s a relay option if you’re a runner so no excuses)

Even the gear lever on my TT bike falling off the first time I went to use it couldn’t spoil the race. Yes, at 28 degrees the run was a tad hot but the free beer at the end (and hot meal) helped no end.

Me doing the Ponteland “авион” as they call it here

If you’re seriously interested in doing this next year then please get in touch with me – I think it would make a great club trip.

Alnwick sprint Tri is nearly always windy, but usually a westerly so we’re used to coming to a halt in the headwind when we turn back inland at Boulmer, but today we had a new wind, a Northerly and we suffered for it. The bike leg at the coast was like riding in treacle, you just felt you were going nowhere.

Despite the wind, we had another good tri for Ponteland with a Ladies Senior 2nd place for Lyndsey and a Mens V60 3rd for Mick, which I don’t think he expected given the look on his face when they announced it. Well done Mick!!!!  It’s also worth mentioning that Lyndsey only lost out on a win by 15seconds, so very close today. Well done Lyndsey.

Picture of the day, although I didn’t get a picture at the time, was watching Mark showing his true rugby pedigree by having a bacon buttie just next to transition before the event. I didn’t see any others partaking in the true athletes breakfast….

A big thankyou to Alnwick Tri and their volunteer marshalls for the event, as always the support around the course and the event organisation is brilliant. Ponteland Tri even got a mention in the presentations as we have a number of club members at the event every year. Next I think is Northumberland Tri, the first open water of the season on June 7th, now that will be cold…

Finally a mention for Andy Hutchinson on completing his first triathlon, in a year which sees him going from Sprint to Ironman in a single season. A big challenge so well done Andy.

Todays results below, full results available on resultsbase.

The forecast was windy, and easterly instead of the normal prevailing westerley. But at least the sun came out and the morning got warmer.  Ponteland Tri had 16 entered in Ashington and on the day we had 11 finishers, but some really fantastic results.  The club had Ladies Senior 2nd place for Lyndsey Curry, Ladies V60 3rd place for viv Ferrier and Mens V60 3rd place for Tony Prince so a great result for the club.

Before the race the event organisers had a race briefing explaining the route, and they also posted maps of the routes, and they had marshalls and signs at all turns, however Mark Turnbull managed to go flying straight on at the miners roundabout before realising the race had got really quiet all of a sudden and he turned back. Given the detour Mark’s bike time is very impressive given his added additional distance.

It’s worth giving a mention to Mr & Mrs Kelly both with great times and big improvements on their finish times from last year. Obviously all this training pays dividends.

Another great event hosted by Tri Northumberland, hopefully we’ll all be back next year with at least two club members I know of moving up an age category so podium places may be within grasp……

Results for all club members below.