While many got rather wet over the weekend, Mick Dicker from Raw Energy Pursuits reports in from the Lezyne Arundel Lido Triathlon in West Sussex, which was blessed with perfect conditions and some course record breaking performances.

Results: LONG | SHORT

Lezyne Arundel Lido Triathlon

Sunday 25th May 2014 – Arundel, West Sussex

Sun (check): Lido 28º C (check): Great Course (check): Spectacular backdrop (check) – it must the Arundel Lido Triathlon on the banks of the River Arun in West Sussex. The early start meant most competitors were back from the busy roads by 10:30 and able to relax around the Lido or in the historic town.

The Standard race (800m/37k/9k) saw six times Worthing Triathlon winner Colin Dixon make it two wins on the bounce at Arundel, having won here last year. Dixon overhauled the fastest swim of the day (10:46) by Peter Campbell of Portsmouth Triathletes by posting the quickest bike for the 39km course (56:33) and then ran a tough but picturesque 9km run in 34:50 for a final time of 1:42:47 - breaking his own course record from last year. The run included a testing off road climb to a trig point overlooking the Arun Valley. In the women’s race Helen Nicholls from Bishops Waltham had a head-to-head with previous winner Fran Bungay from Tri Purbeck. With only seconds between them throughout most of the swim and cycle, Nicholls took control on the run to win in 2:02:54 with splits of 14:37 | 1:07:04 | 41:14. A strong contingent from a resurgent Brighton Tri Club was rewarded as they saw Leanne Garner take third place in 2:13:00.

The winners of the Relay Standard Triathlon re-wrote the history book as they had done at Steyning two weeks earlier and set a new course record in 1:45.09. The Physio, Fitness & Wellbeing Race Team were dominant in each discipline & finished in 1:45:09. Paul Maggs (Swim 12:15), Nick Finch (Bike 1:01:01 incl T1 & T2) & Neil Boniface (Run 31:55).

After finishing third last year, Andy Robinson from Horsham Amphibians Tri Club stepped up two places to win the Sprint Triathlon (400m/19k/5.4k). Robinson's background was in the steeplechase, but he also clocked the fastest time on the bike (31:11 incl T1 & T2) finishing with fastest run (19:25) for 56:27, two minutes ahead of evergreen Supervet Peter Younghusband from Petersfield Tri Club & Team THE’s Paul Blackmore. Top Horsham squash player Rachel Wilmott; also from Team THE, knocked three minutes off her time last year to win in 1:05:56 (6:33, 34:56, 24:26). Portsmouth Triathlete Rebecca Hughes finished second in 1:09:50 and third place went to the popular Rebecca Lintott-Clarke from Tuff Fitty Tri Club in 1:12:54.

Raw Energy Pursuits host the inaugural Arundel Castle Triathlon on 20th July with a 1.5k River Swim, 40k Bike & a 10k run around Swanbourne Lake and finishing on closed roads in the town.

Entries are still available at www.rawenergypursuits.co.uk