Freebird Events first open water event in the 2011 season took place at Allerthorpe Lakeland Park Yesterday. Situated just 10 miles from York, the venue has proved to be very popular with many triathletes with 300 entering the race. The swim comprises of a single lap of the lake, before exiting the water to transition. The swim exit lends itself to an ideal viewing area for spectators with the Lincsquad press team getting some great shots. Following the swim, a fast, very scenic bike course awaits and finally the run comprises of an out and back 5km run on quiet country roads. (Left Clark celebrates with 2nd Lawson just behind)
Lincsquad was well represented putting a strong team in for the race as they look to move up in the Udo’s choice race series team and solo competitions.
Competitors were set off in 4 waves (pic of wave 1 mass start) at 3 minute intervals with the fastest predicted times going of 1st so the crowd could see who was leading the race throughout. J.Dudley (Leeds/Bradford Tri) was 1st to exit the swim in 9:08 closely followed by Lincsquad lady Lauren York in 3rd with a 9:46 swim, Steve Clark 16th out the water 10:28 followed by Rick Stenton 17th 10:30 and Huwie Davies 19th 11:10, all with work to do to get up towards the front of the race. Sallie Joseph 15:39, Steven Dolby (below exits the water) and Amanda Clements 20:25 competing in only their 1st or 2nd open water triathlon posted solid times.
Onto the windy bike and Steve C posted the 4th fastest bike time of the day with a 30:01 split to move from 16th to 2nd heading into T2 behind new race leader Shaun Lawson from Sheffield Tri, Huwie Davies (below) also moving up from 19th into 17th with a bike of 31:36. Chris Spavin was lying in 60th after swim and showed his strength on the bike 31:49 to move up 30 places in the field. Paul Ralph posted 33:37 40th fastest showing that his strongest discipline is the bike as his training is stepping up as he builds towards the Outlaw. Amanda pulled Sallie back a little on the bike riding the 20km 1 min faster than her Lincsquad team mate. Alberto Legido coming back from injury completed the swim and bike before pulling out of 
the race. Duncan Wright set the 6th fastest bike time with a 30:25 split
Out of T2 and into the run S.Clark worked hard and got onto the leaders shoulder and sat on him until the first left turn on the run and then attacked him opening up a 5 metre gap to take the lead at the halfway turn 2.5km into the run they were back shoulder to shoulder and Steve attacked him again opening up a 10m gap and held the lead to take the win posting a last mile of 5:35 to come home just over the hour in 1:00:17 to win by 7 seconds!!!!. H.Davies again got stronger and stronger and moved up to finish 15th overall putting more time into Stenton 25th and Spavin 34th. Lauren York again showed she is a force as she posted the fastest junior splits in all 3 disciplines and against all the other Female Juniors. Lauren (below) also just missed out on the podium in the ladies overall as she finished 4th Lady in 1:09:43.
Lincsquad positions
1st Steve Clark Lincsquad/Falcon Cycles 1:00:17
15th Huwie Davies Lincsquad 1:05:18
25th Rick Stenton Lincsquad 1:07:41
34th Chris Spavin 1:09:03
38th Duncan Wright 1:09:28
39th Lauren York 1st female junior 1:09:43
69th Paul Ralph 1:14:28
83rd Steven Dolby 1:14:52
184th Sallie Joseph 1:24:22
187th Amanda Clements 1:35:05
Alberto Legido swim bike only
Full results with splits can be viewed here
http://www.freebirdevents.co.uk/Allerthorpe%20Sprint%202011%20Results.pdf