North Coast 2006 Winter Duathlon Series Race 1
Sunday 11th June 2006

A sunny but brisk morning greeted twenty of our toughest competitors in the fist of five Duathlon series races for 2006/7 at the Edgewater circuit on Sunday.

The race got off to cracking start with the field tightly bunched at the 200m turn. Mike Wren and Steve Gleeson drew away coming back up the hill and onto the course proper. A group including Kim Vivian, Barry Silverlock, Leigh Willison Glenn O’Connell and Steve Jamison jockeyed for a good position behind.

Leading into the bike transition after the first run leg of 1.6km was Wren with O’Connell, Gleeson and Vivian hot on his heels. Vivian faulted leaving transition and tumbled from his bike while trying to mount (not a good look skipper). After regaining his composure he found himself 300 to 400mts in arrears of those in front. A couple of mini battles were developing further back between Silverlock, O’Connell, Willison and Jamison with Norm Black and a colourful Dave Norton battling it out. The first female into transition was nippy Elle Waterman showing plenty of tenacity with Ashley Davis and Sarah Black working hard to complete their allotted laps on the bike.

The bike turned into a catch me if you can with Wren trying to maintain his advantage and a pack slowly beginning to wear him down. They finally caught their man on the last lap of the 12-lap course. The course although looking passive was starting to take its toll on the majority of the field with many competitors starting to suffer on the steep inclines at each turn.

First back in to the bike transition was a group of about four riders including Wren, Silverlock O’Connell and Vivian. Wren, O’Connell and Silverlock breezed through the change but the skipper who injured his foot during the Bike fall withdrew himself from the race. Further back Willison and a much-improved Steve Jamison were having a two-man war on the bike and came into the change neck and neck. Not far behind was Norton who had on the other hand gained a handy break over his rival Black.

Out on the run course for the last time with three by 1.2km laps in front of them the pressure was on. Wren pulled away from a gallant Silverlock crossing the finish line in a smart time of 35.18 and happy to take a well-earned breather. Silverlock came home in a creditable 37.20 with a fast finishing Leigh Willison powering home in 37.45 and fourth was a strong finishing junior Glen O’Connell. Second junior male home was Bradley Brown who with a powerful run home demonstrated just why he has been selected for the WA schools cross country team.

Elle Waterman ground out a tough race to be the first female home in 45.27 with Ashley Davis much improved in second place and Sarah Black third home.

Special mentions go to Craig Roberson and Nimal Wickramasinghe who toiled hard and will certainly improve as the series progresses. Well done to Dallas Dunlop and Marc Bergin who at times could have been mistaken as conjoined twins owing to the closeness of their tussle.

All in All it was a successful pipe opener for the season and there is sure to been some keenly contesting racing ahead

For full results click here

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