[T]he Lakesman Triathalon, which was held in West Cumbria on Sunday, has been won by Joe Duckworth, who finished the race more than half an hour ahead of his nearest rival.
The race started with an early morning 2.4 mile swim in Derwentwater before competitors took to their bikes for a 112 mile race from Keswick to Cockermouth, Frizington, Cleator Moor, Egremont, Whitehaven Loop Road, Workington Northside Bridge, Flimby, Maryport Harbour, Allonby, Silloth, Aspatria, Gilcrux, Tallentire, through Cockermouth town centre and the finally back to Keswick. Duckworth had already established a clear lead at this point, before setting out on the full 26.2 mile marathon out and around Keswick, Portinscale and Braithwaite.
As the sun blazed down, it became clear that Duckworth, the 43-year-old airport firefighter from Chorley in Lancashire, was in a race of his own, and he crossed the finishing line in 9.15.41.
Paul Rodger was second, another eleven minutes ahead of third placed Matthew Wheeler.
Duckworth completed the swim in 1:12:16, with a 2 minute 11 second transition, had a fantastic time in the cycle race with the 112 miles done in 4:53:53, followed by 1 minute 56 second transition, and then impressed in the marathon with a time of 3:05:25.
The Women’s race was won by Nicola King from Arragon’s Triathlon Club, who finished the course in 11:20:44 in another dominant display, seventeen minutes ahead of ahead of Amy Earnshaw (11:37:52) and Alison Matthews (11:43:34). Jo Stewart was fourth, and Maria Greaves (Tri-Anglia) fifth. Nicolas’s swim was 1:11:21, with a three minute 36 second transition, her cycle race was completed in 5:47:15, with a three minute 40 second transition, and her marathon was run in 4:14:52.
Over 300 volunteers and staff helped on the day, and the Mayor of Allerdale, Mary Bainbridge was on hand to presents medals, with the last arrivals running into Keswick late into the evening.
The top twenty finishers were: (1) Joe Duckworth: 9:15:41, (2) Paul Rodger (Ulverston Triathlon Club): 9:46:05, (3) Matthew Wheeler: 9:57:51, (4) Matthew Wackett: 10:03:19, (5) Ashley Buck (Wakefield Triathlon Club), 10:09:08, (6) Stuart Garnett (Ulverston Triathlon Club): 10:11:03, (7) Dale Anderton: 10:14:15, (8) Darren Jones: 10:21:31 (9) Paul Sellars: 10:31:28, (10) Andrew Baker: 10:34:24, (11) Michael Gregory (Ulverston Triathlon Club): 10:34:35, (12) John Budworth: 10:37:23 (13) Russell Newlove: 10:39:16, (14) Andrew Jackson (West Cumbria Tri): 10:40:10 (15), Mark Hopkins (Tri Lakeland): 10:44:53, (16) Stephen Addison: 10:49:13, (17) Neil Smith: 10:56:32, (18) Ben Hale: 10:59:46, (19) Paul Taylor: 11:00:58, (20) Des Morris (Tri Lakeland): 11:01:36.
