Local Competitors Out In Force For The Taunton Deane Foot Anstey Aquathlon 2010
Wellington Sports Centre was host to the 6th Taunton Deane Aquathlon on Sunday 28 February when over 200 athletes and teams faced the challenge – some setting ‘personal best’ times for this annual event.
Sponsored by south west law firm Foot Anstey, organised by Somerset RC Tri Club and Tone Leisure and supported by the Somerset County Gazette, the competition caters for all levels of fitness and stamina with competitors able to enter either the short or longer distance race. The short distance involves swimming 500m and running 5k and the longer race is a 1000m swim followed by a 10k run. To make it completely fair, individuals compete against others in the same age category which range from 14-15yrs (Youth) to 60+yrs (Vintage Veterans).
Although the wet weather added challenges of its own, the 1000m/10k event was first off in the pool. After completing 40 lengths of the pool they set off on a challenging new run course through the countryside around Wellington before returning to the Sports Centre for the finish. Then it was the turn of the sprint distance that had 20 swim lengths to complete followed by two shorter run laps.
Particularly popular is the team event, introduced two years ago to open up the event to novices and for those that enjoyed one element of the Aquathlon, but not the other. In each team one person swims and the other runs using a relay style handover after the swim.
Special mention has to go to husband and wife team ‘Gas and Air’ from Somerset Tri-Club, Sue and Adam Masters who managed to complete the Mixed Team 500m/5k event, splitting the run and swim between them even though Sue is 8 months pregnant.
This year, a record breaking 30 teams took part, some of whom had also entered the corporate challenge which encourages participation from south west businesses, schools, clubs and other organisations.
Foot Anstey Solicitors, sponsors of the day really got behind the event entering 27 members of staff both in the individual and team entries. Nick Loewendahl, a trainee solicitor at the firm, beat his previous year’s time by over 6 minutes to win the 1000m/10k event in the senior male category.
Both the short and long Corporate Challenge trophies were won by the teams of Queens College for the third year running, with Foot Anstey a close second.
Andrew Hannam, partner at Foot Anstey and regular competitor said; “Every year it seems that the enthusiasm for this event surpasses the last. This year I was overwhelmed once again by the grit and determination and the spirit and sportsmanship of the competitors, particularly with such bad weather forecast for the day. There was a great atmosphere at the sports centre and I would like to congratulate all those who took part.”
Paul Lester, one of the organisers of the event said “Our sponsors, Foot Anstey, really got behind the event, not only with their generous support but by entering so many of their own staff.
“Many thanks go to all the marshals who gave up their time to help, to all the guys and gals in Somerset RC Tri who marshalled as well as raced and to the staff at Wellington Sports Centre for making us so welcome again.”
Prizes were presented by Foot Anstey’s Andrew Hannam with Paul Lester of RC Tri Club, Caroline Lewis from Queens College and Clare Bill of Tone Leisure. A full rundown of the results at the Foot Anstey Taunton Deane Aquathlon 2010 can be viewed at http://www.tauntondeanetri.co.uk
Published 01/03/2010
