Read's hip hooray in Dambuster race
MORE than 500 athletes ran, swam and cycled the tough Dambuster Triathlon around Rutland Water on Saturday.
All the 539 competitors completed the Olympic distance event including local members of the Peterborough and Oundle Triathlon Club (PATRAC) and Stamford Strider’s Keith Read who entered the race to celebrate recovery from a hip relacement.
Keith, 48, who had the operation last year to treat osteoarthritis, said: “This was my first big triathlon and was partly a celebration as my hip replacement was done one year ago.
“It is only due to a steroid injection in my other failing hip that I was able to train for this.
“Despite a disastrous transition (the point where competitors switch from water to road), my wetsuit zip jammed, I finished in a time of 2hr 36min 41sec. I had set myself a target to beat 2h45.
“It was a fantastic race which I enjoyed immensely and I cant wait to do another.”
Each entrant swam 1,500m at Whitwell, and cycled 26miles around a route taking in Oakham, Uppingham, Morcott and Ketton before running 6.25miles around part of Rutland Water.
Keith, an electrician, can be seen training in the Stamford area with his Husky-German Shephard cross Minty.
The pair compete in CanixCross events where man and dog run together, linked by a harness and bungee cord.
“It’s a growing sport, open to any kind of dog. If you have a good one they drag you along, if not, you do all the work,” he said.
“We have done a couple of half marathons.
“I am the biggest hindrance. She could easily do a marathon.”
PACTRAC's top finisher was Peter Galpin, who came out on top in, a head-to-head with Stamford’s Simon Hoppe.
Pete was 8th overall, beating his 2007 time (2:07:29), by just over a minute.
The Dambuster race is part of the PACTRAC Club Championships.
l PACTRAC held their first 5km open running race in conjunction with Oundle Carnival on Saturday afternoon. None of the morning's Dambuster's athletes competed, but PACTRAC did have the first three athletes home, including the inaugural winner, Sean Beard whose main running club is NeneValley Harriers.
l The first of three Junior Aquathons was held by PACTRAC at Thrapston on Wednesday, June 17 with 12 competitor's swimming and running various distances, depending on their age.
The youngest competitor was nine years old, and with five competitors in the 9 – 10 year girls’ Milly Scotchbrook took the honours.
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Weather for Stamford
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -5 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
