Derwent Duathlon 2019

Sunday 24 March

Thanks to everyone who came along to the duathlon today either to race, watch or in any other capacity.

Let’s get the nasty business out of the way first though.

Apologies must go to those who were affected by the actions of idiots who were in the valley overnight. Firstly, some of the signs had been stolen. Why? What could anyone possibly want with some big yellow signs which say FELL RUN and ROAD RUN on them and some other big arrows? I couldn’t even find them tossed into the undergrowth anywhere nearby, so someone’s had away with them completely along with the cones they were attached to.

And to add to the annoyance someone, presumably those same people, had lifted four crates of our race beer which we’d carted over to the finish after dark last night. Now, I can understand why someone with criminal inclinations might want to nick that, and I can only hope that the thieves drink too much, lose their senses and that justice is somehow done. I’d better leave it at that before people start thinking I’m of a villainous mind myself.

But on with the good bits…..the race.

Our meteorological luck held out again for the fourth year in a row and the valley was displaying its early spring magnificence. Underfoot conditions have rarely been better too.

It looks like the fell run first is proving to be the favoured option with a roughly 2:1 ratio believing that to be advantageous. It would be interesting to hear from those who’ve now done it a few times and have had chance to experiment with it to see if that theory holds true. Drop us a line and let us know.

As the race progressed it was the pair of cops from the Devon and Cornwall force Jason Chubb and Rich Martin who were beginning to open up what appeared to be a gap, but it’s only after the final convergence of the two options that these things can be confirmed. And confirmed they were with both hitting the finishing field neck and neck. These chaps have raced together many times and each loves to beat the other, but they went all soft today! It was, nevertheless, a touching sight (although difficult to see through my tears, sniff, sniff) to see Chubby and Rich hand in hand as they reached the line. A marshal was immediately despatched to buy some hankies for the spectators as the man in third, Phil Wilson, came into view.

No such stuff amongst the ladies though. 17-year old Elsbeth Grant was on form again today and was taking no prisoners as she romped home in 6^th place overall. It had been an epic battle amongst the ladies behind her with some brilliantly aggressive T2-ing, and it was Lizzie Webster who showed her strength on her second run to finish in the top dozen overall having shaken off an earlier serious challenge from Becky Lineker (17^th).

Colin Nadin (4^th overall) and Christine Howard (19^th) took the over 40s awards and the over 50s went to Mike Nolan (7^th) and Ruth Wilson (63^rd).

Thanks as always to the helpers which, this year, included the police cadets from Hyde coming over the county border to join our Derbyshire ones.

One final thing. Some of you may have seen Richard Thoday after the race when he called by whilst out on one of his long penny-farthing training rides. As I announced before the race, Richard is a friend of mine and he’s hoping to break the Lands End – John O Groats record of 5 days, 1 hour and 45 minutes this summer which was set way back in 1886. His chosen charity is BBC Children in Need but he’s also looking for some corporate sponsorship to assist with the logistics. It’s well worth looking him up and supporting his cause - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pennyfarthingendtoend

Hoping to see you again for another race.

Karl Webster.