Triathlon - Beau aims to be among best in junior ranks (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Triathlon - Beau aims to be among best in junior ranks

11:49am Thursday 28th April 2011 in Sport

A RISING star in triathlon, Beau Smith took two minutes off last year’s time as he powered to glory in the Kendal Sprint Triathlon on Sunday.

Smith, 17, from Yealand Redmayne, was second after the 500m swimming phase but put the pedal down to edge clear in the 17km cycle and a strong 5km run helped him to victory in 56.19.30.

Jon Fletcher from the Arragons Cumbrian Tri Club was second, almost half a minute behind in 56.48.10, with Wakefield Triathlon Club’s Steve Worthington third overall.

The 500m swim was held at Lakes Leisure, Kendal, before the cycle through Natland and Sedgwick and the race culminated in a 5km run through Natland and Oxenholme, finishing back at Lakes Leisure.

Smith, who attends the Royal Lancaster Grammar School, said he hoped to build on the victory when the National Junior Championships begin in May.

He said: “I was about two minutes quicker than my time on last year.

“I went all out on the bike but struggled in the run because of the heat. I want to keep working on my running to get a bit more out of it, but it was a good confidence builder.

“I’m now preparing for the National Junior Rankings series which starts in Glasgow in May. I was eighth last year until the last race and dropped to 12th, but I am hoping to push into the top five this summer.”

Kendal Sprint Triathlon results: 1 B Smith (COLT) 56.19.30, 2 J Fletcher (Arragons) 56.48.10, 3 S Worthington (Wakefield TC) 57.55.45, 4 K Rowlands (COLT) 58.25.70, 5 F Roberts (Redvenom.co.uk) 58.31.50; 6 M Laithwaite (TheEnduranceStore.com) 59.34.00; Women: 1 S Wilson (Army TA) 1.08.44.50, 2 S Howard (Mersey Tri) 1.08.53.90