There were so many outstanding Team Blizard performances this week, from the Dam Flask Relays to the European Triathlon sprint distance qualifiers at Chatsworth, that we’ve split the report into two halves to ensure every single member gets the congratulations they deserve!

Triathlon success at Chatsworth for Team Blizard



The performance of the day came from our elite triathlete and European AG champion, Tom Morris, who was the only one of our travelling contingent to take on the standard distance - and boy, did he make it worthwhile by finishing a superb second overall and winning his age group!

Tom is riding the longest competitive purple ‘patch’ of his life so far, claiming podium positions everywhere he goes, and yesterday was no exception. Having already gained qualification for next year’s European Championships, his decision to take on the full Olympic distance at Chatsworth was a wise one. He aced the run, scoring the fastest split of the day, and finished the event in a blistering 2:10.45!

Next up to excel on a major competition platform was Tom’s Team Blizard coach and fellow elite AG triathlete, Jono Frary, who clinched a well earned second place in his category to put his own selection for next year’s Euros in no doubt. He also swam the second fastest split despite the water measuring a chilly 12 degrees - no mean feat for an athlete with Raynaud’s - and crossed the finish line in a fantastic 70:49.



Jono had several of his coached athletes in action, with James Nottingham performing strongly to post a seventh category position in 72:26, while Ryan Weston-Bennett was just one place ranking lower in eighth in his category with 76:50.




The effervescent Katie Webster put in a typically gutsy performance to earn a second place in the bike split in her age group, finishing 12th in her category in 87:18, not far behind Doncaster’s Michael Barnett, whose leaner physique helped him to a speedy 83:57 finishing time, clocking a 28th category result and earning a fine sixth quickest result in the swim!




Jess Barrington also showed further excellent improvements when she sped to an ace 12th in her age group to finish in 90:43 - well done Jess!



The Dam Flask Relays kicked off another impressive week of racing on the roads and the track for Team Blizard

The ever-popular Dam Flask Relays were largely dominated by our Team Blizard stars, with one elite athlete - Fiona Davies - making an impressive recovery from surgery - and another - Gareth Lowe - running one of the quickest legs of the day just three days before succumbing to appendicitis!



Fiona returned from surgery having hardly trained for weeks to run the fourth fastest time of the day with a speedy 21:40 to help her Rotherham team finish fourth overall. Our incredibly gritty elite running mum also ran 3000m on the track on the weekend, clocking a fine 10:51 at the North of England League match at Leeds, adding: “The body definitely isn't ready for running fast and I was pretty tired after only three laps, but I had a reasonable finish. The GB international Susan Partridge was first!”

Returning to the Dam Flask Relays, and excelling in the team stakes, were Rotherham’s men’s A team, claiming silver with Arron Larkin and Ian Whyman to the fore with impressive results of 18:30 and 20:33 respectively.



Clowne’s top men finished a fine third place, with Dan Page clocking 19:36 and elite veteran Gareth Lowe returning a superb 18:24, despite the fact that Gareth must have been suffering, as he ended up having an appendectomy in hospital just three days later!
Barnsley also had a top Team Blizard athlete in their midst, with Dan Kestrel helping them to a strong fourth position overall, largely helped by Dan’s 18:40 clocking.




Clowne’s Peter Twigg ran well to post a 21:02 result, as did Sheffield’s Chris Ireland in 21:38 and Dave Crossley with 21:56, while ultra-running mileage monster, Doncaster’s Martin Hookway, returned a useful 23:28, no doubt after a very long warm up!



One of the most encouraging runs of the day, however, came from Sheffield’s Sarah Lowery, whose 22:17 represented a fantastic return to form after suffering a broken arm following a fall some months ago - great to have you back Sarah!



Scunthorpe’s Matty Smith was in fine form when he finished second in the Colin Potter Memorial 10k on Friday, clocking a strong 34:36, while Askern’s Kelly Raven battled to an impressive 72:18 at the Winterton Show 10, finishing fifth female overall and clinching the first veteran’s trophy despite struggling with ankle pain!




Another top veteran, Tracey West, raced the Holme Pier Point 10k on Thursday, finishing fifth lady overall in 40:36 and first V50! Her season’s best is just a few seconds quicker, and currently places her in the top twenty in the whole of the UK!



Finally, freshly lactate tested Ian McMillan ran the Chesterfield Spire 10 in his newly set threshold heart rate zone, finishing in 73:16. He is confident he can run it considerably quicker after a few months of his new HR training regime under his belt - we have no doubt that will be the case Ian, stick with it and join Team Blizard’s PB train!