Video: Double gold for Jersey in the Olympic Triathlon

Tuesday 12 July 2016

Both the men’s and women’s winners of last year’s Jersey Olympic Triathlon have retained their crowns.

In yesterday’s event Jerseyman Dan Halksworth crossed the line in just under 1 hour 59 minutes, whilst fellow Islander Jo Gorrod took the ladies’ title in around 2 hours 17 minutes.

In all more than four hundred and fifty athletes – the biggest field in the event’s history – took part in the challenge. Some were solo competitors, whilst others were members of a relay team.

To appeal to as many people as possible the event was divided into various age and ability categories.

The most demanding was the Olympic event which saw competitors swim 1500m – two laps of a triangular course starting at West Park Beach, heading out to Elizabeth Castle, before heading back to the beach. A 40km cycle – from Les Jardin de la Mer, heading westward along Victoria Avenue, the length of the Five Mile Road to L’Etacq and then coming back to St Helier via St Peter’s Valley. Before finishing with a 10km run, four laps of a course from the transition area at Les Jardins de la Mer along the breakwater in front of the Radisson Blu, Hotel, along the Elizabeth Harbour promenade before heading back to the transition area.

From the start Halksworth dominated the race. He was the first out of the water, extended his lead during the cycle ride, and was almost a lap clear of second place after the run. Afterwards though he said it had been one of his toughest races. “I had a really bad stitch. Towards the end it felt like I was running the last 10km of an Ironman.’ Halksworth is a former British Ironman champion – a competition that sees athletes complete a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile cycle ride, and a full marathon.

What made Halksworth’s victory even more amazing was that just hours before he’d taken part in a cycle time trial in the hope of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games. He didn’t get the time he needed but was still upbeat. “I have a number of chances to do it later this year, and all next year.” If he does go to the games it’ll be his third – in each of which he will have competed in a different sport – swimming, triathlon, and cycling.

For Gorrod it was the third time she’s won the event. This year’s time was almost three minutes faster than last year, something that surprised her given the conditions. “It was very dangerous out there, especially on the bike. I believe some people may have come off.”