Biathle News
Bavarian Success for GB Biathletes posted by Howard Jones on17-06-2010
Medals Galore for GB Team in Germany
The 5th round of the 2010 Biathle World Tour took place in Heidenheim, a most beautiful part of southern Germany on June 12th. Athletes from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Great Britain, South Africa and Switzerland had entered. The event was staged around the large open air public pool in the nearby village of Kösingen.
The GB team’s first success came courtesy of Hugh Ireland in the Youths D race with an emphatic win in a time of 4mins 38.4 seconds. That as followed by another fine win for Jordan Symington in the Youths C Race in a time of 5 minutes 16.74 In the Youths B event, Dervla Ireland finished second in a time of 11 minutes 48.43.
The GB Team were dominant in the masters races with wins for Nick Ireland (M40), Margaret Smith (M50), Mary Collett (M60) and Peter Collett (M70). Mike Todd finishing in 8th place in the Masters 40 race.
Jon Fletcher had another emphatic win in the Senior Race winning in a time of 12 minutes 33.27 and Natalie Thomas was another winner in the Ladies event in 15 minutes 15.74. Kay Shafford was placed second in the Junior event in a time of 16 minutes 17.62.
A remarkable performance for a team of 11 British athletes – eight wins, two second places and an eighth.
This was a very good experience for this inaugural German World Tour which also managed to organise a Test Biathle Team Relay right after the Biathle World Tour races. The UIPM are keen to set a standard for Biathle relay events and have asked the Federations to run test events to assess formats.
This German format was that only 1 Senior or Junior athlete could combine with 2 athletes of any 2 form different classes running 500, swimming 100 and running another 500 each. If a male athlete was part of a mixed team, they counted as a male team. Youth D and E were only allowed to participate in a separate Mini Team to running 500m swimming 50m and running 500m each.
All competing athletes were given a certificate recording their performances at an excellent closing party. The standards of the pasta party, competition and closing party were all a credit to the organising team led by Angela Tetz in this the first Biathle World Tour to be organised in Germany - well done to everyone.
Howard Jones
GB Biathle Tea,m manager
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