In this issue of The Weekend Box we look at the 2013 Celtman Extreme Scottish Triathlon, Ironman 70.3 Haugesund, the return of The Man, XTERRA France and a new Challenge event in North America.
Graeme Stewart and Kathrin Müller conquer Celtman
Harsh weather conditions on a tough course seem appropriate for an epic event like the Celtman Extreme Scottish Triathlon and Graeme Stewart and Kathrin Müller came away with the wins. Only 10 men managed to run the full blue high course after the Mountain Rescue service advised race promoters that conditions were such that they need to close the mountain. That forced the promoters to reroute all other athletes on a lower course option. Apparently though conditions on the low route were still harsh with high headwinds and heavy rain.
Celtman Extreme Scottish Triathlon
Shieldaig, Scotland / July 6, 2013
3.8k swim / 202k bike / 42k run
Top men
1. Graeme Stewart (GBR)12:16:15
2. Johan Hasselmark (SWE) 12:23:41
3. Stuart Macleod (GBR) 12:26:41
4. Peter Oom (SWE) 12:43:26
5. Thomas Phillips (GBR) 12:55:32
Top women
2. Kathrin Müller (GER) 13:05:01
3. Heather Dawe (GBR) 14:05:06
3. Wendy Gorman 1(GBR) 4:48:47
Ospaly and Hütthaler grab Pro titles at Ironman 70.3 Haugesund and Dave Scott earns 2nd in 55-59
Filip Ospaly of the Czech Republic won the men’s pro race with a dominating 2:11:00 bike split and held of Ritchie Nicholls and Brad Kahlefeldt at Ironman 70.3 Haugesund. Lisa Hütthaler of Austria won her third straight 70.3 event and topped Catriona Morrison by 3:02. Six-time Ironman World Champion Dave Scott, in one of his best competitive outings since he suffered devastating injuries when hit by a car in 2009, finished 2nd in men’s 55-59 in a time of 4:43:22. We for sure are glad to see The Man back.
Ironman 70.3 Haugesund
Haugesund, Norway / July 7, 2013
1.2m swim / 56m bike / 13.1m run
Top men
1. Filip Ospaly (CZE) 3:46:10
2. Ritchie Nicholls (GBR) 3:50:38
3. Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) 3:53:42
4. Kyle Buckingham (RSA) 3:58:05
5. Horst Reichl (GER) 3:58:21
144. Dave Scott (USA) 4:43:32 * 2nd M55-59
Top women
1. Lisa Hütthaler (AUT) 4:12:11
2. Catriona Morrison (GBR) 4:15:13
3. Mette Moe (NOR) 4:21:01
4. Michelle Vesterby (DEN) 4:22:02
5. Britta Martin (NZL) 4:25:49
Nico Lebrun from France and Helena Erbenova rule XTERRA France
Nicolas Lebrun from France ran down Spaniards Ruben Ruzafa and Hector Guerra to take the win at the XTERRA France Championship today. Helena Erbenova of the Czech Republic took the women's title. A fairly large field of about 800 athletes came to the start of this popular and difficult XTERRA race that took place in sunny and dry conditions, but on trails that were rather soft from rain earlier in the week. Favorites Ben Allen and Renata Bucher dropped out during the bike.
XTERRA France
Gerardmer, France / July 7, 2013
1.5k swim / 39k bike / 11k run
Top men
1. Nico Lebrun (FRA) 3:06:42
2. Ruben Ruzafa (ESP) 3:07:01
3. Hector Guerra (ESP) 3:07:47
4. Victor del Corral (ESP) 3:08:13
5. Asa Shaw (GBR) 3:11:21
Top women
1. Helena Erbenova (CZE) 3:35:53
2. Jacqui Slack (GBR) 3:48:05
3. Marion Lorblanchet (FRA) 3:49:17
4. Maud Golsteyn (NED) 3:53:30
5. Coralie Redelsperger (FRA) 4:00:40
Challenge St. Andrews announced
The resort town of St Andrews in New Brunswick, Canada will host the inaugural Kingsbrae Garden Challenge St Andrews that is scheduled to take place on July 6th 2014 and will be Challenge Family’s first half distance triathlon in North America. The announcement of this new race came hot on the heels of the news that 2 Challenge races in Denmark were taken over by Ironman after WTC purchased the race promoter YWC Copenhagen who handled them. Word also has it that more events from Challenge are scheduled to be announced.
As for this Challenge St. Andrews race, athletes will start and finish their race at the iconic St Andrews landmark, Algonquin Resort, in the heart of the town. The saltwater swim course is in the warm, protected waters of Katy's Cove, despite the close proximity to the frigid waters found in the Bay of Fundy. The bike course follows the highway out of St. Andrews towards historic St. Croix Island and features fast-flowing roads with a few rolling and challenging hills along the way. The views of the Bay of Fundy are spectacular as you look across the river to the State of Maine in the United States. The two lap run course will take athletes through various historic sites within the town of St. Andrews including the championship Algonquin Golf course, the historic Block House cannons, the saltwater marshes and the Kingsbrae Garden.
