Speedy Newbury athletes tackle town duathlon

Newbury athletes took to the streets and the fields on Saturday as the town hosted the 2022 duathlon.

The Team Kennet Newbury Duathlon – which started and finished in Chieveley – involves a 5km run, followed by a 25km bike ride and then another 5km run.

There were three categories: U23s, seniors (ages 23-39) and Vet40 – or the over 40s.

In bright and mild conditions, Felix Wernham came out on top overall, completing the route in a time of just 01:20:27, with a split of 00:18:06 for the first run, 00:43:24 for the bike ride and 00:18:03 for the second run.

Simon Waite finished second – and first in the Vet40 category – with an overall time of 01:26:53.

The first female to complete the course was Hannah Slater in 15th, finishing with an overall time of 01:36:02.

In the Vet40 category, Nicky O'Dea was the first female to finish, coming home with a time of 01:41:41.

Lewis Endersby was the only finisher in the U23 category, completing the course in 01:48:24.

The race had a cut-off time of two hours at the end of the bike leg, with any competitor arriving into the second run after two hours given a DNF to allow the race centre to be packed up on time and volunteer marshals to be released from their posts.

The race began at Chieveley Village Hall and Recreation Centre, as runners headed towards Manor Lane and then west across the fields following the Winterbourne Stream.

The route then headed north then took a right turn, heading back into the village via Bardown.

Competitors then changed into their cycling gear at the centre, completing a mushroom-shaped route which took in the villages of Worlds End, Hampstead Norreys, East Ilsley, Stanmore and Peasemore, before heading back to Chieveley.

Athletes then swapped pedals for their feet again to repeat the running route.