Jonas Schomburg was in a class above the rest as he powered home for his first International Triathlon Union (ITU) win at the ATU Sprint Triathlon African Cup at the Orient Beach yesterday afternoon.
German athlete Schomburg, who was representing Turkey in this race, lives in East London for large parts of the year while he travels around and competes on the ITU circuit.
He led from start to finish, exiting the water first, heading a group of four athletes on the cycle and then leading the run as he finished in a time of 58 minutes and 30 seconds.
“It is the first ITU win for me so I am very happy,” said Schomburg.
“I know the conditions well here as I stay and train here a lot in the winter months, doing all the races, so my race went perfectly.”
Chasing hard was Luxembourg’s Bob Haller who finished second, 14 seconds behind Schomburg after a solid race.
U23 athlete Basson Engelbrecht enjoyed a top race to round out the podium places in a time of 58:54, putting in a strong running leg that saw him overtake last year’s bronze medallist Wikus Weber on the loop, meaning Weber had to settle for fourth this time round.
Local athlete Clinton Gravett did not have the best of days, coming out the water a bit off the pace and being in the second group of cyclists. But he fought back strongly and finished in a decent seventh place and he can look to build on this effort.
On the women’s side last year’s bronze medallist Carlyn Fischer put in a fantastic performance to take the race.
“It is early in the season, so getting a win is great, especially while I am getting fully race fit,” said Fischer.
“I love this venue. It is a very fast course, even though the course isn’t flat and it always has a very nice crowd here.”
Fischer clocked in, in a time of 1 hour 07 minutes and 24 seconds, 26 seconds ahead of Vicky van der Merwe in second place.
Jodie Berry rounded out the podium spots in third place, while East London triathlete Cindy Schwulst put in a strong effort to finish fifth, two minutes and 35 seconds off the pace.
In the World Paratriathlon event Frenchman Yannick Bourseaux was the toast of the race as he claimed the overall win and first place in his PT4 section in a time of 1:06:21.
Bourseaux was in top form to triumph by a minute and 56 seconds over George Peasgood from Great Britain after Russian paratriathlete Yalchik Alexander, who originally came second, was disqualified for allegedly receiving assistance on the cycle leg.
France’s Yan Guanter then claimed third overall and in the PT4 category to round out the podium places in that division.
Other champs on the men’s side saw Giovanni Achenza from Italy take the PT1 win, France’s Stephanie Bahier finish first in the PT2 division, SA’s Dylan Da Silva claimed the PT3 victory while SA’s David Jones took the PT5 win and Slovenia’s Alen Kobilica the PT5 B1 victory.
On the women’s side Great Britain’s Rhiannon Henry with her guide claimed the overall win and PT5 title in a time of 1:11:46, with fellow British paratri Melissa Reid taking second overall and second in PT5.
Britain then cleaned the overall top three as Clare Cunningham came in third overall and first in the PT4 division.
PT1 and PT2 belonged to Spain as Eva Pedrero and Rakel Uriarte won their sections respectively.
In the SA Triathlon Champs Central Gauteng’s Matthew Edwards claimed the SA title as he triumphed overall in the Olympic Distance race in a time of 2:13:15.
Edwards, however, was almost undone by a brilliant running leg by East London’s Bradley Birkholtz who tore in just three seconds behind him and had there been an extra 20-metres on the course, may have actually caught Edwards.
Birkholtz who was comfortably behind Edwards in third place on the first loop of the run, put the foot down to reel him in and just missed out a fantastic win, having to settle for second place.
Third overall went to Charles Beaurain from Central Gauteng a minute and 53 seconds behind Brikholtz.
The women’s section was won by a Western Province one-two with Alexandra Quenet getting the win in a time of 2:29:08 ahead of compatriot Diana MacPhearson in second and Central Gauteng’s Denine van Heerden in third overall.
Schomburg takes win
German athlete Schomburg, who was representing Turkey in this race, lives in East London for large parts of the year while he travels around and competes on the ITU circuit.
He led from start to finish, exiting the water first, heading a group of four athletes on the cycle and then leading the run as he finished in a time of 58 minutes and 30 seconds.
“It is the first ITU win for me so I am very happy,” said Schomburg.
“I know the conditions well here as I stay and train here a lot in the winter months, doing all the races, so my race went perfectly.”
Chasing hard was Luxembourg’s Bob Haller who finished second, 14 seconds behind Schomburg after a solid race.
U23 athlete Basson Engelbrecht enjoyed a top race to round out the podium places in a time of 58:54, putting in a strong running leg that saw him overtake last year’s bronze medallist Wikus Weber on the loop, meaning Weber had to settle for fourth this time round.
Local athlete Clinton Gravett did not have the best of days, coming out the water a bit off the pace and being in the second group of cyclists. But he fought back strongly and finished in a decent seventh place and he can look to build on this effort.
On the women’s side last year’s bronze medallist Carlyn Fischer put in a fantastic performance to take the race.
“It is early in the season, so getting a win is great, especially while I am getting fully race fit,” said Fischer.
“I love this venue. It is a very fast course, even though the course isn’t flat and it always has a very nice crowd here.”
Fischer clocked in, in a time of 1 hour 07 minutes and 24 seconds, 26 seconds ahead of Vicky van der Merwe in second place.
Jodie Berry rounded out the podium spots in third place, while East London triathlete Cindy Schwulst put in a strong effort to finish fifth, two minutes and 35 seconds off the pace.
In the World Paratriathlon event Frenchman Yannick Bourseaux was the toast of the race as he claimed the overall win and first place in his PT4 section in a time of 1:06:21.
Bourseaux was in top form to triumph by a minute and 56 seconds over George Peasgood from Great Britain after Russian paratriathlete Yalchik Alexander, who originally came second, was disqualified for allegedly receiving assistance on the cycle leg.
France’s Yan Guanter then claimed third overall and in the PT4 category to round out the podium places in that division.
Other champs on the men’s side saw Giovanni Achenza from Italy take the PT1 win, France’s Stephanie Bahier finish first in the PT2 division, SA’s Dylan Da Silva claimed the PT3 victory while SA’s David Jones took the PT5 win and Slovenia’s Alen Kobilica the PT5 B1 victory.
On the women’s side Great Britain’s Rhiannon Henry with her guide claimed the overall win and PT5 title in a time of 1:11:46, with fellow British paratri Melissa Reid taking second overall and second in PT5.
Britain then cleaned the overall top three as Clare Cunningham came in third overall and first in the PT4 division.
PT1 and PT2 belonged to Spain as Eva Pedrero and Rakel Uriarte won their sections respectively.
In the SA Triathlon Champs Central Gauteng’s Matthew Edwards claimed the SA title as he triumphed overall in the Olympic Distance race in a time of 2:13:15.
Edwards, however, was almost undone by a brilliant running leg by East London’s Bradley Birkholtz who tore in just three seconds behind him and had there been an extra 20-metres on the course, may have actually caught Edwards.
Birkholtz who was comfortably behind Edwards in third place on the first loop of the run, put the foot down to reel him in and just missed out a fantastic win, having to settle for second place.
Third overall went to Charles Beaurain from Central Gauteng a minute and 53 seconds behind Brikholtz.
The women’s section was won by a Western Province one-two with Alexandra Quenet getting the win in a time of 2:29:08 ahead of compatriot Diana MacPhearson in second and Central Gauteng’s Denine van Heerden in third overall.
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