Henri Schoeman was a class apart as he dominated the 2016 Buffalo City ATU Triathlon African Championships at the Orient beach yesterday to win his second title in a row after a two year break.
Having won the cup when the event was first brought to East London in 2013, Schoeman did not take part in the next two editions, before returning yesterday and once again putting in a top performance to cruise home in style.
“I got my fourth title, so I am really happy with that,” he said. “The race was always going to be a test ... this is my second race of the season and the first did not go well, so I am happy with how this one turned out.”
Schoeman took the lead from the start and exited the water well ahead of the chasing pack. He did the cycle leg alone and had enough of a lead to just cruise on the run, finishing in 2 hours 0 minutes 48seconds.
Wian Sullwald and Basson Engelbrecht had exited the water with a group, but broken away on the bike and they worked together until the run when Sullwald pulled away and finished second, three minutes 17 seconds behind Schoeman, with Engelbrecht rounding out the podium 1 minute 22 seconds later. Local triathlete Clinton Gravett finished sixth overall and third in the elite men category.
In the women's race former 2008 Olympic triathlete Marie Rabie enjoyed a similarly dominant race as she also led from the start, cycled alone and cruised home well ahead.
Rabie finished in 2:15:03 – 2 minutes 28 seconds ahead of Gillian Sanders.
“It was quite a tough race today, very very windy, but I think that helped me in the swim as I like tough sea swims, and then on the bike ... everyone was a bit spread out so I just put my head down. Once I had got to the run my gap was big enough,” said Rabie. “I like East London, I won the 70.3 here in 2010 and in 2014 I came eighth in this race, so I am very happy with my performance today.”
Local triathlete Cindy Schwulst pulled a surprise with a superb running leg to claim third place. She was running with a couple of women including 2015 champ Carlyn Fischer, but put the foot down to break away and seal a superb bronze medal.
The 2016 Buffalo City ITU World Paratriathlon which attracted a full compliment of 60 athletes saw the favourites prove their pedigree. In the men's PT1 division Italy's Giovanni Achenza gave a boost to his Olympic qualification hopes by claiming the win ahead of more fancied National champs Paul Hogg from Britain and Jose Vicente Arzo Diago from Spain. In PT2 last year’s bronze medallist from Britain Ryan Taylor triumphed, ahead of Morocco’s Mohamed Lahna and World PT2 champion Michele Ferrarin of Italy.
PT3 saw world champ Jorge Luis Fonseca take the win ahead of South Africa's Dylan da Silva who, despite not being able to defend the title he won last year, put in a top performance to claim the silver. Britain's Garrett Turbett claimed third. In PT4, defending champ Yannick Bourseaux won ahead of Britain's David Hill and Russian athlete Yalchik Alexander. PT5 saw Arnaud Grandjean triumph just 15 seconds ahead of Spain's Hector Catala Laparra. His compatriot Jose Luis Garcia Serrano finished third.
On the women's side France's Elise Marc triumphed in PT2, Britons Lauren Steadman and Alison Patrick taking PT4 and PT5.
In the 2016 Buffalo City South African Triathlon Champs Western Province triathlete Cameron Schafer cruised home in 2:06:39.
Central Gauteng's Casper Moodie was second, a minute and 35 seconds back, and just ahead of East London's own Bradley Birkholtz, who again proved what a superb athlete he can be on the run as he cruised past numerous athletes who had finished the cycle ahead of him and motored home just five seconds behind Moodie. Bradley Venter and Craig Alers also did well from the local side as they finished fifth and seventh overall.
On the women's side Central Gauteng's Kim Dovey came home 52 seconds ahead of Eastern Province triathlete Mellusca Toovey, while Denine van Heerden, also Central Gauteng, took third.
Other Buffalo City triathletes to manage top finishes were Jason Reid (3rd in 35-39), Donovan O Reilly (2nd in 40-44), Sean Murray (1st in 50-59), Peter Venter (2nd in 60-64) and Kimberly Murgatroyd (3rd in 50-54)..
Schoeman battles to second victory
Having won the cup when the event was first brought to East London in 2013, Schoeman did not take part in the next two editions, before returning yesterday and once again putting in a top performance to cruise home in style.
“I got my fourth title, so I am really happy with that,” he said. “The race was always going to be a test ... this is my second race of the season and the first did not go well, so I am happy with how this one turned out.”
Schoeman took the lead from the start and exited the water well ahead of the chasing pack. He did the cycle leg alone and had enough of a lead to just cruise on the run, finishing in 2 hours 0 minutes 48seconds.
Wian Sullwald and Basson Engelbrecht had exited the water with a group, but broken away on the bike and they worked together until the run when Sullwald pulled away and finished second, three minutes 17 seconds behind Schoeman, with Engelbrecht rounding out the podium 1 minute 22 seconds later. Local triathlete Clinton Gravett finished sixth overall and third in the elite men category.
In the women's race former 2008 Olympic triathlete Marie Rabie enjoyed a similarly dominant race as she also led from the start, cycled alone and cruised home well ahead.
Rabie finished in 2:15:03 – 2 minutes 28 seconds ahead of Gillian Sanders.
“It was quite a tough race today, very very windy, but I think that helped me in the swim as I like tough sea swims, and then on the bike ... everyone was a bit spread out so I just put my head down. Once I had got to the run my gap was big enough,” said Rabie. “I like East London, I won the 70.3 here in 2010 and in 2014 I came eighth in this race, so I am very happy with my performance today.”
Local triathlete Cindy Schwulst pulled a surprise with a superb running leg to claim third place. She was running with a couple of women including 2015 champ Carlyn Fischer, but put the foot down to break away and seal a superb bronze medal.
The 2016 Buffalo City ITU World Paratriathlon which attracted a full compliment of 60 athletes saw the favourites prove their pedigree. In the men's PT1 division Italy's Giovanni Achenza gave a boost to his Olympic qualification hopes by claiming the win ahead of more fancied National champs Paul Hogg from Britain and Jose Vicente Arzo Diago from Spain. In PT2 last year’s bronze medallist from Britain Ryan Taylor triumphed, ahead of Morocco’s Mohamed Lahna and World PT2 champion Michele Ferrarin of Italy.
PT3 saw world champ Jorge Luis Fonseca take the win ahead of South Africa's Dylan da Silva who, despite not being able to defend the title he won last year, put in a top performance to claim the silver. Britain's Garrett Turbett claimed third. In PT4, defending champ Yannick Bourseaux won ahead of Britain's David Hill and Russian athlete Yalchik Alexander. PT5 saw Arnaud Grandjean triumph just 15 seconds ahead of Spain's Hector Catala Laparra. His compatriot Jose Luis Garcia Serrano finished third.
On the women's side France's Elise Marc triumphed in PT2, Britons Lauren Steadman and Alison Patrick taking PT4 and PT5.
In the 2016 Buffalo City South African Triathlon Champs Western Province triathlete Cameron Schafer cruised home in 2:06:39.
Central Gauteng's Casper Moodie was second, a minute and 35 seconds back, and just ahead of East London's own Bradley Birkholtz, who again proved what a superb athlete he can be on the run as he cruised past numerous athletes who had finished the cycle ahead of him and motored home just five seconds behind Moodie. Bradley Venter and Craig Alers also did well from the local side as they finished fifth and seventh overall.
On the women's side Central Gauteng's Kim Dovey came home 52 seconds ahead of Eastern Province triathlete Mellusca Toovey, while Denine van Heerden, also Central Gauteng, took third.
Other Buffalo City triathletes to manage top finishes were Jason Reid (3rd in 35-39), Donovan O Reilly (2nd in 40-44), Sean Murray (1st in 50-59), Peter Venter (2nd in 60-64) and Kimberly Murgatroyd (3rd in 50-54)..
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