Will Ferguson (Serpentine Swimming Club) led from start to finish in the annual run and swim duathlon at the Serpentine today. From a mass start, Will took 10 minutes and 51 seconds to scorch across the hot cinders which lap the Serpentine where he was first to transition following the 2km run. He then made light work of the 880 yards by swanning down the lido to claim first place for Serps in a time of 23 minutes and 30 seconds.Pim Kalisvart (SSC) was second in 25:05.
Two Serpentine Running Club members filled third and fourth; Will Forbes and Eoin O' Connell the former Ireland Ironman record holder. Click here to read about Eoin's great successes for Ireland in the triathlon world from 1995 to 2005. These days - as suggested by his International Triathlon Union page, and liberally interpreted by me - Eoin splits his transition priorities between duathlon, triathlon and clothes changes for his daughter.
Anael Astic (SRC) was fifth, but it was all about who would be the first five finishers from either club. SSC romped home filling the next few places with Mark Faure Walker taking sixth (27:46). First woman home was Deirdre Ward in seventh place(27:56), Sakura Hingley eighth (28:11), Jenny Rice ninth, (28:15) and Romain (SRC) tenth.
Duff Kelly (SSC) was 14th (30:00), ahead of James Norton (SSC) 17th (31:21) and Rob Ouldcott (SSC) was 20th in 32:25.
Finally, despite suffering from designer chair lumbago, but honouring a less than sober Christmas promise, Mike Barron produced a classy run and swim to finish ahead of Nick Adams. Alas, duty-bound Nick had to show his class the finer points of algebra, and so missed the start, transition and finish of the race of mathematicians. These two sluggers will hopefully go toe-to-toe in 2014.
A lovely day had by all.
[John Tierney]
