XTERRA UK News
WEALING WINS WALES/RENATA ROMPS: David Nicholas, the managing director of the XTERRA Global Tour, was in Wales over the weekend for the XTERRA UK Championship and brings us this report:
It’s not that rain is unusual in Wales, but the summer of ’06 in this country was wonderful and it simply was not expected this weekend. But, as has been typical this summer, we had plenty of rainy weather for the XTERRA UK National Championship held in Glynneath, Wales.
Part of the story must be the magnificent crew of Welshmen and women who simply would not be defeated by the weather. Rains late Friday made the parking fields impassable so plans were made on how to get a thousand folks into the compound for Saturdays 35K and 75K mountain bike races, 5K and 10K and half marathon trail runs and kids events… But Saturday came even worse than Friday complete with high winds blowing over the finish gantry, the portable toilets, pop up tents and any signs and spectator barricades that tried to stand against it. Truly a mess, but the weather Gods did give us a break on XTERRA Sunday with cloudy and breezy weather, but no rain.
The Wales course features a crystal clear double lake swim about 1K from the main compound. There were split transitions setup with T1 at the lake and T2 in the main field. The rain had totally soaked the area and it was soon apparent we could not get an ambulance or medical vehicles out to the swim area and the decision was made that the race would become a duathlon. A 2.5K run was configured and the Sport race got underway only ½ hour late.
At 11:30 a very healthy field of over 200 took the horn and headed out running into the bogs. Seth Wealing took command early with Eneko Llanos and Mike Vine shadowing. Vine soon went in front on the bike, but a sore back and fatigue set in and the Canadian settled back into 3rd place at the end of the first 14K bike loop. Andrew Noble and Liewe Boonstra were tight on Vine’s wheel with newcomer Knut Hoehler, from Germany, not far back. A similar battle was happening between Renata Bucher, Candy Angle and South Africa’s Michelle Lombardi. Try as she might, Angle could not shake Renata and the Swiss Miss came into the Bike to Run area with a small lead she gained on the final descent.
Vine dropped farther back leaving Wealing and Llanos to battle for the lead. Noble came through in 3rd with Hoehler 4th. Noble pulled up close to Llanos on the run for a brief time, but the Spanish World Champ hit the very steep first climb hard and moved away. Indeed, Andy’s energy was running close to empty and Knut passed him shortly before the end to take a stunning 3rd place in his first event. Sasha Wingenfeld had a great race to 5th with Fraser Cartmell of Scotland 6th and first Empire finisher.
Just as her husband was being chased down by the German Hoehler, Candy lost a few minutes to Lombardi in the hills and they came home 2nd and 3rd. Rikke Kelja ran a very quick 10K and passed Ingrid van Lubek for 4th.
Pumping his hands in the air and grinning through a face covered in mud, Wealing was a convincing winner here. He took the lead early and held a solid 2-minute advantage going out onto the run and never let Eneko get close enough to challenge. Seth has been threatening all year with 3-second places and this breakthrough win against a very good field could be the catalyst to catapult him into the top step at Tahoe. Bucher has dominated Europe this year winning everything she’s entered. Julie Dibens was expected to challenge Bucher here in her home country, but got sick in Chicago and had to withdraw.
All in all this had to be as good a first time event as we have had. The area has something for everyone. Swansea is close by with dozens of great restaurants and shops and a place called Wind Street (pronounced wind as in winding road) that I can’t say too much about here. You’ll have to ask Mike Vine about it.
Ruins and castles and old Abbey’s are everywhere for those who love sightseeing. Wales is quite a bit less expensive than the main of England and even I got along driving on the wrong side of the car and the road. Although all us Yanks and Euro’s did have stories to tell about making mistakes while behind the wheel. Some of the more expert mountain bikers commented the bike course wasn’t technical enough, but the climbs are tough, the downhills fast and in the end, the hill country of Wales gave everyone more than enough. The run starts with a brutal climb, rocks and rolls along the hilltops and than has a super steep downhill near the end that startled everyone. Nobody said IT was too easy.
Regardless of the weather a good 500 Welsh racing fans and families came out to enjoy a big expo, lots of products, sausages and bacon frying up in the food tents along with jacket potato’s with beans, cheese and corn on top – or as our winner Wealing delighted in finding – tuna. Yes, what we would call a baked potato that was smothered with tuna fish. I might add he ate the whole thing and loved it.
Everyone who was there loved the event. A combined entry in Sport and XTERRA of over 400, gobs of entertaining things to do, runs and rides and fantastic countryside not to mention those wonderful Welsh folks who welcomed everyone with open arms and big smiles… this is a must do race.
6th Sept - Organisational statement on cancelled and altered events due to severe weather. This is an explanation on why the Trail Runs had to be cancelled due to a severe storm with 50MPH+ winds and the Triathlon swim changed to a Run more.....
5th Sept - Event Report - The wet and wild debut of XTERRA to South Wales’ Vale of Neath saw some excellent off road action in difficult conditions more...
4th Sept - Wet and Wild - The return to the UK of the off road multisport festival culminated in Sunday’s Duathlon XTERRA UK Championship, which was won by two already well decorated athletes. Seth Wealing of the USA won the men’s race, with Renata Bucher of Switzerland winning more...
31st Aug - International Field - The arrival to the UK of the XTERRA phenomenon brings with it a feature that can be associated with XTERRA races around the globe; a truly international range of participants More...
30th Aug - Triathlon Update - The XTERRA UK multisport festival’s triathlon event, taking place on Sunday September 3rd in South Wales’ Vale of Neath continues to recruit some of the finest athletes in the world. As well as Eneko Llanos of Spain, the twice XTERRA World Champion more...
30th Aug - Competitor list is now availabe to view. If there are any errors please do not try to contact us but let us know at registration where we can make the changes. Lots of athletes arrived today and site construction is well under way. Registration will open between 12:00 and 13:00 tomorrow, Friday 1st Sept.
Click here for competitor list in excel
29th Aug- Watch World Class Event - The event, which includes mountain biking, running and off road triathlon (a combination of the previous two as well as open lake swimming), are keen not only to encourage participation of all levels, but also show that the entire weekend promises to be unforgettable for the would be spectator more...
25th Aug - Rheola Market Supports XTERRA UK - Neath Valley’s Rheola Market will be open as usual over the weekend of the XTERRA UK multisport festival, despite the fact that normal traffic may be affected by the arrival of visitors to the area more...
25th Aug - Race pack released. The final event information document (Race Pack) has been released today. Athlete lists will be uploaded here at the begining of the week. Follow these links to either download the word document or view as a web page. Please note all race numbers and timing chips will be issued at registration at the venue.
Click here for word document Click here for web page
17th Aug - Course Test Ride A lucky handful of local triathletes gave the course of the XTERRA UK event a ‘thumbs up’ this week following a successful test ride last weekend, in preparation for the arrival to the UK of the big off road multi-sport festival. more.....
16th Aug - Eneko Llanos The organisers of the XTERRA UK event are delighted to announce that the twice XTERRA World Champion Eneko Llanos has entered the field in the event’s professional triathlon, promising to make this a memorable showpiece race. More.....
15th Aug - Copnal v Thomas in Enduro It’s a transatlantic head-to-head in XTERRA UK’s 75km Mountain Bike Enduro as the respective champions of the two countries throw their hats into the ring, amidst a flurry of recruitment of world-class female competitors for the event. more.....
9th Aug - Mike Vine Professional triathlete Mike Vine is to compete in the XTERRA UK event and will be defending his title following the return to the UK of the off road multisport festival. Vine, 33, from Victoria, Canada more.....
7th Aug - Xterra Kids The off road multisport festival’s organisers are giving children the chance to race themselves, whilst their parents engage in the real thing. Events range from toddlers’ scrambles to challenging mountain biking and running duathlons. more...
4th Aug - XTERRA Runs - RUN FOR FUN - OR EVEN FOR PRIZES AT XTERRA UK
Most running races appeal to one type of runner, ranging from the fun runner to the marathon, long distance competitor. Taking place for the first time in the UK this September there is a festival of sport which will allows runners of all distances to take part in races over two days at the XTERRA UK weekend in the Neath Valley, South Wales. more.....
1st Aug - XTERRA MTB Enduro AN MTB ENDURO WITH THAT LITTLE BIT XTERRA
The arrival of the XTERRA UK event brings brings with it new MTB Enduro races to this country - and £2,500 worth of prize money and more.....
29th July - Newsletter 2. Newsletter 2 mailed out to all competitors today. Click this link to view newsletter
12th July - XTERRA Charity XTERRA’IFFC CHARITY WANTED Organiser’s of the XTERRA UK Weekend this summer in the Neath Valley are in search of an official charity to partner with for 2006 forward. Additionally they are offering other local charities the opportunity to more.......
1st July - Newsletter 1 mailed out today. To view newsletter click this link.
1st July - The Grand Slam Are you tough enough for the GRAND SLAM?
A Race which will decide who Is really top in the endurance world….Will it be MTB’ers, Runners, Adventure Racers or Triathletes…
Organiser’s of the XTERRA UK weekend are setting a challenge to all MTB’ers, runners, adventure racers or triathletes in order to determine who really is the best endurance athletes in the UK. The challenges consist of the XTERRA UK Grand Slam.
The Grand Slam will see athletes complete more......
6th May - There has been lots of activity here at XTERRA UK. All the course and venue arrangements are well in hand. We have secured two hotel partners for the event - The Ramada Encore and The Holiday Inn Express. Booking details for these hotels will appear on the site next week.
Media Parnerships - We have worked extensively over the last few weeks securing media coverage and designing and placing advertisments - all the leading sports press, Triathlon, Running and Mountainbiking will run adverts and features starting next week. Check the mags out for the features.
NEW Events - XTERRA UK have launched two new events for the ultra endurance athletes:
XTERRA UK Slam - Sat 2nd 1/2 Enduro, 10k Trail Run, Sun 3rd XTERRA UK Sport 750 swim, 17k Bike 5 K Run.
XTERRA UK Grand Slam - Sat 2nd Full Enduro & 1/2 Marathon Sun 3rd Full XTERRA UK 1500Swim, 34K MTB, 10K Run. Please note cut off times apply in this event.
5th May 2006 - Champion-Chip will time all the XTERRA UK events. All events will start and finish in the main arena apart from tyhe swims which will be a deep water gun start. The Professional athletes prizes will be awarded on Gun time in the MTB's and Trail runs with the age group cats awarded on Chip time ( The time you crossed the start line to finish opposed to gun time to finish).
24 March 2006 - XTERRA UK Website goes live. To coincide with the TCR show at Sandown Park, Esher (www.swimcyclerun.co.uk) XTERRA UK has been lauched to the media and the website went live today at 5:30pm UK time.
XTERRA UK will be held in the Vale of Neath, South Wales, on 2nd and 3rd September 2006. The Championship event will provide a purse of £15,000 - the largest European purse = 20,000 euro. The event has ambitious plans to create the largest multisport festival in the UK and Europe. Please view our home page www.xterra.co.uk for further details. |
