WORLD TRIATHLON 2023 Pontevedra World Triathlon Championship Finals to be hosted 20-24 September

 

World Triathlon is pleased to announce that the 2023 Pontevedra World Triathlon Championship Finals will take place 20-24 September in the Spanish northern city. After the success of the World Cup hosted two weeks ago, serving also as a test event, next year World Champions will be crowned for the Elite, U23 and Para triathlon, as well as Age-Group Standard distance, Age-Group Super Sprint distance and the Age-Group Standard distance Aquabike World Championships.

The Championship Finals is the crown jewel of World Triathlon’s annual calendar. Previous hosts have included such cities as London, Budapest, Beijing, Auckland, Chicago, Gold Coast, Lausanne and Edmonton, with the next one planned in Abu Dhabi in 2022.

The full calendar of the event will be announced in the next months, but preparations for the Finals have already started in the city.

“Pontevedra has shown multiple times, last time only a few weeks ago, that has everything in place to host top-level triathlon events. We are delighted to be returning here for the Championship Finals in 2023. This city has proven to be a fantastic host of multiple sports in the World Triathlon calendar, and I am sure that it will be more tan ready to welcome the best triathletes of the world”, said World Triathlon President and IOC member, Marisol Casado.

“I have raced pretty much all the World Triathlon Finals, in some of the most incredible cities around the world, but words can not describe how excited I am that a small town like Pontevedra, my hometown, will be now amongst the top cities to host triathlon events”, said five times world champion and Pontevedra local hero, Javier Gomez Noya. “I know the city, I know the organisers and I can promise that we are all ready to host the most important triathlon in the world in 2023”, he said.

 

ABOUT WORLD TRIATHLON

World Triathlon is the international governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of triathlon and all related multisport disciplines around the world, including duathlon, aquathlon, cross triathlon and winter triathlon. Triathlon made its Olympic debut in Sydney 2000, with a third medal event, the Mixed Team Relay, added to the programme at Tokyo 2020, while para triathlon was first added to the Paralympic programme at Rio 2016. World Triathlon is proudly committed to the development of the sport worldwide, with inclusion, equality, sustainability and transparency at our core as we seek to help triathletes at all levels of the sport to be extraordinary. 

 

SWIM IRELAND Catterson Qualifies for Freestyle Semi-Final in Birmingham

 

Northern Ireland’s Victoria Catterson has qualified for the 100m Freestyle Semi-Finals on the fourth day of racing at the Commonwealth Games.

Swimming in the first of the seeded heats, Catterson touched third in 55.97 and advances as the twelfth seed.

Catterson has a best time of 55.21, which she swam in the lead off of Saturday night’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay where the Northern Ireland team placed sixth.

The semi-final takes place at 19:31 with the 21-year-old swimming in the first race.

Kaitlyn McCaw was also in action in the 100m Freestyle closing out her Games with a 58.26 for fourth in her heat and 25th overall.

Grace Davison rounded out the competition for Northern Ireland this morning in the 200m Individual Medley heats. The 15-year-old, who has had a busy Summer so far at European Juniors and European Youth Olympic Games, where she was a semi-finalist in this event at both, was twelfth overall in 2:22.34. Davison returns tomorrow for her final event, the 50m Backstroke.

 

Commonwealth Games Day 4 Results

Women 100m Freestyle Victoria Catterson H 55.97 (12th)

Kaitlyn McCaw H 58.26 (25th)

Women 200m IM Grace Davison H 2:22.34 (12th)

 

Commonwealth Games Day 4 Schedule

Women 100m Freestyle Semi-Final Victoria Catterson 19:31 

WORLD TRIATHLON England's Katie Crowhurst and Dave Ellis star on PTVI debut at Commonwealth Games

 

One year on from the mechanical that ended his Paralympic gold charge, England’s Dave Ellis B3 was able to put his Tokyo 2020 disappointments firmly behind him on Sunday morning, scything through the Sutton Park course in Birmingham with guide Luke Pollard to win the first ever PTVI Commonwealth Games gold.

The swim was near-perfect, the bike was incident-free, and the margin of victory after a tough 5km run was over five minutes to exciting newcomer Sam Harding B3. The rising Australian talent had put three consistent, strong segments together to finish with silver ahead of experienced compatriot Jonathan Goerlach B3.

“Obviously the stress of something like Tokyo happening again means to have done that feels amazing,” said a relieved and happy Ellis afterwards. “We didn’t know what the gap was in the water but we caught Gerrard so we knew we were going well. To get through a major Games and do what we needed to do is great and we can’t wait for Paris. The crowd takes away one of your senses because the noise was amazing all the way around the bike course, i’ve never heard anything like that.”

Gerrard Gosens B1 (AUS) was the first man in the water as the sole B1 athlete after South Africa’s David Jones’ withdrawal, and he set about the difficult task of the 750m swim with no other athletes to pace off. Nearly three minutes later the B3 athletes got away, and it was Dave Ellis who again produced an outstanding swim, his time of 9m 46s giving him a 35-second advantage over compatriot Oscar Kelly B3 who was 30 seconds ahead of Sam Harding and the leader had 70 seconds over Gosens by the time they had all emerged from Sutton Park lake and climbed the long ramp to transition.

Goerlach, Oliver Gunning B3 (NIR) and Rhys Jones B3 (WAL) emerged together some four minutes off Ellis’ pace, and the 20km tandem bike got underway through the streets of Birmingham.

Oscar Kelly suffered a puncture on the first lap and even though he was able to make it to the wheel station on the edge of transition, the time it took to get back underway effectively ended any chances of a medal for the rising talent.

Ellis surged away, every pass through transition and roar of the crowd seeming to spur him on but remaining firmly focussed on avoiding any trouble. Behind him, the race for the podium places began to take shape, Jones, Goerlach and Harding together and preparing to take on the 5km medal-hunt run.

Gunning was a lap back, the unfortunate Kelly taking the bike bell just as Ellis was pulling on his run trainers, and three minutes back it was suddenly Australia’s Harding alone and chasing the silver. Goerlach, Jones and Gosens were now battling for the bronze, but it was the experience of the Australian that shone through, pulling further clear of his rivals with every stride to secure bronze, Jones and Kelly crossing for fourth and fifth respectively.

“Since January, working with my guide Luke, it’s been going from strength to strength,” said Sam Harding. “We raced Dave Ellis in A Coruna and that was a good test and knew we had some things to work on coming here. He brings the standard of Para triathlon up and up, I think competing against the best will always get the most out of yourself. Credit to him for OTVI being at the Games here and I’ll do my best to get it back on the calendar for 2026!”

Full men's PTVI results can be found here. https://triathlon.org/results/result/2022_birmingham_commonwealth_games/567961?mc_cid=e3dffb931a&mc_eid=6139649918

Second Phase of consultation goes live on the IPC Classification Code Review

 

• ‘Pivotal phase’ is seeking more targeted IPC Member feedback on key classification issues that emerged from Phase 1 of the Review and an initial working draft of the Code

• Findings from Phase 1 are now live on the Paralympic.org

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has today (1 August 2022) begun a five-month long second consultation phase of the IPC Classification Code Review. 

As the Review takes a deep dive into the key issues that the IPC Membership have identified around classification, engagement with stakeholders in this next phase is seen as pivotal. Also, as part of the Phase 2 consultation launch, the Code Drafting Team has presented an initial working draft of the Code for consideration and feedback.

Classification is the cornerstone of the Paralympic Movement. It determines which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how athletes are grouped together for competition. This will be the third iteration of the Classification Code. The first was published in 2007 and the second in 2015.  

In January 2021 the IPC Governing Board approved a review of the 2015 IPC Athlete Classification Code. Two months later they established a Code Drafting Team and appointed an independent chair, Scott Field, who competed in Para swimming for South Africa at the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Paralympics.

The Code Drafting Team are conducting an extensive three-year, three-phase open consultation process. They have a mandate to solicit feedback from all facets of the IPC Membership, including athletes, coaches, National Paralympic Committees (NPC), International Federations (IF) and classifiers. 

Their role is to obtain and analyse stakeholder feedback into the working drafts of the new Code and present these to the IPC General Assembly, Governing Board and Membership for approval.

The first consultation phase took place from June to September 2021 and was wide-ranging as it sought feedback on every section of the current Code. Following several months of extensive analysis, the Code Drafting Team have now made public the drafts of a new Code and International Standards. These can be found here, alongside the rationale for changes and the collated Phase 1 feedback. 

The next, second phase, which extends from 1 August to 15 December 2022, is seen as a critical moment in the Code Review. There will be targeted questions around key issues that have emerged from Phase 1. The dedicated Phase 2 feedback form can also be found on the above Code Review webpage. Furthermore, as stakeholder feedback is paramount, the Code Drafting Team are engaging widely and have made providing feedback easier and more accessible.

Field urged Members to take an active part in the process: “Without doubt this is the most important conversation the Paralympic Movement has had on classification. When the last Code was drawn up in 2015 it was by a standing committee, but this time the IPC Governing Board has been very clear that the entire Movement should be heard.

“This second phase in the Classification Code Review is pivotal. The first phase identified the key issues that the Membership wanted to address. Now as we zero in on these topics it is more important than ever to get input and hear from every facet of the Paralympic Movement. If you have an opinion on classification, now is the time to tell us.”

IPC Members are being offered numerous opportunities to engage in Phase 2 of the consultation:

The Code Drafting Team have secured multiple call options for every Membership group: IF heads of classification and NPC classification leads, IF Classifiers, IF and NPC athlete representatives, NPCs, the IFs, the regional organisations and the International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled. 

The Annual IF and NPC Classification Meeting (15–17 September), and the Membership Gathering (TBC November).

There is also the option for Members, as well as any other persons or organisations with an opinion on the Classification Code, to provide written feedback. A fillable PDF feedback form asks numerous targeted questions regarding the draft Code and provides room for feedback on any section of the Code.

A third and final consultation phase is scheduled to take place from July to October 2023, prior to the IPC General Assembly voting on the new Code and International Standards in December 2023. It is anticipated that the new IPC Classification Code will be published in 2024.

The implementation of the new IPC Athlete Classification Code is envisaged to be in January 2025 for summer sports and July 2026 for winter sports. The current 2015 IPC Athlete Classification Code and accompanying International Standards remain in place and fully effective until the new Code’s implementation date.  

SWIM IRELAND - Catterson Bows Out in Freestyle Semi-Final

 

Victoria Catterson bowed out of the 2022 Commonwealth Games this evening; she was Northern Ireland’s only competitor in the pool in the 100m Freestyle Semi-Final.

Swimming in the first semi-final, Catterson clocked 56.04 to finish in seventh place and thirteenth overall. The 21-year-old has had a momentous week, breaking a 25-year-old Irish Record and the two-minute mark for the first time in the 200m Freestyle to qualify for the final where she finished eighth. The Ards swimmer was also part of the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay who finished sixth in the Final.

Next up for Catterson is the European Swimming Championships in Rome, starting on August 11th.

Northern Ireland’s first ever Commonwealth Games medallist in swimming, Barry McClements, makes his return tomorrow in the S10 100m Butterfly. Three-time semi-finalist and two-time finalist Danielle Hill returns with Grace Davison and Mollie McAlorum for the 50m Backstroke Heats. Daniel Wiffen, who finished fourth in the 400m Freestyle on the opening day of competition swims his main event, the 1500m Freestyle, where he is ranked second.

Commonwealth Games Day 4 Results

Women 100m Freestyle Victoria Catterson H 55.97 (12th) SF 56.04 (13th)

Kaitlyn McCaw H 58.26 (25th)

Women 200m IM Grace Davison  H 2:22.34 (12th)

Commonwealth Games Day 5 Schedule

Men 100m Butterfly S10 Barry McClements

Women 50m Backstroke Danielle Hill, Grace Davison, Mollie McAlorum

Men 1500m Freestyle Daniel Wiffen

Trish Mayon Head of Communications and Sponsorship Liaison

WORLD TRIATHLON England's 18-Year-Old Katie Crowhurst dazzles at Birmingham Commonwealth Games

 

Just 12 months ago, national Para swimmer Katie Crowhurst B3 was encouraged to take up triathlon. On Sunday morning in Birmingham, she put together a dream major Games debut, passing Jessica Tuomela B1 (CAN) on the third of four bike laps and then pulling clear all the way through the 5km run to take the tape alongside guide Jessica Fullagar, becoming the 2022 Commonwealth Games PTVI Champion in front of a delirious home crowd.

After a strong swim and bike, Tuomela struggled to come to terms with a hilly run course, and it was Northern Ireland’s Chloe Maccombe B3 who was able to find the extra gear, passing the Canadian to earn a famous silver.

“We ran past my family and I started crying, the support has been incredible and the last lap was amazing,” said a shocked Crowhurst. “To be honest I didn’t know what to expect and on the bike I just kept telling myself I had the energy to get through the run. It was great to do that with Jess and the team has been really supportive, telling me to keep pushing, and now I just want to take things as they come. I’ve just finished school so I’ll be focussing on my sport for the next year and Paris is the aim.”

It was Jess Tuomela and guide Emma Skaug in the water first as the sole B1 athlete, trusting her rhythm to keep a good pace all alone through the 750m swim, Katie Crowhurst quickly setting about her task of trying to reel in her rival. It was a minute’s difference as they hit the transition ramp, Scotland’s Alison Peasgood B2 a further 10 seconds back while Erica Burleigh and Chloe Maccombe were unable to gain ground, hoping to use their bike abilities to close in.There was just 16 seconds difference to second after the first of four bikes laps, and Tuomela could sense the home favourite by the time they reached the halfway point, eventually passed on lap three and Crowhurst began to pull away.

An accident sadly ended Alison Peasgood’s challenge for a medal, and by the bell Crowhurst already had a 20-second advantage.

The leader attacked the first run climb and while Tuomela began to feel the pace on the hills, Maccombe looked very much at home, eating into the deficit as the first kilometres of five ticked by until she had Tuomela in range.

While Crowhurst came back into the grandstand for the final time and took the tape to cheers, Maccombe had made silver safe, eventually crossing with guide Catherine Sands half a minute ahead of Tuomela who battled to third. Judith Maccombe (NIR) finished fourth, four minutes behind her twin sister, South Africa’s Linsay Engelbrecht B3 and Erica Burleigh B3 (AUS) in fifth and sixth.

“Walking up to the podium it really hit me that we came second in the Commonwealth Games!” said Maccombe. “I couldn’t have done it without Catherine. It was a technical bike but I had full trust in what she said and again in the run when she said we could really push for second. I really hope this inspires other people to try the sport and give it a go.”

“We came in knowing I have a bit of an issue but decided to do this as a team and i’m at peace with that decision,” said Tuomela. “My internal metronome is not accurate so I just wanted to stay calm on the swim and feel good and relaxed. I always check on who is up and coming and I figured Katie would be there in the top three and it’s great for the sport to have that.”

Full women's PTVI results can be found here. https://triathlon.org/results/result/2022_birmingham_commonwealth_games/567962?mc_cid=e3dffb931a&mc_eid=6139649918

CANOE EUROPE Last gold medals of Canoe Marathon Europeans in Silkeborg to Spain and Sweden

 

The last day of the 2022 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships in Silkeborg, Denmark, ended with a big Spanish celebration. Spain picked up three gold medals and Sweden one.

Manuel Campos and Diego Romero were the big winners of men's C2 event at the 2022 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships which was held between Thursday and Sunday in Silkeborg, the outdoor capital of Denmark. Campos - Romero are the reigning World Champions and they have managed to live up to the expectations they had before the race.

At the end, the experienced Spanish duo crossed the finish line almost 11 seconds ahead of Polish crew Mateusz Zuchora - Mateusz Borgiel. The Poles were second last year at the World Championships. Bronze medal went to Spain with Fernando Busto - Diego Miguens.

Miguel Llorens and Alberto Plaza, Spain, were crowned senior men's K2 European Champions after they showed more power in the last metres of the race and surprised the favourites from France. Llorens and Plaza were 1.42 seconds faster than French kayakers Quentin Urban and Jeremy Candy. The French duo was last year's European and World Champion. Soren Maretti and Nikolai Thomsen from Denmark were third in today's K2 event.

Jesus Machado and Daniel Estebanez from Spain were the best in men's junior K2 event. They finished the 22.6 kilometres long course in one hour, 37 minutes and 19 seconds, a second and a half faster than their biggest rivals Aron Marialigeti and Andras Terei from Hungary. Nikolaj Bryde and Bertram Sorensen from Denmark were third.

In the last event of the championships Melina Andersson and Johanna Johansson from Sweden prepared a big surprise and took the European Champion crown. It was a tough race with legendary Hungarian Renata Csay and her colleague Zsofia Czellai, who were considered the favourites, but the Swedish duo found more strength in the last stage of the race. They were 1.74 seconds faster to pick up the gold medal. Spanish crew Irati Osa - Arantza Toledo was third, they were 3.07 seconds behind the new European Champions from Sweden.

The 2023 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships will be held in Slavonski Brod, Croatia.

START LISTS - RESULTS

https://memosoft.spotfokus.com/timetable/eventdetail/70/2022-ECA-Canoe-Marathon-EuropeanChampionships

LIVESTREAM: https://www.youtube.com/CanoeEurope

LIVE TRACKER:

https://www.tractrac.com/event-page/event_20220726_MarathonSt_event_event3/2403

Website: http://www.canoemarathon.dk/

Photo: Marian Sarbu