Posted: August 23, 2005

Triathlon: Rhodes and Preston win Ironman UK

Rhodes closure clear for Bryan at IRONMAN UK

Bryan Rhodes demolished a highly competitive men’s field in the shadow of Sherborne Castle to win the inaugural IRONMAN UK Triathlon on Sunday with a time of 8hrs 42mins.

New Zealander Rhodes lead the race from start to finish, exiting the lake in 45 mins, completing the bike in 4hrs 59mns and running an impressive 2hr 53min marathon. Rhodes domination saw him win with a massive 25 min margin over second place man Francois Chabaud and Olaf Sabastachus.

Rhodes commented, “This was my World Championship, this was my Hawaii. I am so pleased to have won, I haven’t won for a couple of years, but this victory is great.”

Asked to comment on the course, Rhodes continued, “ This is the hardest race I have ever done, the bike was tough and then the run, really hurt you. Babylon Hill was tough and an absolute killer.”

Speaking as the first IRONMAN athletes to enter Yeovil, Bryan thought that Nine Springs Country Park offered relief as they followed the stream through the shaded trees.

Rhodes victory marks a change in fortune for this very popular IRONMAN athlete. Deciding to leave the World Championships for 2005. Bryan will surely be a marked man in 2006.

Preston impresses on first IRONMAN Race

Little known Aussie Rebecca Preston swam, bike and rode her way to an impressive debut Race at the 2005 IRONMAN UK Triathlon, leaving veteran IRONMAN athletes in her wake.

Preston, who was marking her debut at the distance, demolished a highly respectable field including Katja Schumacher and Bella Comerford to win in a time of 9hrs 37mins placing her 10th overall.

Preston was overcome at the finish line as the massive UK crowd cheered her to the finish commenting “ this was such a spectacular victory, I am so surprised to have won. It’s right what they say about IRONMAN, its tough”.

Katja Schumacher in second place, was one of the athletes caught out by Preston “When they said number 55 was closing, I though who is this girl. When she went past me on the bike I tired to go with her but couldn’t.”

Katja continued “this was my slowest time ever for an IRONMAN, which shows how tough the course was”.

Scotland’s Bella Comerford finished third, and was pleased with her performance especially with boyfriend Stephen Bayliss finishing 5th in the men’s race. Of IRONMAN she enthused “I love this distance!”

The inaugural IRONMAN UK has passed into history, but in Rebecca Preston they may have just discovered a star for the future.

The race website is at: www.ironmanuk.com.