Further to news back in April here’s an update on Islander Gary Kurth’s performance at the recent National Aquathlon Championships.
Last weekend saw triathletes Jack Grundy of Total Fitness Bath and Gary Kurth of TriUK travel to Birmingham to take part in the National Aquathlon Championships hosted by BRAT triathlon club.
The Aquathlon format is similar to that of a triathlon although it excludes the bicycle leg of the race thus comprising of a 750m open water swim and a 5km run. Grundy and Kurth had won their respective age groups in 2011 and were returning to defend their national titles.
Birmingham’s weather did its best to dampen the spirits of the competitors by providing heavy wind and rain as well as a 13deg water temperature. As a result the event was more a exercise in survival as opposed to racing.
Jack forced to withdraw from race
Jack Grundy lead his age group out of the water in a strong field showing a good return to form after a recent broken leg.
Entering transition Jack decided the cold conditions would not have helped his still healing leg and withdrew from the race.
Fifth place for Gary
Again in a strong field, Gary Kurth settled into the chase pack on the swim behind two break aways, entering the two lap 5km run around the lake in third place.
Having taken the entire first lap just to get the feeling back into his feet, Kurth lost two places and remained in fifth spot until the finish, completing the 5km run course in 18min.
Preparing for Ironman UK
Next on the racing calendar for Kurth is the Ironman UK 70.3 event in Exmoor in late June which is also a world championships qualifying event for California 2012.
Grundy has his sights set on recovering well and making a full comeback to racing in June.
