Brian Fogarty is becoming a very formidable talent in the world of triathlon and particularly Ironman. In his latest contest – the UK Championships – he finished 7th overall out of a 548 string field just 22 minutes behind the winner, a professional athlete from Estonia.
His achievements in the Championships were very, very impressive. He was the first amateur home. In his Age Group (30 -34) Brian was top of the tree in front of the 268 other athletes in that category and with a combined time of 9.12.30 – (59.11 for the Swim – 4hr 54.53 for the Bike – 3hr 11.17 for the Marathon) – he placed 7th overall with only professional athletes in front of him.
Brian who is so powerful on the bike had the 4th fastest leg of the day, with the first and second in the race overall just two minutes faster. No exaggeration to say that this was a Quality performance by a Quality athlete. Summing up his Race, Brian told the Club “Ironman Uk being so close to home is always an emotional race. Being on he start line with my best mates and training partners makes it special. I was really well prepared for it this year and felt confident I could really put in a performance to challenge for a top 10 place.
The race started well and I came out of the swim in just over 59 minutes this was a PB and even felt relatively comfortable. On to the bike which has become a real strength of mine. I was keen to make up time on the lead guys. I have already qualified for Kona so I was willing to take a calculated risk and really push the bike, I know the course very well and wanted to take advantage of that. Things went well and I came in off the bike in 8th place a few minutes ahead of 2 time race winner Fraser Cartmell.
On to the run I felt ok my pace was consistent. The marathon in Bolton is very demanding and I found it as tough as ever. The support out there was amazing and with so many people cheering me on, it really helped me stay focused especially for the last 5 mile loop. Luckily I held it together and gained a position into 7th with an PB run of 3.11. This gave me my best overall PB time of 9 hours 12 mins and without doubt my best result to date.
A few easy days now and then a big push to Kona where I want to really put in another big performance. The improved results don’t come easy but are helped with support from Universal Cooling Ltd, Fogartys Insurance and training with the best guys around in particular Jack Hindle, Paul Guinen, Mark Nuttall, Mark Bleasdale, Ian Cox and the rest of FITT”.
| 1 | 7 | 7 | 00:59:11 | 04:54:53 | 03:11:17 | 09:12:30 | 5000 |
Paul Guinan had been training really well for the UK Championships but i didn’t go quite to plan as he told the Club that he was “swimming as well as ever, back running to a good level and biking again to a decent standard, had a good race plan…..then it ended….l had a strong swim again, unfortunately, had a few issues that were not planned, l started the bike leg but could not get comfortable at all, my lower back was very sore, by the time l had gone 25 miles or so l could not use my Tri – bars, and to be honest felt l was going to be unable to complete the bike never mind the run, the pain was too much so l called it a day, tough, but thats sport and certainly Ironman, l intend to get things moving again shortly, sort out my injury issues and push on, it was a strange day for FITT, 4 starters and only 2 finishers, Matt and Brian, Matt again coming through and getting to the finish line. Brian…..the best amateur performance at IMUK for some years, when l said a few years ago he was different class, l did actually mean it, he has shown once again on a national level he can mix it, and beat the best. Well done Paul Slone on completing his first IM at the tender age of 49”.
Well done to Matt Nuttall another athlete like Paul who is a superb example of the never say die attitude. Having suffered more than his fair share of injuries, Matt keeps bouncing back and this latest Ironman was no exception, finishing 13th in his age category out of 352 others with a combined time of 10hr 56.41. Afterwards Matt told the Club “Great day at ironman UK. Race went well for me, well paced swim, maybe pushed a little too hard on the bike and payed for that on the run. Nice to see quite a few Blackburn Harriers out on the course they lifted the spirits and kept me going. Big thanks to them”. Matt also commented on Brian’s performance saying ” One other point I would like to mention is how amazing Brian performed, probably only those who are involved in endurance sport will realise the dedication and sacrifices he has made to achieve such a high level”. Never a truer word was spoken. Training for an event covering a two mile open water swim, followed by a Bike Race of 120 miles and then topping it off with running a Marathon makes the mind boggle in terms of what has to be done to bring all that together ina top class performance.
| GBR | 13 | 102 | 106 | 01:07:44 | 05:36:55 | 04:00:37 | 10:56:41 | 4457 |
Martin Kerry had a great event and at one point was in 1st position in his Age Group Category before finally finishing 5th out of 72 athletes in the V55 – 59 Age Group with a combined time of 11hr 55.23. Speaking to the Club Martin commented “Well the swim was steady and I came out on my 70 min schedule. The bike was good riding well and just missed the 6 hours I wanted. I was leading my age group by 4 min.run started of ok but as you all know I’m not a runner. Faded after 10 miles with one bad 6 mile stretch where I dropped. 10 min and slipped to 5th. Picked up a big on last lap but beat 12 hours so as good as it gets. Great support all the way. Bolton is a lot holler than I remember. Use my profile pic on face book. Put anyone off”.
| GBR | 5 | 298 | 322 | 01:10:37 | 06:06:57 | 04:25:00 | 11:55:23 | 4880 |
Paul Slone who contested his first Ironman at the age of 49 showed what real determination to succeed is all about. Here is an athlete who deserves every bit of success that comes his way given the minefield of health issues and injuries he has had to navigate. He told us “This was all new territory for me. Never rode after a 3.8k swim. Never ran after a 112 mile bike ride certainly never a marathon after any bike ride. The weather was with us virtually all day with near perfect conditions for the swim. Bit windy for me on the bike and got a little hot on the run. Learned a hell of a lot over the day and ended up in some dark places. The support from everyone was phenomenal. Especially my family and the Fogarty family out in full force. Really struggled with terrible dehydration, severe stomach cramps the last 6 miles of which I walked the majority. Total time 12.25. Got to be happy as a first timer. Initial thoughts were never ever again but alas, booked it again the day after for July 16th 2017. Will train hard and get the nutrition bang on next time and aim to complete and better my time by a considerable amount”.
| GBR | 73 | 421 | 459 | 01:11:40 | 06:36:41 | 04:24:44 | 12:25:09 | 3395 |
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Jacob Roberts has a had a really good season so far in the U17 Hammer Age Group. In sixteen competitions to-date Jacob has won 13 and finished 2nd on three other occasions. In the eight days between the 8th and 16th July he won the Silver Medal at the English Schools Championships at Gateshead with a throw of 65.34m and then on the 16th July he took another Silver Medal competing for England in the SIAB SCHOOLS’ U17 TRACK AND FIELD INTERNATIONAL held in Kent with a throw of 63.83m. As a result of his performances he has now been selected to compete at the UK School Games held at Loughborough in September later this year.
Speaking to the Club Jacob who currently lies in 2nd place in the National Rankings with 66.76m told us that he had a “Great time in Kent at the Schools International Games representing England . I got myself on the Podium taking Silver Medal i am very happy with my achievement so far with my Hammer throwing. I would like to thank the following people who helped and supported me Jim Kerrigan was my first coach back in 2014 , Michael HItchon who is my coach now and has got me to where i am now. Also would like to thank my parents for all their support and encouragement. Looking forward now to my other competitions and championships and representing Blackburn Harriers”.
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Elim Peugeot International Snowdon Race 2016
Described as ‘One of Europe’s toughest endurance challenges, the 10-mile race involves running from the edge of Lake Padarn in the village of Llanberis to the highest summit in Wales and England and back down’ – Five hundred and forty eight runners took part in this years Race which saw Chris Smith cross the line as winner in a time of 65.47 and Chris Farrell in 2nd spot (67.13).
Blackburn Harriers Victoria Mousley and Andy Heys took part in the Race with Victoria having a very solid run being in 140th position at the summit and picking up 20 places on the descent to finish in 120th spot in a time of 1hr. 30.24. Speaking to the Club Victoria said that she was “Happy to improve on my time by about 11 mins from last year. 4th non international and managed to beat a few on the international teams too. As ever I hate the slog up but love that descent…..until the tarmac arrives. One of the best races ever. Everyone should give it a go”.
Andy came home in 227th overall, picking up 15 places on the descent from the summit, in a time of 1hr 41.38. Reflecting on the day Andy told the Club “I thought I had prepared quite well for this one, little did I know how hard it would be to run uphill for a constant five miles and more so, descend for five miles! All was going relatively well until about half way up to the summit at which point I was exhausted. Still I struggled on to get to the summit in just over an hour and then the descent – five miles of gravity dragging you back to earth along wet cobbles, rocks, boulders and then as a final kick in the nuts, roughly a mile down some of the steepest Tarmac I have ever seen (God knows how they laid this section of road).
Setting out, it was my intention to complete the race in under 90 minutes. All things considered, I was quite pleased to finish in 1:41. Quite possibly the toughest race I have ever done, but quite possibly the best! A true test of strength and determination unparalleled to anything previously experienced. Yes, I’ve never seen so many battered and bruised athletes after a race, but the whole camaraderie was brilliant. Only a year now to wait until I can get back and tame the mountain and get under that 90 minute mark”.
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V50 Tony Balko entered this years Northern Masters T & F Championships held at Cleckheaton on Wednesday July 6th.
Provisional RESULTS
In the Hammer Tony finished 2nd V50 with a throw of 34.06m, came 3rd in the V50 Shot Putt with 9.66m and 1st in the V50 Discus with a distance of 34.03m.
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