The UIPM2019 Biathle-TriathleRunWorld Championships took place in Saint Petersburg, Florida, between the 23rd and 27th October. Selected to represent GB was Blackburn Harriers Ben Makin which saw him compete in the U19’s Mixed Biathlon Relays and the Individual and Team U19 Biathlon. And what a performance from Ben – winning World Championship Gold and Silver Medals.
Silver Medalist in the Mixed Relays for GB
Ben linked up with Freya Stanger in the Mixed Relays, which saw them come through to win the Silver Medal on the first day of the competition. On Day 4 of the World Championships, Ben finished in a strong 5th place in the race consisting of a 1600m run, 200m swim and another 1600m run & together with his 2 other GB teammates managed to secure Team Gold, a great result given all 3 GB boys are some of the youngest in this category and will compete in the same age group next year. With athletes competing from 33 different nations, the GB Team certainly performed to their best and returned home from St Petersburg with a vast collection of medals and a great experience.
Gold Medalists for GB
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The Harriers were on Tour in Spain as Andrew Knowles and daughter Eva participated in the Long Course Weekend, Mallorca 2019. Andrew competed in the Half Long Course weekend whilst Eva raced in the 5k.
Andrew had a good weekend as he claimed 8th place overall with a combined time of 4hrs 53.33 for the race behind the winner who posted a time of 4hr 17.42. Andrew kicked of with a 1.5k swim of 32.53 followed by the 112k Bike ride of 2hr 34.10. In the Half-Marathon following he clocked 1hr 46.29 and told the Harriers afterwards that “Long Course Weekends are just that, you do one discipline per day, hence the Long!” You can also choose to do just one discipline for example the bike day, so 200 cyclists set off at once, riding through Alcudia at 30mph was ‘hairy’. After 20km there were about 50 of us in the lead group and we went along a drag to Llubi, and the race blew apart, I got in the 3rd group of about 15 riders working to the finish at 90k and won the sprint from the group to finish 27th Overall but importantly 6th in the LCW. Lost a couple of places the following day on the half marathon to finish 8th overall after 3 days racing”.
Eva Knowles – an U15 athlete – ran a great 5k race coming home in 15th place overall to set a new PB of 21.23, and placing 6th female overall.
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