There were mixed results at the start of the multi-sport season for “Team Batkin”, Fynn & Freya, both part of the Middle Distance Squad and competing for the Harriers on track & cross country, and mixing this with triathlon/ Duathlon in the summer months.
Fynn raced on Sunday at Bedford Autodrome in the British Duathlon Champs elite youth race. Race one in British Superseries. In good form going into the race, hopes were high for a top placed finish. The pace from the start of the 2.5k run was frantic with 10 athletes forming a lead group which included all the favourites.
Fynn sat in the middle of the group unable to really impose himself with the pace being so quick. Coming in to T1 he was 7th. The wind was to play a big part on the bike section with nobody wanting to lead into the wind, the riders all jostling for the position of not being on the front. Fynn found himself at the front on probably to many occasions. The lead group stayed together throughout the 10k bike and as they came into T2 it would come down to the second run of 1.5k to sort out the winner.
Unfortunately for Fynn it wouldn’t be his day. While trying to push hard with the leaders he just couldn’t find the pace to stay with them, eventually finishing in 9th place, 20secs back from the podium. Maybe the work on the front of the bike pack took its toll. A solid start to this year’s youth super series, if not quite as good as he was hoping for. Plenty of positives from the race and also plenty to work on for the next 5 races.
Fynn Batkin solid opener in the youth Super Series
Freya travelled to Lincoln for the RAF Scampton Duathlon, the first race of this years East Midlands Triathlon series. With a good win in her first Tri-Star 3 race (13-14 years) at a lowkey triathlon in Bicester, confidence for a good result was high. Freya started well in the first 2k run. Lying in 6th place going on to the bike section but more importantly only 20secs back from 2nd place. After the first lap of the Bike Freya was up to 3rd place and rapidly catching second. Unfortunately this is where disaster struck, exiting a bend Freya tried to accelerate to early and hit the ground with her pedal, causing her to flip over the handle bars. She remounted and completed the race. With her and the bike damaged this was not going to be the result she wanted, but she showed great commitment to finish. Another lesson learnt.
Best of luck for the remaining series.