British Duathlon Champions crowned at inaugural Windsor Duathlon
Horton said: “Being crowned national champion feels really good, it’s taken a while to become a senior champion but it’s a big relief to finally win this event. I knew that there would be some strong boys racing today such as Calum Johnson and Liam Lloyd, along with a number of others, but a group of seven of us got away on the bike and we worked together really well.
“The course was really cool, it was challenging but a really interesting venue compared to previous National Duathlon Championships.”
>>> First ever Windsor Duathlon route revealed
In the women’s event, reigning ITU Duathlon World Champion, Emma Pallant, won for for the third year in succession in a time of 1:02:57, over a minute clear of former Olympian and Pallant’s coach, Michelle Dillon who finished in 1:04:02. Gillian Palmer took bronze in 1:04:14.
Pallant said: “It was a great experience to be racing with my coach (Michelle Dillon), I had fun out on the course and the event went really well. This year I’m aiming to defend my World Duathlon Championship title as well as having a go at 70.3 racing. I’ve got a huge amount to learn, having never time-trialled before but I’m really excited about getting a year of experience in.”
In the British Elite Paraduathlon Championships, Bret Crossley (PT1) was the first across the line, finishing the race in 1:04:30 to fend off Mark Conway, who finished in second. Lizzie Tench picked up the women’s PT1 honours.
Tench said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to bits with the win today. Having just found out that PT1 racing will be involved in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, it’s a real goal to aim for and races like this are great to prepare. I really enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful park. A tough course, but I enjoyed it.”
