SAM HERRIDGE and Gail Merrien won gold and silver in the women’s triathlon as the Guernsey challenge in Rhodes finished on a high. Held on Rhodes Town seafront in Friday’s afternoon sun, the gruelling event was the last of the Games.
And former Commonwealth Games swimmer Herridge, who has relocated to Devon to concentrate on the multi-disciplined sport, did not disappoint.
She was well ahead when she came out of the sea after the 1.5km swim and the 27-year-old kept her lead as she crossed the finish line in a time of 2hr 16min. 4sec., three minutes ahead of Merrien.
Their combined efforts also ensured that they secured the team gold, enough to push the island up to third ahead of Gotland in the overall medals table.
Afterwards a tired but delighted Herridge said that she had suffered from all the water she had been taking during the race.
‘I had a massive stitch on the bike and a massive stitch on the run and it got worse on the last lap,’ she said.
‘I’m not used to taking on that much fluid. It was just a case of getting through it.
‘It’s been a long week when you see everyone else compete and to finish with a team gold as well it’s fantastic.’
Herridge was impressed with the course that saw the swim take place off the main town beach, then the 40km bike leg on a five-lap circuit in the town, followed by a four-lap 10km run along the front.
As had been the norm all week, there was plenty of Guernsey support.
‘[The event] has been excellent and it was so well organised,’ said Herridge.
‘Rhodes have put on a fantastic race here. Everything was organised. Thanks go to the Guernsey public as well. Every time going round I keep seeing people.’
When Merrien crossed the line, she had to be helped to some shade through exhaustion.
She quickly recovered and it was clear that she was just as happy as Herridge.
The 41-year-old posted a time of 2-19.28.
‘I’m exhilarated, I had a cracking race,’ she said.
‘I had an awesome swim, a hard bike and a hard run. I was worried that someone would catch me but I finished strongly.
‘I just died when I got past the line. I’ve had a fantastic week.
‘I’ve had a good week of acclimatising and for once I didn’t do too much so I had lots to give on the day. But that meant we’ve not had a drink all week, which has been really hard.’
Team-mate Rachel Eeles was eighth with a time of 2-26.56.
In the men’s event, Guernsey won the team silver. Jersey took gold after Caesareans Paul Clements, Daniel Halksworth and Scott Pitcher finished one, two and three respectively.
Clements came home in a time of 2-01.08.
Guernsey’s Alan Rowe posted a time of 2-05.16, having made time on the run after a poor swim and bike ride.
‘I had no legs on the bike. I just didn’t seem to generate any power,’ said the 41-year-old.
‘It was worse on the swim and also the bike ride was quite a bit longer than I was used to. It did start to get better at the end, but it just wasn’t there.
‘I was really pleased with the run but I’d left myself too much to do. I didn’t really give myself any expectations with the conditions.
‘It was going to be a very random race. I just wanted to make sure that I performed.’
Rowe passed teammate Dave Holmes during his exceptional run. The latter had had a brilliant swim leg to come out of the water in the top six.
‘Dave did really well and for a long time I didn’t think I was going to catch him,’ said Rowe.
Holmes came home in seventh in 2-06.10.
‘I was pleased with the swim and then the bike was what I was most pleased with,’ said the 29-year-old.
‘I consider the bike my worst event by a long way. But the run was a struggle.
‘I don’t think I lost one or two places, but it wasn’t as strong as I would have liked. I’m very pleased to be that close to Al.
‘I thought at one moment that I had a sniff of beating him for the first time, but it wasn’t to be.’
With Sarnian Ian Scholes finishing in 12th place, the Guernsey men took the team silver and the Games was over.
Article posted on 9th July, 2007 - 12.00am
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