(Image: TrailX UK)

Crow Hill in the New Forest, was host to the TrailX Duathlon on Sunday 1st February, organised by Eventrex UK. At a venue more familiar with hosting one of the rounds of the Southern XC mountain bike series, this was a chance for xc duathletes aged 14 and over to compete over various distances on the twisty singletrack at Crow Hill.

The HalfX duathlon included categories for Youth 14-17 and 18 plus. Their course consisted of a 2.8km trail run, followed by 9.4km on the MTB over 2 laps, before heading out for another 2.8km trail run.

The FullX duathlon was for ages from 16 plus and was made up of a 3.5km trail run, 14.2km on the MTB over 3 laps, finishing off with the same 3.5km run lap.

The FullX duathlon had the added bonus of being a qualifying event for the GB Age Group Team for Cross Duathlon and Cross Triathlon.

Heavy rain overnight and early morning made for a very damp course, but what’s a xc duathlon without a bit of mud! Fortunately, the rain stopped mid-morning to allow for a rain free race. The Full X athletes were first off followed by the Half X athletes a few minutes later. Heading through the main race arena the athletes then disappeared off into the trails for their opening run legs.

First to appear back in transition was Finlay Goodman in the Full X 16-18 category followed by Adam Brown in the 18 plus category. In the Half X, Finlay’s brother Oliver Goodman competing in the 14-17 category, was first into transition to head out on to his 2 laps on the MTB.

As runners appeared into transition the swooping trails at Crow Hill were soon filled with an abundance of trisuits of various colours (special mention to the Passion Fit gang for their colourful kit!)

After the MTB and into the final run legs, and Oliver Goodman was the first into the final run in the HalfX with fellow youth competitor Alex Tasker being the 2nd athlete out on to the final run. Oliver gained more time on the final run to come into the finish 1st overall in the HalfX, with Alex Tasker taking 2nd in the Youth and Eve Carline 3rd overall in the Youth and first female.

The overall top 3 for the 18 plus in the Half X saw Julian Tasker take 1st, Mark Hanby 2nd and Mia Rowdon the first female finisher in 3rd.

Back to the FullX, and Finlay Goodman had opened a gap on the bike to be first out on to the final run leg. The swooping trails of the final run, with a final section of power climbs saw him extend the lead further and take the win in the 16-18 category and the FullX overall. Next in was Adam Brown in the 18 plus, followed by XTERRA’s very own Doug Hall making a return to racing and taking 3rd overall. Elite XTERRA athlete Kerri-Ann Upham was 1st female finisher in 4th overall, despite having her shoe come off in the run and having to find it in the mud.

The podium saw presentations for all the various age groups, which included several 60 plus age group finishers, far outnumbering the youth athletes.

So, youth athletes, where are you all!

XC duathlon/triathlon provides such a great opportunity to hone your skills that are easily transferrable into road triathlon. The varied terrain on the run helps you develop a strong core and adapts your body to varied changes in pace. Not to mention the skills that the bike course brings you. You don’t need a mountain bike that costs £1000’s, in fact one competitor was on a fully rigid 26” wheeled back and podiumed.

Above all there is nothing more fun than running and cycling through swooping offroad trails.

Eventrex UK are hosting another TrailX race at Matterley Basin near Winchester, Hampshire on the 1st March for all those interested in having a go.

Not forgetting that there is also XTERRA Weston Park on the weekend of May 2nd and 3rd, with age categories from 14 years old. The races there also offer the chance to gain a spot at the XTERRA World Championships in New Mexico, USA later in the year. There are also European XTERRA races at iconic venues such as Namur, (Belgium), Nouvelle Aquitaine (France) and the crystal-clear waters of Molveno in Italy.

XC duathlon/Triathlon and XTERRA will put a smile on your face. Remember, Hayden Wilde and Flora Duffy are previous XTERRA champions…and they turned out pretty good in road triathlon!