On Your Marks for Australia!

A Pembrokeshire County Council fitness instructor will be heading off to Australia later this year for the World Duathlon Championships.

Twenty eight year-old Rhys Harries from Cardigan was picked for the global event after achieving the qualifying time in the British championships earlier this year.

Rhys will be accompanied on his trip to Adelaide by fellow duathlete John Collier, who trains with him at Crymych Leisure Centre.

And while Rhys and John head off Down Under in October, another Crymych Leisure Centre user, David Cole, will be travelling to Spain later this month to represent GB in the European Duathlon Championships.

“I was really surprised to be picked but very happy,” said Rhys, who works as a fitness instructor and swimming teacher at the centre.

“I’m determined to go and really looking forward to it.”

Rhys began racing triathlons around four years ago after many years as a runner and rugby player.

The former Cardigan Secondary school pupil took up the challenge after watching the even more gruelling Ironman event in Tenby one summer.

“It was very inspiring so I decided to enter myself the following year,” he said. “After that I decided to keep on training. I wanted to do something different and also improve my times.”

While the triathlon involves the three sports of swimming, cycling and running – the duathlon is made up of just two, cycling and running.

Races are made up of a 10k run followed by a 40k cycle and a further 5k run to finish.

Rhys achieved his GB place with a time of two hours 6mins in the British championships held in Nottingham.

But having secured his place and kit he now has to find the money for his fare Down Under.

“It looks like I will have to start fund raising as well as training,” he said. “But I’m determined to go. How often do these opportunities come around?”

Darren Bowen, Manager of Crymych Leisure Centre, said he was delighted for all three athletes, Rhys, John and David.

“We’ve seen a huge upsurge of interest in triathlons in recent years,” he said.

“It’s great to see elite athletes do well but equally encouraging is the growing popularity of our shorter mini Go Tri events, which we host every year in our leisure centres.”

“Aimed at encouraging people into physical activity, they are ideally suited for all sporting abilities from beginners to experienced athletes.”

Run by Pembrokeshire Leisure, Pembrokeshire County Council’s leisure service arm, the next Go Tri event will be held at Crymych Leisure Centre on 19th April.

For more information contact Jayne Richards on 01437 775504.

Caption
Pictured at Crymych Leisure Centre are (L-R) John Collier, Rhys Harries and David Cole.