TRIATHLON: Waterpark chills can't faze Yates (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Daglingworth triathlete on course for World Championship

11:03am Wednesday 16th May 2012 in Sport

STEVE YATES, of Daglingworth, proved his training for the World Long Course Triathlon in Spain at the end of July is on course by winning his age group in the Cotswold Sprint Triathlon held at Ashton Keynes Waterpark the Sunday before last.

Yates, who rides under the Performance Cycles of Poulton banner, romped home in the 45-49 years category – which drew 47 entries – by no less than four minutes.

It was good enough to place Yates third overall in the competition behind the winner Gary Hughes (25-29 years) who finished in a time of 52min 21sec.

Yates’s split times for the 400m swim (open water), 20km bike, and 5km run were 6min 21 sec; 30min 13 sec and 16min 30 sec for a total time of time 54min 20sec.

Conditions were extremely unseasonal with the water at 10c-12c, while the air temperature on the bike and run was five degrees, made worse by a severe wind-chill factor.