New Forest duathletes bring home raft of medals from International Duathlon Championship in Bilbao

THE New Forest had its best-ever representation in an International Duathlon Championship event, with six athletes – three making their Great Britain debuts – competing in Bilbao.

Both sprint and standard distance duathlons were based at Bilbao’s Maritime Museum in the shadow of Athletic Club Bilbao’s iconic football stadium, with the six athletes bringing home two golds and three silvers.

Both runs followed the Nervion River embankment, with Brockenhurst’s Abbie Pearse setting the equal-fastest female time of 38:09 for the first 10k run. Pearse then held her own on the brutal two-lap 40km bike course, which involved 1,750ft of climb with some descents faster than 40mph, to earn her first international silver medal in the W30 category. She finished just 31 seconds behind a vastly more experienced Spanish competitor.

Two of the Hards family from New Forest Cycling Club also made their GB debut, with mother Bev earning Silver in W60 and daughter Ella-May collecting gold in the W20. Father Barry was on his second GB outing, as was Michelle Walter of Damerham, who earned bronze behind Bev in W60.

The most experienced of the New Forest contingent was Hardley Runners president and New Forest Cycling Club member Mick Anglim. Anglim won M75 gold to add to his silver medal in the sprint duathlon on the previous day. Those medals bring his international tally to 30, with 15 golds.

Anglim will now take on the European Cross Duathlon Championships on a particularly challenging course in the hills west of Bilbao.