Grenada celebrated the 20th anniversary of its International Triathlon by taking some of the major prizes at a well supported and competitive event staged on 5 and 6 May at the popular venue of Lance Aux Epines Cottages.
The Grenada Triathlon Association welcomed a strong field of competitors from Barbados, France, Martinique, Trinidad, USA and UK to take part in two days of individual events and relay racing over varying distances and age categories. Saturday saw five individual races, with three children’s age groups of Under 8, 9-10 and the Grenada Bottling Company 11-14 Race, followed by the ever popular Insurance Consultants Grenada Ltd Half Sprint, and the day reaching its final climax with the tough Sprint Race.
The Insurance Consultants Grenada Ltd Half Sprint (400m swim, 12K ride, 3k run) attracted strong competition from Barbados and UK triathlete Anthony Lees who had flown to Grenada three days before. Grenadian Troy Felix, still new to Triathlon, performed exceptionally well and made the most of his strong cycling skills to pull through and take 1st Male Overall. Alison Pile, a regular visitor from Barbados took 1st Female Overall. Grenada continued its success in this event with Jake Decaul taking 1st Male in the 16 & Under age group; Nigel Thomas taking 1st Male in the 21-29, and Rhett Dopwell and Trevor Bullen taking 2nd and 3rd Male places in the 30-39 age group. Anthony Lees will also be returning to the UK with his trophy for 1st Male in the 40-49 age group.
The Sprint event (750m swim, 20k ride, 5k run) proved a tough race for the competitors from Barbados, France, Grenada, Trinidad and USA, who fought out positions over the three gruelling stages in very hot conditions. This year 1st Male Overall went to Matthew Wright of Barbados, whose strong run brought him home in front of Marc DeCaul, Grenada’s National Champion, and Ancil Green of Trinidad. Clare Morall, current OECS Olympic Sprint Distance Champion and President of the Grenada Triathlon Association took 1st Female Overall, with Leah Edwards of USA taking 2nd Female and Jacqueline Jodhan of Trinidad taking 3rd Female.
Other Grenadian Sprint triathletes were also successful with Ojea Samuel taking 3rd Male in the 21-29 age group and Mike Quinn and John Speake each taking 1st Male in the 40-49 and 50-59 age groups respectively. A special prize was awarded to Albert and Lois Leon of the USA, who had sailed back to Grenada for the second year running to take part. Not only did they each win 1st Male and Female in the 60+ age groups, but Albert also won 1st Mountain Bike Overall. Albert announced that they were looking forward to returning for the 2008 event.
The young athletes also had an opportunity to show their talent with three individual events. In the 8 & Under age group (50m swim, 1.5k ride, 0.25k run) youngsters from Barbados, Grenada and Trinidad showed what strong competitors they were, with 1st Male going to Ryan Eligon of Trinidad and 1st Female to Georgia Porter of Barbados, in front of Enya Noel and Gabrielle Minors of Grenada.
The 9-10 age group (100m swim, 3k ride, 0.5m run) was hard fought, with Ryan Minors of Grenada taking 1st Male and Trinidad’s Leanne Eligon winning 1st Female. The 11-14 age group (200m swim, 6k ride, 1k run), sponsored by Grenada Bottling, had the most competitors, with a very strong contingent from Barbados and Trinidad. 1st Male went to Callum Wright of Barbados, and the strong swimming of the Grenadian Noel sisters Sophia and Ayesha brought them 1st and 3rd Female places, split by Bethany Pile of Barbados.
Sunday is Triathlon Fun Day in Grenada, with relays sponsored by True Blue Bay Resort & Villas. The races are divided into categories according to the total age of the team members and each team member completes one discipline – to swim ride or run. In the 25 & Under age group the first male team was the Tri Stars from Trinidad – Sachin Sauteur, Ryan Eligon and Stephen Phillip and the first female team was the Jetz from Grenada – Dominique Steele, Trevaughn Mcintyre and Paige James. Grenada Giants – Katie Lillie, Enya Noel and Angelique Minors, a team with a combined age of just 15 years won over the crowd with their ‘Giant’ spirit and were awarded a special prize by the organisers for the youngest team finishing.
2 Piles R Wright – from Barbados - Bethany Pile, Mathew Wright and Jonathon Pile were the winning male team in the 26-40 age group, with RAJ from Grenada – Renatta Fielden, Jonathon Herrera and Ashley Yearwood, taking the first female team place. Grenada’s Stupidies - Justin Williams, Jake DeCaul and Pierre Roelens - were the successful male team in the Half sprint distance for 41 & over with He Doh Good also of Grenada – Sophia and Ayesha Noel, with their father Douglas, taking first female team. This race had a very regal participant – Miss Grenada, Vivian Burkhardt, along with team mates Robin Burkhardt and Julia Evans in No Clue were the 2nd female team across the line. The Chargers of Grenada – Tuesday Watts, Troy Felix and Marc DeCaul, came first in the full sprint distance for 41 & Over, and UCTS from Martinique – Claudine Pinceau, Catherine Bense and Susan Fenasse took the first female team prize.
The event ended with a new addition of triathlon fun – a special short course fun relay race for spectators, parents, media, organisers and supporters of Triathlon. Competition was intense and when the computer analysed the times the result went to Slow & Deadly of Grenada – Ian Winsborrow, Angus DaBreo and Brian Sylvester who were just in front of the Fast & Furious for the male teams, with the female team Spice Girls – Michele Watts-Minors, Liz DeCaul and Glennis Alexis taking the line from Never Say Die.
Trophies, medals and special prizes from Digicel were presented to winners of the Half Sprint and Sprint events at an Awards ceremony and Dinner at True Blue Bay Resort on Saturday and all winners of the individual children’s races and relay events took their prizes at the end of the event on Sunday at Lance Aux Epines Cottages.
Once again the event was a great success and was filmed throughout by the Trinidadian TV station Gayelle, to be featured on their programme Dreevay during this week, with highlights in Prime Cuts to be shown at 8:30pm on Friday 11 May. The Grenada Triathlon Association would like to thank all sponsors, competitors, volunteers and supporters for helping to make the 20thanniversary one to remember.
Grenada Triathlon Sponsors: ModOne; True Blue Bay Resort & Villas,; Insurance Consultants Grenada Ltd.; Lance Aux Epines Cottages; Deco Industries Ltd.; Grenada Bottling Co. Ltd.; Grenada Handbags Ltd.; Bryden & Minors; Grenada Amateur Swimming Association; Mountain Top Natural Spring Water; Quinn Co.; Horizon Yacht Charters; Jonas Browne & Hubbard Ltd.; Republic Bank; St.George’s University; Digicel; Dive Grenada; Grensure Fire & General Insurances Ltd.; Sugar & Spice Enterprises Ltd.; Independence Agencies; Mocha Jumbie.
For a full listing of all results and times, check the Association’s website www.grenadatriathlon, or contact Liz DeCaul on 415 1271 to find out more about events coming up throughout the year.
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