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Search forQuadrathlon champion Marshall reigns in the rain
Thursday, October 09, 2008, 07:00
The North Devon triathlete took control during the 800m swim then stormed through the punishing hills of the 30k cycle course to increase his lead.
By the time he finished the 10k kayak, the clock was Marshall's only competitor for the final 10k run of the National Series event.
He finished the race seven minutes clear of renowned kayak competitor Ben Brown, who impressed with a rapid split of 39 minutes in his specialist discipline.
While Marshall showed all his experience to gain an excellent result, relative newcomer Steve Ditchburn continued his superb progress.
Ditchburn, who only joined the North Devon club in January, barely completed a length of the pool during his first swim session.
At Bude, however, he faced the far from calm sea, completing a distance believed to be nearer 1k than 800m, even overtaking as he went out on the second loop.
Team-mate Simon Edney has shown some excellent form over the past month — particularly on the bike.
At the recent UK Duathlon, he recorded the fastest bike split of the day, including those by professional athletes.
Edney followed that by taking 13th place in the 45-49 age group at the ITU Duathlon World Championships in Rimini, Italy.
The club's growing popularity among women was reflected with victory for new member Helen Banbury at the Bodmin Sprint Triathlon.
North Devon also gained the team prize for the three best-placed competitors from the same club. With Alan Ward, Mitch Barclay and Chris Stone all within 45 seconds of each other in the first six, it was tight at the top.
Bude Quadrathlon: 1 J Marshall 19-00 (0-29) 55-01(0-16) 53-50 (0-30) 42-31 = 2-51-38; 3 P Miles 20-06 (0-45) 58-24(0-12) 1-04-39 (0-19) 45-23 = 3-09-49; 21 J Birkley 21-15 (1-29) 1-10-00 (1-08) 56-43(0-36) 49-03 = 3-20-15; 36 S Ditchburn 29-13(3-06)1-12:53 (0-29) 1-12-39 (0-41) 55-28 = 3-54-30.
ITU World Duathlon Championships: S Edney 39-50 (0-54) 1-07-24 (1-01) 21-09 = 2-10-20.
Bodmin Sprint Triathlon: 4 A Ward 5-55 (0-38) 39-38 (0-53) 37-02 = 1-24-07; 5 M Barclay 6-55 (0-59) 40-43 (0-53) 35-04 = 1-24-34; 6 C Stone 6-50 (0-55) 40-23 (0-49) 35-54 = 1-24-51; 7 T Reed 7-29 (0-57) 41-45 (0-48) 34-39 = 1-25-39; 12 P Miles 5-49 (0-45) 42-38 (0-49) 38-19 = 1-28-21; 29 (1st Female) H Banbury 7-35 (1-11) 50-08 (1-23) 37-49 = 1-38-07; 67 D Railston 6-11 (1-17) 51-18 (1-02) 52-28 = 1-52-17.
SHIP SHAPE: North Devon triathlete James Marshall gets to grips with his kayak.
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