2021 Race Report

SATURDAY

Saturday saw the Super Sprint and Sprint Triathlon as well as the Sprint Duathlon events. The conditions were perfect from start to finish, with light clouds and a calm sea.

In the Sprint Duathlon, Jonathon Tyler was the first man in an astonishing time of 01:10:00 while Miriam Haf Parry brought home the win in the women’s race in 01:26:54

New for 2021 was the Super Sprint Triathlon which saw Tristan Tena Cumberland, at just 15 years of age, take the win for the men's race in a time of 00:40:56. The women's race was won by Katie Mathison, another young athlete in an impressive 00:44:02.

The Sprint Triathlon which was part of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series and was being filmed for S4C was another fantastic race. The Sprint saw many clubs compete for podium positions in order to gain points for their triathlon teams. Taking the win in the women's race and winning 100 points for the GOG Triathlon club was Rhian Roxburgh 01:18:47 the men's race was won by Deri Mccluskey in an impressive 01:12:23.

TORCHLIGHT TRAIL

After an exciting morning of Triathlon & Duathlon, the day turned towards the first trail run of 2021, the epic Torch Light Trail. The conditions were pretty tough for this one with rain from start to finish which was particularly hard for the beach part of the run. The participants carried on regardless with the fantastic marshals cheering them on along the whole route. Taking the win for the 5k women's race was Kerry Jones in a time of 00:26:49 the men's 5k saw Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts of North Wales Road Runners a time of 00:22:05. For those who braved two laps of the course for the 10k race, Owen Humphreys of Beaumaris Town Road Runners took the win for the men's race in a time of 00:44:15. Lucy Bracegirdle took the title for the women's race in a time of 00:51:10. The evening race also saw our Cani-cross event, with over 20 dogs and their owners take on the 5k and 10k routes. Taking the 5k win was Neil Thomas & Oscar in a time of 00:20:45, the 10k was won by Rachel Williams & Dill in a time of 00:50:00.

SUNDAY

After a dry day for racing on Saturday, day two of the event started off with some heavy clouds and light rain. With sea conditions incredibly choppy the decision was made to shorten the swim for both the Standard and Legend distances to 1k. The first into the water were the Legend Triathletes who kicked the action off with an 8:15 am start. An incredible performance from Joe Banns saw him take the win in 04:17:56 with Steven Gregory in second in a time of 04:31:59 and Sion Kelly of Total Tri Training in third with a time of 04:32:22.
Bairbre Doyle won the women’s Legend in an incredible 04:54:49 with Celia Boothman hot on her heels in second place with a time of 04:55:43. The third place was taken by Nerys Jones in 04:59:07.

New for 2021 and following on from yesterday's Sprint was the Standard Duathlon. Taking the win for the men's race was Chris Taylor of Huddersfield Triathlon Club with a time of 02:48:46 a good 17 minutes ahead of Mike Palmer who came in second place in 03:05:26, with Chris Horner taking third in a time of 03:05:38. The women's race was won by Sarah Murray in a fantastic time of 03:21:05 with Claire Turnbull coming in second in a time of 03:51:04.

In the Standard Triathlon women's race, Laura Gray of Total Tri Training took first place and defended her 2019 title ahead of Sarah Harrison in second and Leonie Keeling in third. The men's race was won by Grant Little of Gog Triathlon in a time of 02:38:17, with Alun Jones coming in second with a time of 02:39:01 followed by Adam Harper in third place in a time of 02:49:43.

In the Savage event, the win was taken by Helen Talbot in the women's race with a time of 04:36:14 with Andrew Rogers taking the honours for the men in a time of 04:39:08.

Always Aim High Director Tim Lloyd said: “The 2021 Superfeet Sandman has been just fantastic. We’ve had such an amazing weekend of racing; after missing this fabulous event last year it has been so good to be back at Traeth Llandwyn. It was incredible to see huge numbers of people returning to Anglesey plus the race action being televised to a worldwide audience, it’s fantastic for triathlon and duathlon and the North Wales region.”

“The Sandman is such a friendly and challenging weekend, it attracts a really diverse range of competitors, and who can blame them coming back time and time again to race in what has to be one of the most beautiful Triathlons and Duathlons in the race calendar.

“We’d like to extend a massive thank you to every one of our athletes for joining us in addition to their families and friends. We’d also like to thank our title partners Superfeet and our other race sponsors for their continued support as well as the local community of Newborough and Natural Resource Wales for being such amazing hosts.”

“Lastly, we’d like to thank our amazing marshals and volunteers, without whom we the race just wouldn’t be possible”

Full Sandman race results by TDL Event Services.
Race photography courtesy of Sport Pictures Cymru.

Selected 2021 Sandman Triathlon results:

Super Sprint Triathlon

Top 3 Men

1. Tristan Tena Cumberland 00:40:56
2. Tim Clarke 00:52:43
3. James Sawyer 00:54:56

Top 3 Women

1. Katie Mathison 00:44:02.
2. Alys jones 00:53:19
3. Katherine Welch 00:54:47

Sprint Triathlon

Top 3 Men

1. Deri Mccluskey 01:12:23
2. George Comins 01:13:24
3. Stephen Rowlands 01:14:27

Top 3 Women

1. Rhian Roxburgh 01:18:47
2. Carys Mai Hughes 01:22:34
3. Julie O'hagan 01:26:12

Standard Triathlon

Top 3 Men

1. Grant Little 02:38:17
2. Alun Jones 02:39:01
3. Adam Harper 02:49:43

Top 3 Women

1. Laura Gray 02:38:44
2. Sarah Harrison 03:02:26
3. Leonie Keeling 03:04:28

Legend Triathlon

Top 3 Men

1. Joe Banns 04:24:26
2. Steven Gregory 04:31:59
3. Sion Kelly 04:32:22

Top 3 Women

1. Bairbre Doyle 04:54:49
2. Celia Boothman 04:55:43
3. Nerys Jones 04:59:07

Savage Triathlon

Top 3 Men

1. Andrew Rogers 04:39:08
2. Ian Imeson 04:53:11
3. Bleddyn Edwards 04:55:32

Top 3 Women

1. Helen Talbot 4:36:14
   
2. Sarah Roberts 05:01:18
3. Deborah Raisbeck 05:11:48