This was the 6th Dartington Duathlon and the second over the longer ‘Standard’ distance of 10k run, 40k bike and 5k run. Nearly 150 competitors took to the start line in near perfect racing conditions with a temperature of around 12 degrees and not much wind.

In the first 10K run, Jack Lawson, winner of our sprint event in October 2013, already had a small gap at the halfway point. He finished the hilly run in 34.27, over 30 seconds quicker than last year’s quickest Run 1 split and over a minute ahead of a small group of challengers with Scott Watkins, a further 16 seconds back in 4th place.
A strong bike leg of 1:08:48 from Scott Watkins saw him move up into second place and close the gap to Lawson. But Lawson produced the quickest Run 2 of the day and his time of 20:45 for the hilly 5K cross-country run secured the win. Scott Watkins from Totnes was second and last year’s winner Jonas Gummerson from Torbay was third

Darren Orchard was first Vet and 4th Overall with 2:10:38 and Christopher Seavell won the Male Super Vet category in 2:23:51. 61 year old Dave Hamilton retained his vintage category title from the year before with 2:59:06. First junior was Alex Swan in 2:36:24.

In the women’s race Debbie Starkey was first to the finish of the 10K run in 38:35 with Tess Lawson and Vikki Thompson neck and neck a couple of minutes back. On the bike leg Tess caught and passed Debbie with a rapid 1:15:08 bike split with Vikki Thompson a little further back. On the final hilly run, however Debbie Starkey turned on the speed to catch and pass Tess Lawson. At the line she’d built up a lead of over 40 seconds. First lady Supervet was Wendy Urban in 2:28:30. And first Junior was Annabelle Evans, from Totnes Rowing Club in 2:41:26.
The relay category, although small, was keenly contested. Eventual winners Team Bunting finished over 15 minutes ahead of second place Team Bezmen with Team Haldon Haphazards completing the podium.
The Dartington Duathlon expects to return in March 2016. www.dartingtonduathlon.co.uk
Results
Senior Men
1. Jack Lawson 2:05:46.52, 2. Scott Watkins, 2:07:41, 3. Jonas Gummesson 2:08:22.86
Senior Women
1. Tess Lawson 2:23:02.25 2. Vikki Thompson 2:25:39.97 3. Laura Wakeham 2:36:34.28
Vet Men
1. Darren Orchard 2:10:38.52 2. Mark Lynch 2:14:39.48 3. Andy Lavelle 2:16:44.67
Vet Women
1. Debbie Starkey 2:22:18.02 2., Tracy Elphick 2:31:36.06, Linda Dabbs 2:37:52.26