Otters have been branching out into multi-sports since long before Rachel Joyce started smashing the world of Ironman triathlon. Whilst many have representative honours at triathlon, more Otters are turning their hand to growingly recognised Aquathlon scene (being better suited to the more balanced split of the splash and dash format).
This year, current Otters, Pip Bennett & Ed Buckley travelled to Samorin, Slovakia for the Worlds and were joined by ex-Otter, Sean Kinsey, in Bilbao, Spain for the Europeans – with Pip looking to build on his debut bronze in 2021.
The two venues provided contrasting experiences and races.
The Slovakian Olympic training centre in Samorin was also hosting the Collins Cup, so we were able to train in stunning facilities, alongside the world’s best triathletes. The 30-plus degree heat meant for a non-wetsuit swim in the Danube, with a mass start.
Pip, as his custom, led his age group out of the water (10th overall out of 300 swimmers) and tried to hold off the field on the run. Eventually he was hauled back by two familiar foes, with just 20 seconds separating the podium places. Ed, on the other hand, had to try and regain time on the run, positively relishing the hot conditions to record 17:38, earning a silver in the M45-49 category. Both finished together on the blue carpet, in 18th & 19th place overall respectively, with Ed wanting another 300m to overhaul the difference.
Whilst Samorin was compact, Bilbao was spread out; with a one way wetsuit swim in the estuary, a nefariously dangerous swim exit, followed by a run along the promenades. This time the different age groups went off separately, the older competitors being further from high tide; whilst gaining from a stronger current, suffered greater wind against tide chop for 800m.
Sean competing in the M55-59, benefitting from all his open water experience, was incredibly the fastest swimmer overall of the 350 competitors, Pip not far behind in 5th.
Once again, Pip had a 35 second lead to protect, but was overhauled by a Pole in the closing stages to miss out on the gold by just 7 seconds. Sean had almost a minute’s lead, but that was soon whittled away by a very fine Spaniard. Ed wasn’t able to replicate his Slovakian run heroics and was disappointed to only finish 6th (though that did represent 2nd of 18 Brits in his age group).
3 silvers and a bronze from the 2 championships represents a fine haul for the Otters.
