Junior European Cup 2014

My last race for GB as a junior in the Lommel region of Belgium started with traveling very early on Thursday the 1st with a 3.45am alarm for a 6am flight. The morning was spent relaxing and sleeping and eating in Brussels airport before meeting the rest of the team coming in on different flights. After a long day traveling only a few people went and ran the model but after an early night me and some other W20s headed down to look at the terrain. We jogged around some controls for 25/30minutes and then discussed what we thought of the area etc. Sandy forest with some areas of contour detail and other areas very flat and featureless.
Friday evening was the first race – Sprint. Due to start blocks being decided the day before I had been given the first start (of every competitor!) at 5.30. Straight into the area and the course demanded some quick thinking but was very running dominant. I was trying my hardest but one change of plan and lapse in concentration 3 controls from the end and 1min30 lost! Disappointing to be so close to a decent run. Final result was 40th.
After an early night to try catch up on more sleep it was time for the Long distance. Now this is more my cup of tea and I was really excited! Somehow an early start block had again giving me a very early start – 10.32! So there was in fact 1 W20 ahead of me but considering a start block is 30minutes I was pretty unlucky! I didn’t let it get to me and ran my own race, overtaking the Russian girl who started at 10.30 by number 2 and hitting control after control bang on. Through the spectator I was tiring mentally and physically but pushed on and tried to stay in control. Unfortunately at control 30 (out of 33!!!) I was distracted from my bearing and lost 3 minutes. I was pleased to finish after 75 minutes and then cheered everyone else in, especially Alexander Chepelin who came a fantastic 2nd in M18! My final result was 21st and best W20 British result!
Relay was the final day and I was in a team with Lucy Butt and Tamsin Moran, 2 other final year W20s who I have grown up with so that was good. I was second leg and went out a couple of minutes down but still in contention with a big pack just ahead. It went well until the final loop after spectator and I lost 5 minutes on 2 different controls which I was disappointed about. Team final position was 9th nation.
After a relaxed afternoon we traveled back and reflected on our races and the weekend as a whole. I had such a fun weekend and after having surgery in February involving a lot of time resting and doing rehab I was just pleased to be back racing! In January I move up to senior racing so I’m not sure what’s coming next but I’m excited for a winter training in Edinburgh!
Many thanks have to go to the John Taylor Foundation for helping fund this trip.

Firstly, I would like to thank the John Taylor foundation for their support; it has been a great help in funding what was ultimately an amazing experience.

This August I was competing at the 2014 Triathlon Age group world championships in Edmonton.  I had never done an event on such a large scale before or competed so far away from home, so there was a lot of a new factors to consider. I began my race well and by the end of the swim, I was 2^nd out of the water swimming on the toes of the athlete in front. I came out of the first transition maintaining my position, unfortunately my bike leg did not go as I had hoped and I began to lose places on the bike, so I was a bit disappointed with my performance. Overall I finished 17^th and although it was frustrating not to be at my best, I am still confident that this experience has taught me a lot that will hopefully allow me to be a medal contender in future.

I was 3^rd GBR athlete, which qualifies me to do the 2015 World Championships in Chicago next year and with two more years in this age category I am excited for the future. The event itself was great fun and I am more motivated than ever to keep going with my triathlon career.

Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity.

There are some earlier reports available here from the original website.

You will find reports, from those who have been awarded grants, on this page.