Sunny Hunny Triathlon - Three Peaks Sportive

KLTC had to cancel the 2020 event as the pandemic hit, and then not being able to even organise it in 2021 due to the restrictions the world was under. King’s Lynn Triathlon Club were proud to host our very own Sunny Hunny triathlon 2022!!!!

The day consited of many many people experiencing their first time in this sport. Many new triathletes were born on a calm sunny early morning in Hunstanton including friends and family of many members.

Indeed this event was designed to cater for new or seasoned triathletes alike. Competitors all started with a brisk 200m pool swim in the Alive Oasis 25m pool, followed by a spectator friendly 3 lap bike course totalling 18km around the seaside town including a small undulation on each lap to challenge those biking legs, a slight sea breeze on the course also added to the 'fun' for many.  Most of the pack were new to transition on the day, but all coped very well with this so called fourth dicipline. Transitioning bike to the run took them 3.5km along the seafront to the lighthouse and back to the green where the finish line awaited. All competitors received a medal  and for the top finishes a bespoke handmade glass trophy from friend of the club and local glass artist Alison Pentland and her company Glass by Alison https://glassbyalison.co.uk/ these was presented  by the local mayor in an award ceremony after the main event.

KLTC members competing on the day saw Mark Moden, who has only recently taken up swimming again debuting in his first ever triathlon setting the bar very high as first male for our club to cross the finish line with a time of 54:06. Sally Hurst still very new to triathlon and still finding her biking legs was the first female for KLTC with a time of 59:32.

Hurst was also second female overall and was presented with one of the bespoke glass trophies supplied by Glass by Alison along with Andrea Campbell.

Following the pack home saw Charlie Wilson 01:41:14, Kimberly Gray 01:12:42,, Pauline Sparrow 01:10:23, Judith Berry 01:06:01 , Andrea Campbell 59:55, Oliver Foxwell 59:04, Paul Freear 01:06:52, Simon Hardy 54:34, Nicolas Lee 54:24, Peter Mackle 57:46,  and another first timer saw Jonathan Yates setting a time to beat of 01:05:06.

Also taking part was our very own paratriatlete Ronnie Robinson, he tackled the course with his guide for the day Sophie Doig. This was her first experiance on a tandem bike and thankfully all went very as the pair set a time of 01:03:13.

S.Doig R.Robinson

Also a thank you to Tesco Hunstanton for kindly supporting the event by supplying Bananas, Jaffa cakes, and water for all competitors.

Considered one of the most iconic Sportives in the UK, Velo29 took on the Tour of Peak in 2016. The Peak dates back to the 1970’s, it’s form was as one of the toughest professional races on the calendar. The list of winners is impressive and reflects what a monumental challenge the route represents. With various distances available, Coopers choice for this event was the  medium route. But please dont let this fool you ! Labelled as the tamer little sibling of the main Tour of the Peak it is still an epic ride and not for the faint hearted! Comprising of 62miles (100KM) the route still took on two major climbs, Winnats Pass and the Cat & Fiddle, to say one is enough for any one day is an understatement but two makes this a challenging leg burner with 5,898ft of elevation!

Event HQ was the starting point at the Bakewell Show Ground situated around the lake District national park. Feeds stations contained a selection of ‘proper’ food, pork pies, sausage rolls , variety of sandwiches, flapjack or brownie, HIGH5 energy products, water, tea and coffee.

Cooper quotes

''A very hard but enyoable day out with the majestic peaks providing some great views. The ride was 100km with over 1700m (5,898ft) of climbing including the infamous UK climbs Winnats Pass which has inclines of up to 23% and the Cat & Fiddle. A good training ride for Septembers Ironman Wales''