Hollie Avil and Will Clarke took the titles of British National Champions yesterday in Tredegar, South Wales, on the eve of the British team’s departure for the Olympic holding camp in Korea.
All five of the Beijing bound British triathletes started the second Corus Elite Series race which combined the national championships over the Olympic distance.

Avil featured strongly in a lead group of five on the bike which included Abble Thorington, Andrea Whitcombe, Jodie Swallow and Mari Rabie (South Africa). Chasing behind were Liz Blatchford, Vicky Holland and Kerry Lang.

Eighteen year old Avil looked impressive as she tore through the swim. Avil also featured strongly in a lead group of five on the bike which included Abble Thorington, Andrea Whitcombe, Jodie Swallow and Mari Rabie (South Africa). Chasing behind were Liz Blatchford, Vicky Holland and Kerry Lang. Avil accelerated away at 5km into the run to win her first British senior title ahead of Liz Blatchford and Andrea Whitcombe.

As expected Helen Tucker did not race the event although she did start and complete the first discipline, emerging first from the 1500m swim.

In the men’s race Will Clarke battled throughout the 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run with fellow Team GB members Tim Don and Alistair Brownlee and managed to hold them off to take the win. In a competitive race the athletes showed good form following a heavy training block leading into the Olympic Games.

Although Brownlee appeared off form, apparently suffering from stomach problems, the Beijing five came through this their final competition prior to the Olympics with out any major upsets. Brownlee, Clarke, Don, Avil and Tucker together with their support staff will soon fly off to the holding camp in Korea and the countdown to Beijing starts in earnest.

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