A PAIR of athletes from Fladbury Paddle Club in Evesham are celebrating after triumphing at the British Quadrathlon Championships.
Helen Russell and Tarmac McAdam both claimed top honours at the British Quadrathlon Championships in Brigg, Lincolnshire.
Russell and McAdam both won their individual British Championship races and overall British Trophy Series titles.
The British Championship race comprised a 750m river swim, 4km kayak, 18km bike ride and 5km run.
The race also doubled up as the third and final event in the British Series.
Russell exited the swim leg of the women’s race in second place, nine seconds behind race leader Rose Durrant.
And weeds in the water made the swim leg difficult for all of the athletes.
However, Russell took the race lead around two miles into the bike leg as she and Durrant swapped positions frequently.
Durrant eventually pulled away from Russell to lead by 21 seconds heading into the kayak leg.
Russell responded again to take the lead and maintained her advantage in the run leg to cross the line in first place.
The Evesham athlete posted a time of 1 hour 43 minutes and 19 seconds with Durrant a close second in 1 hr 44 mins 46 secs as Tora Oetgen completed the podium.
Russell said: “This was a really tough race with the weeds in the river causing difficulties for everyone.
“I thought at one point that I might have to settle for second place as Rose was racing really well but I pushed hard in the kayak leg to take the lead, and was determined to hang onto it in the run.
“I am over the moon to take the two titles which is the perfect end to another successful season.”
Victory for Russell, supported by the Rivers Evesham Gifted and Talented Scheme, means she now has six British Championship titles to her name and four Series successes.
Fellow Fladbury member McAdam also tasted victory in the over-70s age category to claim his maiden British Championship and Series title.
McAdam said: “This was the most challenging quadrathlon I have done due to the weeds in the river.
“It therefore makes my age category win, and with it my first British Championships and Series titles in my age group, even more rewarding.”
McAdam now heads to Bude in Cornwall for his final race of the season.
