British Triathlon Super Series – Mallory Park: A Weekend of Breakthroughs and Battles

Mallory Park in the East Midlands played host to a high-octane weekend of racing, with athletes from across the UK competing in the latest round of the British Triathlon Super Series. With heats on Saturday and finals on Sunday, plus international selection races on the line, there was no shortage of drama, effort, and standout performances. We had a strong contingent of Scottish athletes as well as athletes from the National Triathlon Centre competing.

Juniors & Seniors Shine

Heats Day: 

The opening day featured short, intense races across all age categories, with qualification into the A, B, or C finals on the line for Sunday’s longer events. In the Junior/Senior Open category, Alex Robin delivered a composed and confident performance, emerging first from the water in Heat 3 and cruising through to qualify comfortably in third place for the A final. Sam Beattie also raced strongly to make the B final, while Thomas Robertson earned a spot in the C final.

In the Junior/Senior Female category, Heat 2 saw Anna Hedley worked hard on the bike to bridge to the main chase group and finishing 9th to qualify for the A final. Jessica Heeps also showed solid form, finishing 14th and securing her place in the A final as well. In Heat 1, Sam McInnes had a strong swim that set her up well for the rest of the race. She maintained her position through the bike and run to finish 8th and also progress to the A final. Jessica Taylor placed 19th and earned a place in the B final.

Finals Day:

Sunday brought longer distances and higher stakes, with athletes competing not just for finishing positions, but also for selection to international teams. In the Junior/Senior Open A Final, Alex Robin put together one of the standout performances of the weekend. He came out 10th from the swim and stayed with the lead pack through the bike leg before unleashing a strong run to finish 6th overall and 2nd Junior. That result provisionally secures his selection for the Great Britain Junior team heading to the European Championships in Melilla.

In the B and C finals, Sam Beattie ran a consistent race to finish 6th in the B final. Cameron Kerr also competed in the B final and finished 19th. In the C final, Thomas Robertson delivered a solid race to place 6th overall.

The Junior/Senior Female A Final saw Anna Hedley show resilience once again, particularly after a physical swim. She worked hard on the bike to bring the chase pack together and ultimately finished 11th overall, placing 6th in the U23 category. Sam McInnes followed closely in 12th, continuing her consistent form from the heats. Jessica Heeps placed 20th overall and 5th Junior, racing in a competitive field that included multiple world-class programme athletes.

In the B final of the Junior/Senior Female category, Jessica Taylor raced smartly. She worked well in a small group on the bike to stay clear of chasers and capped off her day with a strong run to take 2nd place.

Youth Races – Rising Talent Steps Up

The youth categories brought just as much energy and intensity, with European Youth Championship selection races taking place over the weekend. In the Youth A/B Female heats, both Juliette Kidd and Rachel Caves raced well to secure their places in the A final. In the Youth A/B Open category, several athletes progressed through the heats to the top final. Israel Noble had a particularly strong showing in Heat 1, using a powerful swim to put himself in the lead pack and finishing second to qualify comfortably. Ruairidh Stirling had a tense wait after finishing 10th, but his time proved quick enough to make the A final. In Heat 2, Ewan Mitchell controlled his race well to finish 5th and book his spot in the top final. Oscar Chirnside also advanced after an excellent swim led him to an 8th-place finish. In Heat 3, Daniel Hendry had a composed and well-rounded performance to secure 5th place and a spot in the A final. Joe Crawford earned a place in the B final, while Tymek Chmielowski, Connor Birnie, and Harris Callander were placed in the C final.

In Sunday’s A Final for the Youth A/B Female race, Rachel Caves finished 24th and Juliette Kidd placed 28th. In the Youth A/B Open A Final, Ewan Mitchell crossed the line in 14th, followed by Israel Noble in 16th, Daniel Hendry in 25th, and Oscar Chirnside in 29th. Oscar had an especially impressive start, exiting the water 20 seconds ahead of the field and managing to hold off the chase pack for the first half of the bike before being caught in the later stages.

In the B and C finals, Joe Crawford placed 28th in the B final. The C final saw strong performances from both Tymek Chmielowski and Connor Birnie, who finished 3rd and 7th respectively.

Youth Selection Race – Israel and Oscar Impress

Earlier in the weekend, Israel Noble and Oscar Chirnside also took part in the highly competitive Youth Boys European Championship Selection Race. Facing a top-tier field, both athletes stepped up and delivered strong performances. Israel finished 16th and Oscar 29th, gaining valuable experience and showcasing their potential in a race that serves as a crucial stepping stone toward international racing opportunities.

Next up

The Senior athletes will be back in action this Sunday as they head to Bristol for their next competition. Just a week later, attention shifts to the Paratri athletes, who will compete at Eton Dorney on 12 July. The season continues with Youth and Junior athletes joining the Seniors once again at Eton Dorney on 24 August.