Posted: August 22, 2007

Triathlon: Britain’s Ironcouple take first and second at UK Ironman

Britain’s Ironcouple, Bella Comerford and Stephen Bayliss, are celebrating finishing 1st and 2nd respectively at this weekend’s Ironman UK triathlon in the picturesque Sherborne, Dorset. (See Ironmanlive.com for full race coverage) “Comerford herself was always the strong athlete that others would have to break to get the win. After a superb swim which saw her out of the water in 4th place she set about the bike in her customary style and proceeded to cruise safely ahead of the chasing athletes. Until, that is, sometime on the last section of the third lap she was caught and passed by Karin Gerber who had moved unseen through the age group athletes on their second lap. The shock at T2 was almost palpable, was Bella on a backward slope? The answer came swiftly enough as Gerber, quite literally, vanished from the race during the first section of the run. The lead bike simply followed the protocol and picked up Bella and the race carried on as though nothing had happened. The chasers chased but, like Scott, Bella wanted the win more than they did and that's the way it stayed to the line.” (Ironmanlive.com) On her win Bella commented: “I knew on the bike leg that I could take the win and that nothing was going to stop me. When Karin went past me it did shock me, but I knew I would catch her and take the win.” She continued “I am ecstatic with my win, as coming into the race I was not sure how recovered I was from my hamstring injury.” In the men’s race Bayliss and eventual winner Scott Neyedli spent the swim and bike chasing 2005 winner Bryan Rhodes. At first the pair looked out of touch only to catch him on the second half of the run when Rhodes ‘hit the wall’ having expended everything he had in the ‘tank’. From this point Bayliss and Neyedli battled out for the win, with Stephen coming second and taking his 1st Ironman podium. On his result Bayliss commented; “I am very happy with my first full Ironman podium however, I have to admit I thought when we passed Brian I had the victory, but Scott put in a great run and it was his day. I am confident that mine will come in the not to distance future.” Looking forward from this event both Bayliss and Comerford, have their sights fixed firmly on Ironman Florida in early November. Bella is hoping to take her fifth victory on the Panama City Beach course and Stephen for the next step up on the podium. In the meantime Stephen is likely to race the Ironman 70.3 event in Singapore in September. Men’s results   Forename Surname SwimEnd Trans1 Bike Trans2 Run Total 1 Scott Neyedli 00:47:07 00:01:53 4:56:55 00:01:30 2:48:32 08:35:53 2 Stephen Bayliss 00:47:04 00:01:45 4:57:01 00:01:09 2:51:10 08:38:06 3 Jimmy Johnsen 00:47:52 00:02:19 4:56:15 00:02:24 2:52:01 08:40:47 4 Martin Matula 00:47:57       7:58:12 08:46:08 5 Federico Girasole 00:49:44 00:02:16 5:04:58 00:01:42 2:51:48 08:50:24 Women’s results   Forename Surname SwimEnd Trans1 Bike Trans2 Run Total 1 Bella Comerford 00:49:45 00:02:49 5:31:16 00:02:22 3:10:01 09:36:09 2 Hillary Biscay 00:49:03 00:02:12 5:39:10 00:01:57 3:17:28 09:49:44 3 Nicole Klingler 00:58:56 00:03:06 5:29:49 00:01:26 3:19:24 09:52:36 4 Buckenlei Susanne 01:01:07 00:04:29 5:34:26 00:02:13 3:27:43 10:09:55 5 Yvette Grice 00:49:44 00:03:18 6:08:09 00:01:39 3:22:52 10:25:38 Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest