Balearman 2006

Trudy wins Balearman in the Balearic Islands
 

 Once again Trudy Brown shows her class and wins the Balearman event held in the Spanish Balearic Islands.  After a disappointing 12th in the World Championships in Lausanne, when she was developing a cold, she came back four weeks later to  put in a great performance in Spain.

Three athletes from Ireland made the trip to the annual "Balearman
Triathlon" in Marjorca this Year.
The new new course based at Playa de Muro proved a difficult task as just
over half the field managed to finish. After the opening 2km swim held in
calm 22degC waters from the shelerted Playa de Muro beach the athletes faced
strong winds on a tough 70km cycle on closed roads, followed by a 19.5km 2
lap run on loose sand and farm trails with tempertures of 40c.  Many
athletes called it a day after the 1st lap of the run and wisely watched the
rest of the field from the beach bars.

Fortunatley all the Irish athletes finished with Trudy Brown, Olyimpian
winning the ladies race in 4.02, 15 minutes ahead of German girls Brigite Beil
and Inga Haude.  With Spainish girl Ana Celia Creus a close 4th.
Joe Moore, formerly from the Olympian club, racing again after a 12 year
break finished in a very respectable 4.36 with Richard shirley, Belfast
Rowing, coming home in 5.03, despite a long walk to obtain a spare wheel following punctures.
The mens race was won by German Timo Bracht in 3.22. Timo with several half
and full Ironman victories including a 8.08 personal best and a 8th overall
in Hawaii was using the race as final preperation for next weekends Hawaii.
His fellow countryman Stenfan Hartig, probably one of the world fastest
veteran athletes with a sub 8.30 Ironman as a vet, 2nd in 8.33

Results
http://www.esportactiu.net/images/stories/CLASIF%20BALEARMAN%20SECTORS%2006.pdf
Info and Podium photograph. http://www.esportactiu.net/