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Triathlete Andrea Nightingale has smashed her personal best to qualify for the sport’s world championships in her age – alongside securing her place in two other global events.
Riding at speeds of up to 47mph, she knocked seven minutes off her personal best for the triathlon – which takes in swimming, cycling and running – and crossed the line in third place at a UK qualifying event at Arundel Castle in the South Downs National Park.
It means Mrs Nightingale, who is supported by Ravenscroft, has qualified for the Age Group World Standard (Olympic) Distance Triathlon Championships in Rotterdam in the Netherlands this September.
That’s in addition to qualifying for the 97km (60.2m) road race at the Age Group World Cycling Championships in Albi, France, in August. It’s a double feat she achieved last year, but has now been bettered by securing a place in the 22.5km individual time trial at the world cycling championships.
‘I was on a mission to claim my spot for the triathlon in Holland, after coming seventh in a qualifier in Ripon,’ said Mrs Nightingale, 55. ‘My goal was to beat two hours and 42 minutes, so I was chuffed to cross the line in third in two hours, 36 minutes and 14 seconds in Arundel.’
She added: ‘There are three qualifying races for the triathlon world championships in the UK, with the top four in each receiving an automatic place. Roll-down places are available at the discretion of the GB team manager, if you get 115% of the winner’s time.
‘I got a place, but could have lost that if I hadn’t competed at Arundel. The event was sold out, but I persuaded the organiser to squeeze me in.’
The Arundel qualifier featured a fast one-way river swim followed by an undulating bike and a brutal, hilly two-lap run. ‘I recorded a three-minute personal best for the swim and, during the cycle, hit a terrifying 47mph on a downhill section,’ said Mrs Nightingale. who is Guernsey’s Drug and Alcohol Strategy Coordinator.
‘We twice faced a huge hill on the run that felt like going straight up the Val de Terres without the winding road.’
As well as securing her triathlon place in Holland, Mrs Nightingale qualified for the 97km (60.2km) road race at the age group world championships earlier this summer after taking part in a UK event involving 8,000 riders.
She also finished in the top five for the time trial qualification race, but only the top three were automatically selected. However, one of those riders has now dropped out and Mrs Nightingale will compete in the event at the Albi championships.
‘I am so grateful for the sponsorship from Jon Ravenscroft and his team. I have several hard weeks of training ahead, but am looking forward to flying the flag for Guernsey and Team GB,’ added Mrs Nightingale.
Katy Sandrey, group head of marketing & PR at Ravenscroft, congratulated Mrs Nightingale on her latest sporting success. ‘To qualify for two world championship events is incredible in itself. However, to do it for two years in a row and secure a spot in a third world event is just fantastic. Ravenscroft and the whole of Guernsey will be cheering Andrea on,’ she said.
