September

European Triathlon Long Distance Champion 2022 - Kieran Lindars

SPECTACULAR DAY AT CHALLENGE ALMERE-AMSTERDAM In September VoAAC athlete Kieran Lindars headed off to the 2022 Challenge Almere-Amsterdam, which incorporated the European Long Distance Triathlon Championships. After recovering from a serious crash in the bike ride section of last year's race, Kieran was looking to try again this year. Kieran exited the water with the following group behind the early leader, Germany’s Lukasz Wojt, in the 3.8km swim section of the race. Completing the swim in 00.46.40. Heavy rain during the first 30 minutes of the bike ride hampered many athletes, with a couple, including Wojt having issues. Kieran kept going, keeping up with the leaders, completing the 180km bike section in 04:22:45, totalling 05.10.59. Kieran started the run section in the chasing pack, who were some eight minutes behind the leader once they'd racked their bikes. Before long, with two leaders out in front, Kieran started chasing them down. About a third of the marathon done, with one of those leaders starting to struggle, Kieran went into second place. About half way through the marathon, Kieran took the lead. After running the first half-marathon in an impressive 1:16:08 Kieran started to drop the pace slightly, still leading by a big margin over his second place rival. With late challenges happening behind him for second and third positions, Kieran kept out in front. Despite cramping in the final home stretch of the race, Kieran bought home the race victory with a marathon time of 02:42:54. Kieran's finishing time was 7:55:44! Crowning him European Triathlon Long Distance Champion 2022! Breaking the eight hour barrier is an incredible achievement for a Long Distance Triathlon athlete.

INTERVIEW WITH KIERAN AT THE FINISH LINE The race of his life earned Kieran Lindars the European title and victory at Challenge AlmereAmsterdam. Watch his interview as he crossed the finish line having won the event:

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=HX__scE7Fx4

“Having been an athlete for many years you see the hard work officials put in, especially being volunteers. It feels right to give back to the sport that has given me so much joy over the years.”

VoAAC Official

Officials are the beating heart of athletics

VoAAC must provide officials at matches and competitions in order for athletes to be able to compete. The same as a referee and sideline officials must be provided for a football, rugby or hockey match to take place. We currently have gaps in our age groups, where for instance U13 and U15 athletes have NO officials to take to competitions. COVID-19 has meant two years worth of volunteers stepping forward being missed, leaving this age group in particular severely depleted of volunteers. Anyone above 14yrs can qualify to be an official. All it takes is a day to qualify, followed by attendance at a few matches to be officially signed off and ready to officiate at assistant level for the club.

The club will be happy to organise a closed workshop for our volunteers to attend together and qualify as a group if we have enough volunteers step forward. The alternative is match points being deducted from our teams at YDL if we do not supply the correct amount of qualified officials. WE DO NOT WANT THIS! KESTRELS MOVE UP TO U13 IN APRIL OF YEAR 6

What do officials do?

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=vBTdvuW0zAc

Winter is the ideal time to qualify, before the Track & Field season starts again in April. If you are able to help bolster our team of officials. Contact Pat Card at:

voaacmembersec@btinternet.com