Rhian Roxburgh stars as she leads North Wales club GOG Triathlon in a magical European adventure

Rhian Roxburgh (centre) pictured after winning the recent Bala Olympic Distance Triathlon. Rhian finished second in her age group at the Ironman 70.3-mile race in Cascais, Portugal. Below: Rhian with her cat award from the Ironman

North Wales wonder woman Rhian Roxburgh is celebrating another superb success in Europe.

Rhian finished second in her respective age group at the gruelling Ironman 70.3-mile race in Cascais, Portugal.

She was among eight members from the very talented GOG Triathlon Club competing.

It was not the first time super-fit Rhian has tested herself at the extremely challenging Ironman events. Competing in the 2019 World Championships in Nice, France, she placed sixth in age group.

Rhian is a specialist at triathlon, having completed her first in 2005.

She competed in the World Age Group Championships several times, winning a bronze medal in 2006 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Rhian was also sixth in the worlds at 30-34 Female AG category in Hamburg (2007) and fourth 30-34 in Vancouver, Canada (2008).

Perhaps her greatest achievement is winning back-to-back gold medals at the European Championships.

In 2010, she landed first place in the F 35-39 age group in Athlone, Ireland, and followed up with another first 35-39 finish at Pontevedra, Spain in 2011.

This led to her winning the British Triathlon Female Age Group Athlete of the Year award.

In 2011, she took time out to start a family with husband Simon, also a renowned athlete. The couple now have two children, Rosie and Sam.

Rhian later made a comeback and added Ironman to her repertoire. She now runs TriRox Training, working as a full-time triathlon coach.

She remains a top performer, her latest success coming in Portugal.

A GOG club spokesman confirmed the outstanding success of their eight members in Cascais.

“As a club, we’re super proud of the eight squad members that raced Ironman 70.3 in Portugal. Every single one of them put in tremendous performances and got to run down the famous red carpet.

“With many of them overcoming injuries and sickness, just getting to the start line was an achievement, and for every one of them to finish was phenomenal. However, we must give a special shout out to our head coach Rhian Roxburgh who finished second overall in her age group.”

Roll call of GOG athletes

Rhian Roxburgh 5.02.53
Claire Parsley 5.45.54
Merf Jones 5.49.04
Miklos Biro 5.53.43
Elizabeth Driscoll 6.33.36
Angharad Lewis 7.09.19
Steph Conway 7.32.33
Melissa Everley 8.07.13.

GOG triathlete Paul Garstang wins MV55 age cat at Bangor Half Marathon

Report by Don Hale

GOG Triathlete Paul Garstang (pictured above) enjoyed a good run out at the Bangor Half Marathon, crossing the finish line in 1 hour 35 minutes and 7 seconds to take 1st place in his MV 55-59 age group.

Also competing in the same event were Billy Thomas, who bagged a PB with a 1.42.15 and Steve Dutton, recording an impressive 2.04.17.

Meanwhile in the Bangor 10K, GOG Triathlon Club had a number of participants.

Times: Tom Simpson 46.04, Phil Tracey 49.59, Liz Evans 54.01, and Joshua White 59.15.

Andy Jones was the only GOG at the Ras Y Mynydd 5-mile fell race, where he clocked a strong 42.30, taking 4th place overall.

GOG Podcast or GOGcast now available

The GOG Triathlon Club now has their very own innovative podcast.

Club member Simon Roxburgh confirmed: “The club run their very own GOGcast with monthly interviews with club members and people involved in endurance sports from the wider public.

“I did the first two episodes a few years back – an interview with Rhian and then Adrian Leonard – but ran out of time to do more. Fortunately, John and Michelle Farrell have picked up the baton and have recorded a further eleven episodes!”

This is the link to the latest one: Episode 13 – Paula Stevens – Becoming an Ironman, despite the Menopause
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-gogcast/id1505001322?i=1000583598041