Graves and Morrison take UK 70.3
20-year old Philip Graves won the 2009 Ironman 70.3 UK with a great ride and solid run and showed that he isn't just a gifted road racer. Catriona Morrison held off Julie Dibens enroute to her win.
"The lad that won is a bike powerhouse! – He has been racing Junior and U23 for GBR the last 2 seasons and the British team have used him with some success as a domestique at that level," said 2008 70.3 UK champion Fraser Cartmell after the race. "I was very very impressed with him – he is only 20. I knew of his bike pedigree but to be honest was more concerned with Bjorn. When Philip rode away from us, Bjorn had not yet bridged up, and when he did the hills on the course took effect and he (Bjorn) struggled, so it was really myself who drove the pace in an attempt to stem the gap. We arrived in T2 with just over a 4min deficit and I believed we would run him down fast. We took 2 minutes out of him in the first run lap but full credit to him, he held on very well – and even had the fastest final run lap."
Ironman 70.3 UK
Wimbleball, UK / June 14
Top 10 men
1. Philip Graves (GBR) 4:15:58
2. Stephen Bayliss (GBR) 4:19:41
3. Fraser Cartmell (GBR) 4:20:37
4. Bjorn Andersson (SWE) 4:23:00
5. Dann Brook (GBR) 4:25:52
6. Rich Allen (GBR) 4:29:06
7. Ted As (SWE) 4:31:06
8. Kit Stokes (GBR) 4:39:42 * AG M35-39
9. Brian Jenkins (GBR) 4:42:39
10. Dave Woodgate (GBR) 4:45:17
Top 10 women
1. Catriona Morrison (GBR) 4:40:14
2. Julie Dibens (GBR) 4:43:02
3. Bella Bayliss (GBR) 4:44:02
4. Abigail Bayley (GBR) 4:51:20
5. Lesley Paterson (GBR) 4:53:30
6. Tara Prowse (GBR) 4:56:00
7. Emma Smith (GBR) 5:11:10 * AG F25-29
8. Georgie Rutherford (GBR) 5:26:11 * AG F25-29
9. Catherine Powrie (GBR) 5:38:35 * AG F35-39
10. Lucy Bowditch (GBR) 5:41:34 * AG F45-49
