BUDE’S Zack Davis put the perfect race together to take victory in the Bude Shoreline Triathlon on Sunday, June 21.

Zack was in front from the start with a great swim leg giving him a sizeable lead over chasing competitors Chris Dominey and former winner Ian Wright.

Narrowly still in the lead at the end of the cycle, Zack knew he would need a great run to stay ahead and ended clear by over a minute to become this year’s winner ahead of Wright and third-placed Dominey.

Kate Robson made it a Bude one-two by being the first woman over the line, a minute and 30 seconds at the finish ahead of Jenny Percival.

The sprint triathlon is centered on Summerleaze Beach car park which acts as a natural amphitheater.

First up is a 500-metre sea swim with four separate starts in five-minute intervals, starting with the men before the ladies, older entrants and the relay teams take to the water.

The swim takes everyone out through the fishing boats, on the sheltered side of Summerleaze Bay, before turning a buoy at the end of the breakwater and then swimming directly back towards the centre of the beach.

Once in the shallows, the triathletes switch to a short but difficult run up the soft, sandy beach and into the transition area at the head of the car park. With everyone wearing a chip timing device on their ankle, the ‘split’ times for each section of the race are collected as the competitors cross various timing mats placed around the transition area and finish line. The swim time is collected as the competitors run into the transition area and the cycle time starts as they leave.

The cycle starts with a tricky ascent of the car park exit road, a lap around Bude’s one-way system and a footdown stop at the Bencoolen Roundabout. Then its off to Widemouth Bay along the coast road with a stiff climb up to the Widemouth Manor before returning to Bude via the A39. As cyclists re-enter the transition zone, they first dismount and then cross another timing mat to collect their cycle time.

The run follows the same route through the town but then deviates off onto the canal towpath for a run up to Rodds Bridge which is followed by some narrow lanes before emerging at the top of Lynstone Road. A fast downhill run brings them back to The Strand and then through the car park to the finish.

The event is generously sponsored by local businesses. Bude Surf Life Saving Club provide safety cover in the sea and also members that help out around the course, while Bude Scouts also provided a number of scouts and leaders who helped.

Thanks were also expressed to various companies and people for providing resources.

The full results of this year’s race can be found on the Shoreline website, while the winners of each category were: Senior Man: Zack Davis (Bude); Senior Woman: Jenny Percival (Chulmleigh); 40 Man: Ian Wright (Carnon Downs); 40 Woman: Kate Robson (Bude); 50 Man: John Wisner (St Austell); 50 Woman: Soozie Trice (Callington); 60 Man: Stuart Dinwoodie (Chippenham); 60 Woman: Debbie Parker (Tavistock); 70 Man: Dick Congdon (Barnstaple); 70 Woman: Joyce Mulholland (Barnstaple); Relay Open: Bude Surf Life Saving Club plus one; Woman Relay: The Three Ladies; Over 50s Relay: The Stratton Stiff Backs.