Ironman Paul heading to Vegas

The Bexhill-based triathlete achieved his target of competing in the global event in Nevada next September by winning the 30-34 age group at the Ireland Half Ironman.

The ironman brand events attract the best professional and age group athletes from all over the world with competitors setting their sights on a coveted World Championships slot.

Holdaway travelled to Galway, Ireland, to race the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon over the half ironman distance which consists of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and a 21.1km half marathon run.

He completed the event in four hours and 25 minutes with a 31-minute swim, two-hour and 19-minute bike, and a one-hour and 27-minute half marathon, finishing 17th athlete overall, third amateur and beating a few professional athletes.

The next 12 months will see Holdaway, an experienced athlete who has returned from long-term injury over the past two years, race at more international events, starting with the Lanzarote Half Ironman on November 10 and followed by national events in 2013.

Holdaway is director of the Bexhill-based TL Sports Events and race director to many of Bexhill’s successful annual sports events such as the Poppy Half Marathon, Big 10K, Bexhill Triathlon and the Sussex Triathlon at Ashburnham Place.

See tomorrow’s Bexhill Observer for the full article.