DAN Top the World!
DAN Top the World!
WORLD QUADRATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009
33 year old Daniel Corner conquered appalling conditions in the Czech Republic to retain his World Quadrathlon crown in Sedlcany last weekend. In torrential rain, Daniel, who races for Shorter Rochford, tackled a gruelling 1500m swim, 7km kayak, 40km bike and 10km run to win for the third consecutive year.
Amazingly he put in the fastest, Kayak, Bike and Run leg, the margin of his victory was over 4 minutes, more than double last years gap over the runner up, Czech National Champion Miroslav Podborsky.
Daniel finished the swim in third place and over the 5 laps of the kayak course gradually overhauled the two athletes in front to take the lead. “Kayaking after swimming is really tough” said Corner “your arms are burning but you have to keep driving on through the pain”. Daniel was closely followed by Hungarian Adam Molnar into the bike transition whilst Podborsky remained a threat in third place.
Daniel is renowned for his world class cycling, but the surface water made the course treacherous. He said after the race “The roads were so slippery it would have been dangerous to push as hard as I usually do, especially on the descents. One mistake could have cost me the race” although he later admitted “my back wheel did kick out at the turn around point.”
After an exceptional run Daniel increased his lead to destroy the rest of the field and finish the race over 4 minutes ahead of Podborsky and German Thoralf Berg in third. “I buried myself on the run, you never know how good your competitors are feeling and I could not afford to be complacent.”
Daniel, who fits his training in around being a full time builder, said “There is something really special about being a triple World Champion, I never ever thought it would happen, I still cannot quite believe it.”
His build up to these championships has been impressive; winning triathlons around the country over the last month in Ripon, Bedford, and Swanage.
At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, he was a member of the 12 man Porsche
Human Performance Relay team who ran 540 miles on a treadmill in 48 hours, to secure a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. “It was an honour to be chosen to take part” said Daniel “although running the equivalent of two marathons at top speed certainly took its toll on my legs”
Daniel is sponsored by Shorter Rochford who have shops in both Potters Bar and North Finchley. He lives in St Albans. His next target is the World Multisport Championships in New Zealand in February.
Only four Quadrathletes went to the World Championships this year, there were two other excellent performances from Keith Longney who won Gold in the Vet 45 catagory, and Peter Hart took silver in Vet 55. Last years Ladies World Champion Helen Dyke, struggled in the kayak with weather conditions, she kept fighting untill the end, but the cold weather took its tole and she finished in 6th place.
Dan Corner WORLD CHAMPION Gold 2.36
Keith Longney Vet 45 Gold 3.06
Peter Hart Vet 55 Silver 3.30
Helen Dyke 6th Lady 3.21
