University sports lecturer bidding for international glory

A University of Gloucestershire sports lecturer has qualified for the Sprint Distance Duathlon World Championships that will take place in Aviles, Spain in June.

Jordan Wintle, who is an Academic Course Leader and Senior Lecturer in Physical Education based at the university’s Oxstalls campus in Gloucester, qualified for the International Triathlon Union Sprint Distance Duathlon World Championships by gaining the fifth automatic qualifying spot at the Bedford Autodrome Duathlon.

Jordan, who is also University of Gloucestershire graduate, is a steering group member for Cheltenham School Sports Network and was a PE teacher for 10 years, competed in the sprint duathlon distance, which consists of a 5k running leg, followed by a 20k cycling leg and then a 2.5k running leg.

Jordan, age 33, from Cheltenham has devoted the past three months training for this event. His aim was to qualify for the GB Age Group Team. In order to do this, he had to finish in the top six in his age group (age 30–34) for an automatic spot, or finish inside 115% of the age group winner to be in contention for one of 5 ‘rolldown’ places (allocated by lowest percentage first).

Despite injury setbacks during training, including a shoulder dislocation after a bike crash in January, he qualified in fifth place in a time of 58 minutes 9 seconds. Jordan’s training partners Ross Mahoney and Lloyd Dobson also qualified, making a clean sweep for the Mad Cow Duathletes.

Jordan said: “I’m over the moon, I hadn’t thought of much else for the last 3 months, and with my shoulder injury taking four weeks out of my training I really wasn’t sure if I could do it. It was great to be able to complete the qualification as a team, the real hard work starts now.”

“My children, Poppy [6] and Amber [3] don’t really have a clue but they think Daddy is a fast runner and can ride a bike without stabilisers – I am more than happy with that.”

Jordan will take part in the International Triathlon Union Sprint Distance Duathlon World Championships on 5 June. He will need to raise £2000 to take part, so any businesses interested in sponsoring Jordan can contact him on 01242 715283 or email: jwintle1@glos.ac.uk. Follow Jordan’s progress in his blog.