Bluff ironmen trio show their mettle at world champs
Barry van der Merwe, Clint Chant and Grant Guerin represented South Africa as well as Team Bluff Multisport.
THREE Bluff residents participated in the 70.3 Ironman World Champs in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, 2 September.
Barry van der Merwe, Clint Chant and Grant Guerin represented South Africa as well as Team Bluff Multisport.
To be able to compete in the 70.3 Ironman World Champs, entrants had to earn a qualifying slot at various Ironman events around the world. The Ironman 70.3 event consisted of a 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and a 21km run.
There are three Ironman events in South Africa every year – 70.3 East London, full Ironman in Port Elizabeth and the 70.3 Durban. This was the first time that the 70.3 world champs were held in South Africa in Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay.
On Saturday, 1 September the women’s event took place with 1,611 women athletes competing, including 50 professionals from across the world. On Sunday, 2 September it was the men’s event where 2,803 male athletes including 50 global professionals competed. The 2019 70.3 World Champs is going to be held in Nice, France.
Barry van der Merwe finished in a time of 4:37:24 and 34th in his age category 45-49. Clint Chant finished in a time of 5:31:34 and 358th in his age category 35-39, while Grant Guerin finished in a time of 4:30:52 and 63rd in his age category 35-39.
