Hales set to make grade (From Sutton Guardian)

Hales set to make grade

2:04pm Thursday 16th April 2009

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The first Thames Turbo Sprint Triathlon of the four-race series took place on Monday, attracting another full field of more than 400 athletes of all standards, writes Justin Webb.

Racing at the sharp end was very close, with professional triathlete Dion Harrion taking the win, racing in Thames Turbo colours.

Harrison has spent most of the winter training in Stellenbosch, South Africa, with top triathletes, including former world champion Tim Don. It was nearly a clean sweep on the men’s podium from the Thames Turbo athletes, but Twickenham youngster Bradley Hales, from Kew-based Optima Racing Team, took third spot.

At just 19 years of age, Hales is a strong prospect for the future.

He has been training under level three triathlon coach James Beckinsale and with the Optima Racing Team for about a year. He is currently taking a gap year before attending Loughborough University in September.

Despite taking on a full-time job to help pay for his university fees, Hales is dedicating all of his spare time to triathlon. Loughborough University’s triathlon programme is establishing its place as Britain’s best, attracting the elite of British Triathlon. Hales’ coach James Beckinsale hopes that mixing with the world class athletes and coaches up at Loughborough will bring Bradley’s triathlon skills on leaps and bounds.

“Bradley has been competing in triathlons for about a year-and-a half after a very successful swimming background for Staines Swim Club,” said Beckinsale.

“He has shown great promise for such a young athlete, and is well and truly smitten by triathlon and has a very promising future in the sport.”

Loughborough is a British Triathlon High Performance Centre, providing medical and coaching support for athletes on the World Class Programme.

Hales will be testing himself again this weekend at the Dragon Slayer Duathlon at the new Redbridge Cycle Circuit, the third race in the Triathlon London League series.

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