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Welcome to the Triathlon Informer, an email newsmagazine devoted to the sport and business of triathlon. Today is Wednesday, September 3, 2003. In the news today...

Leder, McCormack to stage rematch in Roth 2004
Half-Ironman UK goes to Andersson, Kristensen
Fire protection forces postponement of sea2summit adventure race
CCFA fundraiser set for Friday
Raid the North Extreme to host '04 world AR champs
Race results: Cartagena ITU

LEDER, McCORMACK TO STAGE REMATCH IN ROTH
Germany's Lothar Leder and Australia's Chris McCormack staged one of the most thrilling Ironman races in the history of the sport in July, with just three seconds separating them at the finish line after a day of dueling side-by-side at the Quelle Challenge Roth in Germany.

Leder took the win, his fifth in Roth, and on Tuesday race officials announced that he would be back for the 2004 and 2005 editions of the Challenge, formerly known as Ironman Europe and now an independent iron-distance race. McCormack, racing for the first time in Roth this year, signed a deal earlier this summer to return through 2005.

As reported by Jens Richter for our German partners tri2b.com, Leder's announcement was made by race director Herbert Walchshöfer at the presentation of the 120-page picture book documenting this year's epic race. "For me this time the decision in favor of Roth is an emotional one," Leder said Tuesday. "I learned many hard lessons here from Jürgen Zäck, but also had five great victories." The last one, against McCormack in July, Leder said, was the greatest—and amazes him still.

Leder's wife, Nicole, who ran away from the field for her win in Roth this summer, will also return. Setting up a potential rematch among the women is Heike Funk, last year’s second-place finisher whose dramatic comeback on the run was a show of sheer grit and determination. Funk told Richter on Tuesday that she is motivated to attempt another great long-course race next season.

Meanwhile, Peter Sauerland, former national coach for German long-course athletes, said Lothar Leder is preparing like never before for the epic battle shaping up next month in Kona at the 25th anniversary of the World Triathlon Championships

Read Richter's complete story, in German, here: http://www.tri2b.com/index_one.php4?e=7233&r=1136&oi

HALF-IRONMAN UK GOES TO ANDERSSON, KRISTENSEN
Sweden's Bjorn Andersson and Denmark's Lisbeth Kristensen made it a Scandinavian sweep of the Half-Ironman UK, staged Sunday, Aug. 31 on its new course from the grounds of Sherbourne Castle.

Andersson relegated 2001 champion Richard Allen of the UK to second on the strength of a smoking bike split, a 2:16, that was the day's fastest and provided enough of a cushion against his chasers on the run. Andersson finished in 3:51:35, nearly two minutes clear of Allen in 3:53:15. The day's fastest run went to third-placed Andy Blow, also of the UK, in 1:06:46; Blow's total time on the day was 3:53:36. In a testament to the speed of the new course, all the top-10 men dipped under the four-hour mark, with tenth-placed Alun Woodward of the UK finishing in 3:59:48.

Great Britain's Spencer Smith, a two-time Ironman winner, found himself out of the running early with a flat tire on the bike course.

Kristensen, meanwhile, showed she's back to the top of her game with a dominating, wire-to-wire win. She came home in 4:20:51 after posting the day's fastest swim, bike and run totals. In second was Gabriela Loskotova of the Czech Republic, with a time of 4:24:02; Germany's Nicole Best rounded out the podium in 4:26:08. Reigning world champion Leanda Cave of Great Britain, an eagerly anticipated starter in her first long-course race, was not able to take the start due to a lingering injury.

Pros were vying for a US$25,000 prize purse and a chance at a qualifying slot for the 2004 Ironman World Championships. There were also 26 age-group slots available. Complete results are here: www.ironmanuk.com.

RESULTS
Half-Ironman UK
Sunday, August 31, 2003; Sherborne Castle, Dorset, England
(1.2 miles/56 miles/13.1 miles)

MEN
1) Bjorn Andersson (SWE), 3:51:35
2) Richard Allen (GBR), 3:53:15
3) Andy Blow (GBR), 3:53:36
4) Tom Soderdahl (FIN), 3:53:50
5) Charly Loisel (FRA), 3:54:54

WOMEN
1) Lisbeth Kristensen (DEN), 4:20:51
2) Gabriela Loskotova (CZE), 4:24:02
3) Nicole Best (GER), 4:26:08
4) Rachel Horn (GBR), 4:26:49
5) Marijke Zeekant (NED), 4:28:40

FIRE PROTECTION FORCES POSTPONEMENT OF SEA2SUMMIT ADVENTURE RACE
Race official Rene Michaely announced this week that concerns about fire danger in the Pacific Northwest, where wildfires have burned hundreds of homes and caused the evacuation of thousands of residents, have forced the postponement of the eighth annual Coast Mountain Sports sea2summit adventure race in Canada. The two-day race was set to begin Saturday and run from Squamish to Whistler, British Columbia. The new date is October 25-26.

Restrictions on backcountry travel imposed in the wake of the fires have prevented the race from going ahead.

"Sea2summit Adventure Racing Ltd. fully supports this Provincial policy and will not challenge or appeal this decision," race officials said on their website. "In consulting with the Forest District, we have learned a lot more in the last few days about how serious this situation is and we can clearly see the bigger picture of the risk of fire in this region and working collectively in preserving our precious resource that allow us to have such recreational activities as adventure races."

There's more here: http://www.sea2summit.com/locations.asp?page=whistlermessage090203

CCFA FUNDRAISER SET FOR FRIDAY
Semicolon.org and Slowtwitch.com resident coach JulieAnne White reports in on a fundraiser to be held this Friday at the El Mirador restaurant in the San Diego area to benefit children suffering from digestive diseases.

The Celebration of Hope for the Children of 2003 will help children afflicted with Crohn's and colitis. White, herself a survivor of gastric trauma at the finish line in Kona ten years ago and a tireless advocate for athletes and others battling to overcome gastric disease, was recently named to the board of trustees for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America's San Diego and desert area chapter.

The party begins at 6:30 p.m. To learn more, get tickets or to make a donation, contact the office in San Diego at 858-274-8898 or e-mail lculver@ccfa.org.

RAID THE NORTH EXTREME TO HOST '04 WORLD AR CHAMPS
The Adventure Racing World Championship will be staged at the 2004 Raid the North Extreme adventure race in August 2004 in Canada, race officials announced this week.

The expedition-length race, staged by Frontier Adventure Racing Inc., is entering its sixth year and will be the first trip to Canada by the world championships, which were staged for the first and only time in Switzerland in 2001. The championships are now back after a two-year absence.

"Over the years, Raid the North Extreme has developed some of the most challenging and interesting races in the world, featuring the incredible geographical diversity and natural beauty found in Canada," said FAR president Geoff Langford, who will serve as race director. "We are very happy to be chosen to host the World Championship and have already begun planning an incredible course and experience for the competitors."

The race is one of seven around the world allied with New Zealand's Southern Traverse Ltd. as qualifying races within the Adventure Racing World Series. The others are: the Southern Traverse, Expedicao Mata Atlantica in Brazil, Adrenalin Rush in Northern Ireland, Appalachian Extreme and The Beast of the East, both in the U.S., and Adventure Quest in Africa.

The race is expected to hold 50 four-person teams that will qualify at the world series races and at other recognized races, as well as experienced teams that meet qualifying standards. They'll be vying for a CAN$100,000 prize purse at a race location in Canada to be announced next month.

"The continued alliance of international qualifying adventure racing series events gives true meaning and authenticity to the title of World Championship team, and we are excited to continue the development begun in Switzerland in 2001," said the Southern Traverse's Geoff Hunt.

To learn more, go here: www.arworldseries.com or www.raidthenorth.com.

-----RACE RESULTS-----
Cartagena ITU Triathlon (ITU points race)
Sunday, August 31, 2003; Cartagena, Colombia
(1.5k/40k/10k)

Complete results at www.triathlon.org

WOMEN
1. Carmenza Morales (COL, 2:12:17
2. Fiorella D’Crozz (COL), 2:13:38
3. Rosemary Lopez (VEN), 2:16:39
4. Maria Isabel Rivas (COL), 2:18:41
5. Ibet Zulay Aguiar (COL), 2:21:42

MEN
1. Jose Luis Cepeda (MEX), 1:54:36
2. Bruno Kohuri (BRA), 1:57:00
3. Eligio Cervantes (MEX), 1:57:22
4. Camilo Gonzalez (VEN), 1:57:35
5. Ricardo Cardeno (COL), 1:57:37

Triathlon Informer invites your contributions of news, race results and commentary. Please send your contributions to editor Amy White at amy@triathloninformer.com or to senior correspondent Jeff Henderson at jeff@triathloninformer.com. Reproduction of material from Triathlon Informer without written permission is strictly prohibited.

If you're interested in supporting Triathlon Informer's news with an underwriting sponsorship, please contact amy@triathloninformer.com.

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Subject:	[TI 2003-09-03] Triathlon Informer

	Welcome to the Triathlon Informer, an email newsmagazine devoted to the sport and business of triathlon. Today is Wednesday, September 3, 2003. In the news today... Leder, McCormack to stage rematch in Roth 2004 Half-Ironman UK goes to Andersson, Kristensen Fire protection forces postponement of sea2summit adventure race CCFA fundraiser set for Friday Raid the North Extreme to host '04 world AR champs Race results: Cartagena ITU LEDER, McCORMACK TO STAGE REMATCH IN ROTH Germany's Lothar Leder and Australia's Chris McCormack staged one of the most thrilling Ironman races in the history of the sport in July, with just three seconds separating them at the finish line after a day of dueling side-by-side at the Quelle Challenge Roth in Germany. Leder took the win, his fifth in Roth, and on Tuesday race officials announced that he would be back for the 2004 and 2005 editions of the Challenge, formerly known as Ironman Europe and now an independent iron-distance race. McCormack, racing for the first time in Roth this year, signed a deal earlier this summer to return through 2005. As reported by Jens Richter for our German partners tri2b.com, Leder's announcement was made by race director Herbert Walchshöfer at the presentation of the 120-page picture book documenting this year's epic race. "For me this time the decision in favor of Roth is an emotional one," Leder said Tuesday. "I learned many hard lessons here from Jürgen Zäck, but also had five great victories." The last one, against McCormack in July, Leder said, was the greatest—and amazes him still. Leder's wife, Nicole, who ran away from the field for her win in Roth this summer, will also return. Setting up a potential rematch among the women is Heike Funk, last year’s second-place finisher whose dramatic comeback on the run was a show of sheer grit and determination. Funk told Richter on Tuesday that she is motivated to attempt another great long-course race next season. Meanwhile, Peter Sauerland, former national coach for German long-course athletes, said Lothar Leder is preparing like never before for the epic battle shaping up next month in Kona at the 25th anniversary of the World Triathlon Championships Read Richter's complete story, in German, here: http://www.tri2b.com/index_one.php4?e=7233&r=1136&oi HALF-IRONMAN UK GOES TO ANDERSSON, KRISTENSEN Sweden's Bjorn Andersson and Denmark's Lisbeth Kristensen made it a Scandinavian sweep of the Half-Ironman UK, staged Sunday, Aug. 31 on its new course from the grounds of Sherbourne Castle. Andersson relegated 2001 champion Richard Allen of the UK to second on the strength of a smoking bike split, a 2:16, that was the day's fastest and provided enough of a cushion against his chasers on the run. Andersson finished in 3:51:35, nearly two minutes clear of Allen in 3:53:15. The day's fastest run went to third-placed Andy Blow, also of the UK, in 1:06:46; Blow's total time on the day was 3:53:36. In a testament to the speed of the new course, all the top-10 men dipped under the four-hour mark, with tenth-placed Alun Woodward of the UK finishing in 3:59:48. Great Britain's Spencer Smith, a two-time Ironman winner, found himself out of the running early with a flat tire on the bike course. Kristensen, meanwhile, showed she's back to the top of her game with a dominating, wire-to-wire win. She came home in 4:20:51 after posting the day's fastest swim, bike and run totals. In second was Gabriela Loskotova of the Czech Republic, with a time of 4:24:02; Germany's Nicole Best rounded out the podium in 4:26:08. Reigning world champion Leanda Cave of Great Britain, an eagerly anticipated starter in her first long-course race, was not able to take the start due to a lingering injury. Pros were vying for a US$25,000 prize purse and a chance at a qualifying slot for the 2004 Ironman World Championships. There were also 26 age-group slots available. Complete results are here: www.ironmanuk.com. RESULTS Half-Ironman UK Sunday, August 31, 2003; Sherborne Castle, Dorset, England (1.2 miles/56 miles/13.1 miles) MEN 1) Bjorn Andersson (SWE), 3:51:35 2) Richard Allen (GBR), 3:53:15 3) Andy Blow (GBR), 3:53:36 4) Tom Soderdahl (FIN), 3:53:50 5) Charly Loisel (FRA), 3:54:54 WOMEN 1) Lisbeth Kristensen (DEN), 4:20:51 2) Gabriela Loskotova (CZE), 4:24:02 3) Nicole Best (GER), 4:26:08 4) Rachel Horn (GBR), 4:26:49 5) Marijke Zeekant (NED), 4:28:40 FIRE PROTECTION FORCES POSTPONEMENT OF SEA2SUMMIT ADVENTURE RACE Race official Rene Michaely announced this week that concerns about fire danger in the Pacific Northwest, where wildfires have burned hundreds of homes and caused the evacuation of thousands of residents, have forced the postponement of the eighth annual Coast Mountain Sports sea2summit adventure race in Canada. The two-day race was set to begin Saturday and run from Squamish to Whistler, British Columbia. The new date is October 25-26. Restrictions on backcountry travel imposed in the wake of the fires have prevented the race from going ahead. "Sea2summit Adventure Racing Ltd. fully supports this Provincial policy and will not challenge or appeal this decision," race officials said on their website. "In consulting with the Forest District, we have learned a lot more in the last few days about how serious this situation is and we can clearly see the bigger picture of the risk of fire in this region and working collectively in preserving our precious resource that allow us to have such recreational activities as adventure races." There's more here: http://www.sea2summit.com/locations.asp?page=whistlermessage090203 CCFA FUNDRAISER SET FOR FRIDAY Semicolon.org and Slowtwitch.com resident coach JulieAnne White reports in on a fundraiser to be held this Friday at the El Mirador restaurant in the San Diego area to benefit children suffering from digestive diseases. The Celebration of Hope for the Children of 2003 will help children afflicted with Crohn's and colitis. White, herself a survivor of gastric trauma at the finish line in Kona ten years ago and a tireless advocate for athletes and others battling to overcome gastric disease, was recently named to the board of trustees for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America's San Diego and desert area chapter. The party begins at 6:30 p.m. To learn more, get tickets or to make a donation, contact the office in San Diego at 858-274-8898 or e-mail lculver@ccfa.org. RAID THE NORTH EXTREME TO HOST '04 WORLD AR CHAMPS The Adventure Racing World Championship will be staged at the 2004 Raid the North Extreme adventure race in August 2004 in Canada, race officials announced this week. The expedition-length race, staged by Frontier Adventure Racing Inc., is entering its sixth year and will be the first trip to Canada by the world championships, which were staged for the first and only time in Switzerland in 2001. The championships are now back after a two-year absence. "Over the years, Raid the North Extreme has developed some of the most challenging and interesting races in the world, featuring the incredible geographical diversity and natural beauty found in Canada," said FAR president Geoff Langford, who will serve as race director. "We are very happy to be chosen to host the World Championship and have already begun planning an incredible course and experience for the competitors." The race is one of seven around the world allied with New Zealand's Southern Traverse Ltd. as qualifying races within the Adventure Racing World Series. The others are: the Southern Traverse, Expedicao Mata Atlantica in Brazil, Adrenalin Rush in Northern Ireland, Appalachian Extreme and The Beast of the East, both in the U.S., and Adventure Quest in Africa. The race is expected to hold 50 four-person teams that will qualify at the world series races and at other recognized races, as well as experienced teams that meet qualifying standards. They'll be vying for a CAN$100,000 prize purse at a race location in Canada to be announced next month. "The continued alliance of international qualifying adventure racing series events gives true meaning and authenticity to the title of World Championship team, and we are excited to continue the development begun in Switzerland in 2001," said the Southern Traverse's Geoff Hunt. To learn more, go here: www.arworldseries.com or www.raidthenorth.com. -----RACE RESULTS----- Cartagena ITU Triathlon (ITU points race) Sunday, August 31, 2003; Cartagena, Colombia (1.5k/40k/10k) Complete results at www.triathlon.org WOMEN 1. Carmenza Morales (COL, 2:12:17 2. Fiorella D’Crozz (COL), 2:13:38 3. Rosemary Lopez (VEN), 2:16:39 4. Maria Isabel Rivas (COL), 2:18:41 5. Ibet Zulay Aguiar (COL), 2:21:42 MEN 1. Jose Luis Cepeda (MEX), 1:54:36 2. Bruno Kohuri (BRA), 1:57:00 3. Eligio Cervantes (MEX), 1:57:22 4. Camilo Gonzalez (VEN), 1:57:35 5. Ricardo Cardeno (COL), 1:57:37 Triathlon Informer invites your contributions of news, race results and commentary. Please send your contributions to editor Amy White at amy@triathloninformer.com or to senior correspondent Jeff Henderson at jeff@triathloninformer.com. Reproduction of material from Triathlon Informer without written permission is strictly prohibited. If you're interested in supporting Triathlon Informer's news with an underwriting sponsorship, please contact amy@triathloninformer.com. To unsusbscribe, send an email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line to: yeoman@triathloninformer.com. For subscription information, please visit http://www.triathloninformer.com/subscribe/index.html or contact amy@triathloninformer.com. Copyright (c) 2003 Triathlon Informer.