FATHER and son duo Phil and Matthew Whitehead have qualified for the Ironman World Championships
Phil, who works as a shift team leader at Steven’s Croft Power Station in Lockerbie, is a seasoned triathlete and qualified for the championship race this November in Marbella after completing the Ironman 70.3 in Oman, with his son Matthew.
Their contest saw them smash a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile cycle and a 13.1 mile run in 30 degree sunshine.
Matthew was quicker than his dad on the swim by four minutes, finishing in 26.36 minutes, before heading out on the bike, where he also led the way again, completing the cycle in two hours 14 minutes.
However, the run is Phil’s strongest discipline and he finished the half marathon in 1 hour 25 minutes, six minutes faster than Matt.
Overall, Phil completed the race just over a minute slower than Matt. Matthew had led the 18-24-year-old athletes from the gun, finishing in a time of four hours 18 minutes – a massive 18 minutes ahead of his age group competitors. Phil had worked his way through the 45-49 age group to win in a time of four hours 19 minutes.
Phil said: “I am really happy to have qualified so early in the season and it makes it even better that we are both competing in Marbella. Matthew taking part has meant I’ve had to get back into serious training to keep him on his toes.”
The dynamic duo will be joined at the event by proud wife and mother Marie.
