The 1987 Roth Triathlon
1987 was the 4th Roth Triathlon and the 3rd European Middle Distance Championships. Previous races had been held in Aabenras in Denmark in 1985 and in Brasschaat in Belgium in 1986.
The winners were Sarah Coope and Glenn Cook. They’d eventually marry and have 4 daughters together. There was also a team competiton. First three to score. Times added to together.
GBR sent a big national team. Although they’re listed as England in the team results. The athletes were: Glenn Cook, Robin Brew, Mark Knagg, Mike Harris, Bernie Shrosbree, Sarah Coope, Sarah Springman, Vicky Lescombe, Fran Hoare and Cathy Bow.
Peter Moysey was also there but listed as Thames Turbo. There were also two age-groupers. John Myott and Alan Collingborn. Kevin Robinson was entered but didn’t start.
Glenn Cook was almost certainly the only athlete using Scott DH aerobars. Here’s my 13 take-aways from the article:
The foreign national teams stayed on an army base.
Herbert Walschofer, father of Felix, was the stadium announcer.
The swim to bike transition was in Haimpfarrich. And the swim start was 2km down the canal from the lock-gate. Probably under the bridge at Eckersmuhlen.
The finish was on the track at the Gymnasium. Just south of the Stadtpark where the finish is today. In 1988 and for a few years after that, the finish line was on a road. Here it is.
There’s already loads of spectateurs in 1987. There were 300,000 last week for the 2025 race apparently. I was there! They follow the athletes using the canal tow-path.
Dittirch and dommeruth lead the swim. A group containing Cook, Brew and Barel is 30 seconds back. Serge Lecrique gets caught in traffic, drinks plenty of water and loses a minute to team-mates Philippe Methion and Jean-Claude Cauchois.
Lieve Paulus leads the women. Only 90 seconds behind Dittrich. Sarah Coop is so stressed that she zigzags her way down the canal. Losing plenty of time to her rivals.
The athletes had to change in a tent. No more nudity!
Dittrich rides hard at the front. Holding 30 seconds on the Cook and Barel. Cook pushes but the gap doesn’t close. He decides to wait and attack later. Barel punctures. Jurgen Zack lost time in the swim but will have the fastest bike split.
Cook’s waiting game pays off. Despite losing another minute behind a tractor. He racks his bike in first place. He has an unique but efficient running style. And maintains his lead.
Zack eases off on the approach to town. To save his running legs a bit. But Axel Koenders has improved his running. He passes Zack at speed then maintains 2nd place. Zack only just gets his medal. As Serge Lecrique was catching up on the track.
Sarah Coope rode her bike as if there was no run to do afterwards. She takes the lead from Springman with 10km left. She holds her lead on the run for a double-Sarah finish. Irma Zwarktkruis is 3rd. Chantal Malherbe had a great bike and run. But a poor swim kept her off the podium.
Athletes and non-athletes are drinking beer and partying hard during the prize giving. Anthems are not really respected. Will the lack of seriousness be considered negatively by the IOC? “We’ll have to wait and see,” says Glenn Cook.
Images:
Tri-Athlete (FR) Aout 1987
1987 Roth Results Booklet
