19-02-2025
Carlisle father-son duo qualify for Ironman World Championships
A father and son from Carlisle have qualified for the Ironman World Championships.
Phil and Matthew Whitehead earned their spots after leading their age groups in the Ironman 70.3 Oman.
They are set to compete in the international race in Marbella in November.
The qualifying contest saw them complete a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile cycle, and a 13.1-mile run in 30-degree sunshine.
Mr Whitehead, a shift team leader for at Steven's Croft Power Station, has previously competed at the World Championships in Hawaii in 2017, then in Nice in 2019 and 2023.
Matthew, a project management degree apprentice with Atkins Realis, only took up triathlon two years ago.
He had his first major win as part of a relay team at Lakesman, the award-winning event he organises with his dad and his mum, Marie.
Ironman 70.3 Oman was his first attempt at qualifying for the World Championships.
Matthew beat his dad on the swim by four minutes, finishing in 26:36.
He also led the way on the bike, completing the cycle in two hours 14 minutes.
However, as the run is Mr Whitehead's strongest discipline, he finished the half marathon in one hour 25 minutes, six minutes faster than his son.
Overall, he completed the race just over a minute slower than his son.
Matthew had led the 18-24-year-old athletes from the gun, finishing in a time of four hours 18 minutes, 18 minutes ahead of his age group competitors.
Mr Whitehead had worked his way through the 45-49 age group to win in a time of four hours 19 minutes.
Matthew said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have qualified at my first attempt and I cannot wait for Marbella.
"There is already a big group of supporters who have booked flights and hotels to cheer us on so it should be a great weekend."
Mr Whitehead added: "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."
