Race Report W/E 16th June
Congratulations to everyone who was out racing this weekend, and over the previous week. With the weather settling into a fairly typical British Summer pattern, there was a mix of rain, wind and sunshine to add some extra zest to the several triathlons, runs, swim and epic cycle adventure that made up the most recent club adventures.
As usual, I am really trying to be as complete as I can. I really apologise if you raced and you’re not here – please do email me (details below) and we can correct things. Sadly, the club calendar has a few glitches, so again, sorry if you’ve had a poor experience recently with the race calendar. Again, for the time being just email me with any future races and I’ll keep a look out. And, if like a few, you didn’t get round to doing either, just IM or email me and let me know you raced. I’m literally just trying to ensure there’s as complete a celebration of what we do as a club as there can be. And, I’m also trying to make sure that you are dealt with fairly at the end of season awards at the Christmas dinner.
Parkland Relays
Those of you who are still wedded to Mark Zuckerberg’s products will have seen we had a great turn out at the Parkland Relays in Richmond Park on Wednesday. It’s a fantastic low key event, even in the rain. Teams of 3 compete, relay style (1 lap round the Pen Ponds apiece).
Eimear Toomey and Colin Frew did a fantastic job of organising this year’s team entries, and Lizzie Matthews managed to set up a proper Ful-on Tri area (including the flags!!)
Taking part were: Sarah Watts; Ed Challes; Jim Pengelly; Julia May-Rowe; Eimear Toomey; Richard Bridger; Christian Bergara; Janice Nieuwoudt; Pierre Guilpain; Katherine Montserrat; Jules Weall; Rob Carder; Katie Wright; Borja Portos; Colin Frew; Sybille Schorm; Daniel Montilla Navas; Mark Sempers; Katie McCreadie; Stefie Woodward; James Ellis; Sian Morgan; Sapna Sekhri; Frankie Evans; Jessica Rice; Cheryl Boshi; Julen Diez; Ruth Purbrook; Jose Henao Lopez; Emma Swinnerton; Ursula Hankinson; Thomas Masters; Paula Rutherford; Sally Benton; Claire Atkinson; Katie Marsh; Martin Bruwer; Christina Archer; Vasili Lyras; Jonathan Furuya; Tamsin Ede; Stewart Juroszek; Freddie Coleman; Mark Benton; Nicky Huskens; Phil Smith; Benjamin Harrison; Jonnty Bloomfield; Tom Cullimore; Tistian Thornhill; and, John Borton.
That’s a fantastic field of runners to put together – all thanks to Eimear and Colin’s hard work. And it’s really good to see so many new club members taking part!
Rumour has it we had both the second fastest men’s and women’s teams?
River Arun Iron Swim (3.8k)
I first did this some 4 or 5 years ago, when I was one of the only club members sliding down the mud into the brackish waters of the River Arun. It’s a fun way of testing out the Ironman swim distance for first timers – particularly as the start is at the turn of the tide, so the current speeds with you towards the finish. This year we had a big turnout of: Walt Rothon; Pete Doubleday; Jules Weall; Sapna Sekhri; Gina Siebler; and, Stuart Archer. Some very fast times – aided I understand by good timing with the tide – with everyone finishing under an hour.
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Eastbourne Triathlon
When I used to visit my grandparents in Eastbourne it was certainly the last place I would ever imagine something as active as a triathlon taking place. Two distances were on offer: Sprint and Olympic. Club couple Emma Swinnerton and Jose Henao Lopez both raced the Olympic distance, finishing in 2hr 39min and 2hr 45min, and claiming 8th and 18th overall. Great racing both!
Les Sables d’Olonne Ironman 70.3
Over in France, we had 3 club members taking on the latest Ironman 70.3 event: Les Sables d’Olonne. Faye Sanders, Nick de Bouillane and Thomas Mary were all taking part with some spectacular successes.
Nick finished fastest for the club, in just under 4hr 32min, coming 69th overall and 12th in M30-34. Thomas and Fay finished close together, in 5hr 20min and 5hr 21min respectively, with Faye coming 7th in her race category and winning a place in the World Champs for 70.3 later in the year!!
Windsor Triathlon
Out in Royal Windsor, the annual Windsor Olympic tri was taking place this weekend. Two of the club were racing the course: Enrique Pinel; and, Rachel Maydell.
Some great times by both – finishing 7th and 8th in their race categories respectively!!
The Lakesman Triathlon (Full and Middle Distance)
Up in the England’s picturesque Lake District, a race was taking place as hard as the surrounding landscape is beautiful – the Lakesman Triathlon. Competitors are offered the chance to take part in either Middle or Full distance courses (that’s either 1.9k swim, 90k bike, 21k run or double). This year we had two club members competing: Thomas Heaton (on the Full course); and, Shaun Wood (on the Middle).
Sadly Thomas DNF’d after some great racing and I’m sure will be back on the next Full course with greater confidence and wisdom. Shaun not only completed the Middle distance in a speedy time of 4hr 40min, but also came 5th overall and bagged a top podium in his age group!
Meanwhile, Sophie Kirk was out and about trying out the water and getting in her first Ironman length swim – very symmetrical according to Strava.
Grand Fondo Mt Ventoux
Katherine Montserrat was one of the club taking part in a monster race this weekend. Mont Ventoux is a terror course on many a Tour de France, featuring long steep climbs and huge exposed windy sections on the approach to the summit. Katherine stormed the Grand Fondo in a little over 7 hours!
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Freckleton Half Marathon
Up in Lancashire, club coach Xavier Faux was racing the Freckelton Half Marathon, nailing a 1hr 24min finish time and coming 7th overall!!
Saxon Shore Half Marathon
With a costal course winding from Herne Bay to Whitstable in Kent, this sounds like a great summer half marathon. Our very own Sybille Schorm was racing, finishing in 1hr 37min and coming 2nd in her race category!
Raid Pyrenees
Perhaps taking the prize this week for Katie Wright level of challenge, Richard Huntrods was taking part in one of the most famous of all cycling challenges, the Raid Pyrenees.
In Richard’s own words: “This sees riders cross from the Atlantic coastal town of Hendaye to the Mediterranean coastal town of Cerbere, via 18 mandatory Cols and approximately 720km of riding and 20,000m elevation within a strict cut-off of 100 hours. The Raid is a true classic cycling tour taking in some of the most renowned climbs in world including – in one 170k day – the Col d’Aubisque (1709m), followed by the Col du Soulor (1464m) via the spectacular Circle of Death! followed by the infamous Col du Tourmalet (2115m), 18.6km at an average 7.6% and the Col d’Aspen (1489m). Ordinarily this is a spectacular event, but with 2 days of solid rain, freezing summit temperatures and teeth-chattering wind-chill on the long descents the word epic could often be replaced with ordeal. On stages 4 and 5 the sun shone on some spectacular scenery stunning, an incredible 30k descent and the beautiful 20k coastal road final destination on the Spanish boarder.”
Well done to everyone competing for the club over the last week.
As usual, if you have any races coming up in the next few weeks, or if I’ve made the grievous error of missing you out this week, please email me on fixtures@fulontri.com.