A Club Sponsored by Ipswich Borough Council

Welcome to new member Karl Wray. Karl is based at RAF Wattisham and I am sure you will see him around this year.

Gray’s Sprint Triathlon has moved to Sunday 18^th July from September due to the unavailability of the pool.

I collected an Eastern District Cycling handbook for someone and I have forgotten who wanted it. Could you let me know who you are.

It’s that time of year again, when race diaries are filling up and you probably have some idea of which races you are doing. Did you know there is the chance to compete nationally as both an individual and as part of ITC? The UK National Triathlon and Duathlon league is made up of the events listed below. If you are planning to do any of these races then why not take part in the league. It only costs £6 to join in. If you would like to participate, please fill in the attached entry form and send it, together with a cheque for £6 made out to Ipswich Triathlon Club, to me at: 2, The Shingles, Bredfield, Woodbridge, Suffolk.

As both an individual and as a team your/ our best 4 results go forward. However, to compete as a team we need at least 3 competitors, so your club needs you!! Charlie is sorting out part of the website so you can see how many other ITC athletes are entered into various races and if its one of these UK National League races you’ll know that we need to get at least three people together to compete as a club.

There is an endurance category, which includes those events with more than 190 points, and also a duathlon category, in which you must complete three duathlons and one triathlon. (See last month’s newsletter for details of the races or www.uktrileague.org.uk)

What you need to do- If you want to take part, and it’s very worthwhile- two years ago we won the mid-sized club category, is fill in the entry form and send me a cheque for £6 made out to Ipswich Triathlon Club. I will sort out the rest. Once started the league runs itself, but you must make sure you enter races as an ITC athlete.

The Eastern Region Series is a similar idea but more local. This may be of interest to those of you just getting started in the sport and not yet too bothered about travelling further afield, but it’s also still entirely relevant for all club members. You can enter as an individual but I suggest you don’t as a club entry will automatically include all members in the series. The sprint series is as it suggests, made up of sprint races, the main series is made up of longer distance races (mostly Olympic distance and a couple of duathlons). We will be entering as a club for both series, so again when finalising your race diary for the ear, do bear in mind these local races too, and keep an eye on the website to see how many club members are going to the various races. For the Eastern Series we need 4 athletes to enter for ITC to compete as a team, with the first 4 athletes scoring. If we have 8, we will automatically have a B-team, with the next 4 quickest athletes scoring for the B-team (this will all be sorted out automatically). You just need to enter races as normal, but again don’t forget to enter races as an ITC athlete. This way you will be part of our team competition, but will also be able to compete in the series as an individual. No money needed for this one as we will enter the both the sprint and main series as a club, but keep an eye on the website to see if the club needs you at a particular race.

Good luck everyone and see you at the races.

27^th April 18^th May 29^th June 20^th July

Originally I'd planned to do the Wokingham half marathon as my wife has friends living in the area. Unfortunately other commitments prevented us from going that weekend, so as an alternative I put my name down for the Benfleet 15, based on the description in Running World Magazine.

I entered thinking this was a 15 mile road race.....
The Benfleet 15 is a multi-terrain run round Benfleet Creek – the northern coast of Canvey Island in late January (this year the weekend after the snow).
The race HQ was easy to find - parking close to the start/finish. As I've now come to expect (being new to running) the standard hall area with crowds of runners, a small stall selling running goods and a map of the course (this time a cartoon map well explained by one of the marshals). The normal queue for the toilets.
The race started on a rugby pitch and then headed out eastward along the creek wall before doubling back on itself. Then past a golf course, across the bridge over the flood barrier and round Benfleet railway station. All straightforward traffic free running along a damp gravel track, with a few mile markers (the missing ones may well have been blown away). A bit narrow to start with, but some nice views back across the creek. The next stretch, out past Hadleigh Castle was across fields, along a stream bed over styles and through gates. Very muddy and wet – reduced to a walk at one point just to keep upright. Then back along the sea wall to the finish. Well windy and wet which meant a slow time. A well marshalled run, no traffic and well organised the interesting scenery was a definite plus.

We are in the process of getting another supplier of club clothing particularly cycling tops and tri suits now that Alexa have stopped producing club kit.

T shirts (red) £5 Sweatshirts (red) £10

Training (Drill) tops (black) £15 Crop triathlon vests (Lycra)- £15

Short sleeved cycling tops £20 Long Sleeved Cycling Tops £25

Short sleeved cycling skin suits - £30

Long Sleeved ‘Lombardia’ cycling tops full zip 3 rear pockets £35

Running vests (ladies and gents styles) - £15

1 pair of Shimano Ultregra race wheels, ideal for new season
and fast bike splits ! £100. Please call Gary Matthews on 07971 602482

Brand New Kona Bike (52cm frame) Never been used (a little too small for owner. Retails at £700 Offers Stuart Ford. SFord@cozen.com

Peugeot Boys Blue / Yellow Racing Bike 12 gears. Suit 10 – 12 year old. £90. Phone Janet Henderson 01728 830101

Raleigh Racing Bike (White) 18" Frame 24" Wheels 5 Gears £35 ono

Universal Mountain Bike 14" Frame 20" Wheels 12 Gears £25 ono

Phone Steve Hicks on 01473 624761

Sun 4^th Milton Keynes Duathlon 10k/40k/5k

Tue 6^th Diss and District 10 mile tt 6.30pm

Fri 9^th Sudbury 5 mile and fun run

Tue 13^th Godric cc 10 mile tt Earsham 7.00pm

Wed 14^th Stowmarket cc 10 mile tt Coombs 6.45pm

Sun 18^th London Marathon

Thur 29^th Plomesgate cc 10 mile tt Sudbourne 6.45pm

Thur 6^th Newmarket Heath 6k run

Sun 9^th Woodbridge 10k

Sun 23^rd Ipswich Jaffa 5 mile / 10 mile

Tue 25^th Bungay 10k series race 1

Fri 28^th Kirton 5 mile

Fri 4^th Bury Friday 5 and fun run

Fri 11^th Jaffa Friday 5 and fun run

Tue 15^th Bungay 10k series race 2

Fri 25^th Stowmarket Friday 5 and fun run

Sun 27^th Bedford Triathlon 400m / 23k / 5k

Sun 4^th Rob Maclean Junior Triathlon

Sun 4^th Newmarket 10k

Tue 13^th Bungay 10k series

Sat 24^th Upminster Junior Triathlon

Sun 25^th Culford Sprint Triathlon 400m / 21k / 4k

Sun 25^th Milton Keynes Triathlon 1500m / 40k / 10k

Chair - Ron Bareham (01787) 282189

Secretary - Simon Palmer (01449) 711906

e-mail: simon.palmer@talk21.com

Treasurer - Paul Bones (01986) 872402

Mens Captain - Nick Collinson (01394) 380337

Junior Co-ordinator - Dennis Spashett (01473) 270573

Kit Coordinator Adrian Green 01379 388855

Communications and Webmaster Charlie Stannett

Deadline for next issue of ITCH April 28^th