|
Ross Welton
...seen here at Diss duathlon before
learning how to speak Spanish. Que? |
Doblo Olympico, Elche (Spain), 6th May
Having randomly spotted this
event whilst idly surfing Triathlon websites one day at
work, I decided it would be 'fun' to enter and have a go at
the 3000m sea swim, 80km bike and 20km run, just 20 mins
away from Alicante Airport. Having only competed in London
olympic triathlon last year, it was a fairly big leap up in
distance, but I thought "its in Spain, if I mess up no one
will know…"
The flight to Alicante with
the bikes proved very efficient, and it was only £15 each
way to take the bikes with Ryanair, worth remembering. We
arrived on the Friday night and the race was on the Sunday
morning, so plenty of time to acclimatise to the unseasonal
27c heat. We used the Saturday to carry out some research on
the course and the thorough results concluded, long and wet,
followed by long and hot, and finally long, hot and hilly!!
Time well spent.
Arriving at the Swim venue,
which was out on the coast, it was amazing to see so many
people who were so outrageously 'ripped' (youth slang for
toned and athletic) which was worrying, I like to pick
someone out that I think "yep I'll beat them" thus not being
last. It then became apparent that this was the Spanish
National Middle Distance Championships…. The collection of
top notch bikes and elaborate wheels only added to the fear!
My Spanish is embarrassingly non-existent and unfortunately
there were no English speakers, so the pre-race briefing was
a little challenging, but I was sure there would be someone
in front of me to follow.
The Swim was a beach start,
with around 500 starting in the mens wave. The course was
two 1500m laps with a 20m run in between them. The swim went
pretty well, only a few slappings early on, and I went into
T1 in around 51mins. The exit of T1 was a massive hill to
start the 80km bike ride from the coast inland to the town
of Elche. It wasn't the most scenic route in the world, and
the heat was already hotter than anticipated and it was only
10am. I had stomach cramps early on, which meant my strict
feeding program went out the window, but the quality of the
Spanish bananas at the feed stations were a welcome snack.
Having negotiated the bike
leg (my worst discipline)
(see report on Diss duathlon in
earlier edition of ITCH)
in fairly wimpish fashion, the final leg was a 20km, two lap
run route which had a 200m up hill 18%slope to be negotiated
at the end of each lap, an absolute killer! The run went
pretty well, I managed to claw back some of the time lost on
my biking and by the second lap I started to feel
comfortable and my watch was showing 8min/miles which was
quicker than anticipated.
Crossing the line was
pleasing, I was looking to do six hours, having no idea of
pacing etc and wanting to make sure I finished and I came in
5hrs 38m. The event was so well organised and marshalled.
The pre-race kit bag dished out to everyone included
T-shirts, training bag, lock laces and all kinds of
paraphernalia, and finisher T-shirts were also given out as
you crossed the line. I have already pencilled the race in
for next year (it's cheaper than London) and may well make a
nice club race…..
Ross Welton |
|
Anon
I believe this is Lucy Bowditch, on her
way to coming second at Waveney (picture lifted from tri-anglia's
website) |
Waveney Valley triathlon - Sunday 13th May
I do not appear to have received a full race report for
Waveney but I gather from the official website that:
"The forecast rain held off
long enough for Billy Parker-Brown of Tri and Run to win
the 2007 Waveney Valley Triathlon, with Juliet Vickery
of Cambridge Tri winning the Ladies race.
"Having been held for over 10
years the Waveney Valley Triathlon is a well established
event on the Eastern Region Triathlon calendar and being
an early Super-Sprint Triathlon it is incredibly popular
with all levels of local triathletes from novice
through to elite. This year the 150 places were full
within 6 days of entries opening.
"The Super-Sprint has the
shortest distances of all triathlons open to adult
competitors. The Waveney Valley version involves a 400m
swim in the Waveney Valley swimming pool just south of
Bungay, a 20km bike ride around the All Saints villages
south of Bungay and a tough 3.2km hilly run to finish"
However, I did get a note from Sarah
Jennings who, having only just joined the club, was shown as
competing for Woodbridge Shufflers. Despite being new, Sarah
won her age group, which
is brilliant. Ann Fish and William Newland also won
their age groups, as did a Maria Reynolds who is shown as
unattached but whom I'm assuming is our Maria, while Lucy
Bowditch was second lady overall. Lee Bark was second man
overall but also appears to have been competing unattached.
|
Pos |
Name |
Cat |
Cat Pos |
M/F |
M/F Pos |
Total |
Club |
|
1 |
Billy Parker-Brown |
C |
- |
M |
1 |
00:46:14 |
Tri
and Run |
|
2 |
Lee Bark |
I |
- |
M |
2 |
00:46:57 |
n/a? |
|
15 |
Juliet Vickery |
H |
- |
F |
1 |
00:53:06 |
Cambridge
Tri |
|
21 |
Iain Downie |
G |
6 |
M |
20 |
00:53:57 |
|
|
33 |
Lucy Bowditch |
H |
- |
F |
2 |
00:56:07 |
|
|
34 |
William Newland |
J |
1 |
M |
32 |
00:56:08 |
|
|
68 |
Julia Yelloly |
H |
3 |
F |
8 |
01:00:42 |
|
|
80 |
Adrian Green |
F |
8 |
M |
70 |
01:02:40 |
|
|
82 |
Julia Green |
F |
3 |
F |
11 |
01:02:47 |
|
|
89 |
Tom Wilmott |
F |
9 |
M |
76 |
01:04:33 |
|
|
94 |
Grayhame Fish |
K |
2 |
M |
81 |
01:05:40 |
|
|
97 |
Sarah Jennings |
G |
1 |
F |
15 |
01:06:02 |
Woodbridge
Shufflers |
|
98 |
Helen Farrow |
H |
5 |
F |
16 |
01:06:14 |
|
|
105 |
Anne Fish |
K |
1 |
F |
20 |
01:07:09 |
|
|
110 |
Simon Palmer |
J |
6 |
M |
88 |
01:08:41 |
|
|
119 |
Nik Bestow |
I |
14 |
M |
94 |
01:09:46 |
|
|
128 |
Barbara Tottle |
K |
2 |
F |
28 |
01:12:21 |
|
|
131 |
Maria Reynolds |
J |
1 |
F |
30 |
01:15:00 |
n/a? |
Fuller results on
http://www.tri-anglia.co.uk/WaveneyTriathlon/ include
splits - there are also some photographs. |
|
Strivs Miller

...seen here at Diss duathlon...

...and seen here holding off GB
competition in the world champs.
(Sarah went on to beat the other lady by six minutes.) |
World Duathlon
Championships - Gyor, Hungary Sunday 20th May
Despite the huge cost &
lack of heavy duty sponsors I set off nervously in the
(very) early hours of the Thursday before the race to pick
up my flight at Luton Airport! I was nervous, not because of
the race but because my bike was in many pieces in a box
(thanks Dave & Susannah for the loan of the box) & I had no
idea how to get it back together again!
I needn't have worried,
there was a huge GB team there (only equalled by team USA) &
my fellow athletes couldn't have been more supportive &
helpful - probably because they realised I wasn't going to
be worrying any of them in the medal stakes! A very kind
young lady vet (not an oxymoron, a veterinary surgeon, she
won a silver medal in her age group in the end - well done
Louise Kelly!) reassembled my bike for me so I could then
relax & enjoy the experience!
The whole experience was
fantastic! The whole town has really enbraced the event & a
huge grandstand had been assembled outside the town hall! On
the Friday, after registration, the whole field of 800
athletes had a ride out on the bike course with a big police
escort! It was very exciting & my first & possibly only
experience of drafting/peleton cycling!
The elite race was on
the Saturday & team GB did well with a silver medal for the
ladies & gold for the men! It isn't until you see these
"real" athletes close up that you realise quite how fast
they are!! After this we all racked our bikes & collected
our timing chips etc & were then paraded through the town in
national teams/kit just like in the Olympics! The whole town
seemed to have turned out to cheer us on & the olde worlde
buildings made it look like a set from Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang! I expected to see the child-catcher come out at any
minute!!
The opening ceremony
included several boring speeches plus local children doing
ballet & gymnastics & also something called "break
performance" which turned out to be Hungarian break-dancers
(!!?) & not an interval as we had anticipated!
The age group race on
the Sunday was in 3 waves with the young men (under 45)
going first, old(er) men next & finally, at 11am the women!!
By this time the temperature had reached nearly 30 degrees -
not good for women in the 45+ age groups!! I decided to
carry drink & tip as much water as I could over my head,
which turned out to be a good plan! We realised while
watching the men that the whole course was probably short &
when I did the first 10k in 43 mins that was confirmed! In
fact my overall time of 2:22 was 20 minutes faster than the
qualifying race at Cambridge! We estimated that it was
probably 9k/37k/4.5k & mercifully flat, albeit with several
sharp hairpin bends!!
My main aim was to get
past a many Americans as I could & with closed roads you
could really go for it so I sailed past dozens of them on
the bike chanting the mantra (in my head of course!) "one
yank, two yanks, three yanks, four etc!!" One has to have a
way of focussing doesn't one!!
I really enjoyed every
minute of it, even the race (husband David says if I enjoyed
it that much I could have tried harder!!) & as I came round
the corner to the finish, a guy from the BTF handed me a
Union Jack to carry over the line - it was a very emotional
moment! Best of all my worst fear, that I would be last,
wasn't anywhere near realised!!
I was 17th (& 2nd Brit)
in my age group & 130th woman out of 176!! The last woman in
was a 77 year old American woman called Marge who walked/
limped both run legs & had to be winched onto her bike by 3
strong men (the "no outside assistance" rule obviously
waived due to her advanced years!). She took nearly 4 hours
but got the biggest cheer of all & a gold medal to boot!
Which goes to prove what I've always said - if I live long
enough I might get a gold medal!! |
|
William Catchpole
...seen here refuelling during the Ironman Austria in
2006 |
Woodbridge 10km - Sunday 20th May
I had hoped to set a pb (personal best) at Woodbridge as
the previous two years I had cycled over 60 miles Ironman
training before doing the 10k and naturally did not set
particularly fast times. The Next Gen treadmills took a
fearsome pasting in the earlier past of the year as I and a
colleague increased the speed and we were covering 5km in
under 20mins. The omens looked good for a fast time but I
had not factored in a skiing holiday 1st of April which
resulted in an injury on the last day. I had torn some
ligaments in my calf falling over in some slush. Fool that I
am did not let it recover before trying the treadmills and
ended up seeing the doctor who had told me that I had undone
all the repair work and that it would need further rest but
I could using the cross trainer or swimming would be OK.
Resigned to the fact that a pb was out of the window I
elected to run with my wife Tessa who having also done the
race the previous two years was keen to improve her time. I
therefore jogged in Club kit at the back of the field
holding her water bottle. The first 5 km we did in sub 30
and just started to slacken in the final three finishing in
62mins and 30 seconds. She was mildly disappointed and I was
pleased just to finish and get a very garish Orange new
Woodbridge 10k T shirt. It is a highlight in my race
calendar and was brilliantly organised – good support –
loads of marshals all in all a great day and my abiding
memory will be Derrick beaming with pride having done a sub
40mins pb and won his age group. One interesting twist was
that my 17year old son who had not done a 10k race before
managed a very respectable 42 minutes and has now teamed up
with two mates to enter a team in the London Tri Olympic
distance relay. I think my relay team The Dirty Badgers are
likely to get a drubbing by Dirty Badgers Juniors ! pass me
the Zimmer and my cardigan.
William.
|
Pos |
Name |
Time |
|
|
1 |
David Miller |
0:34:08 |
Woodbridge Shufflers |
|
20 |
Derrick Smith |
0:39:19 |
Age group winner |
|
52 |
Jayne Williams |
0:42:08 |
Ipswich Jaffa |
|
53 |
Lucy Bowditch |
0:42:09 |
Second lady |
|
165 |
Amanda Mallett |
0:49:26 |
|
|
197 |
Charlie Stannett |
0:50:52 |
|
|
240 |
Kate Stannett |
0:53:08 |
|
|
427 |
William Catchpole |
1:02:39 |
|
|
429 |
Tessa Catchpole |
1:02:39 |
|
There was also a Junior race, in which club member Ruth
Mallett came 15th in her catagory - naturally wearing club
kit!
Full results at
http://www.woodbridgeshufflers.org.uk/results/ |
|
Charlie Stannett

Lovely boating weather...

......or a nice day for Kate to take a jog in
the park? |
Crystal Palace triathlon - Sunday 27th May
The Crystal Palace triathlon comprised a 750m swim in the
50m pool at the National Sports Centre, nine laps (20k) of a
closed circuit within the park, then two laps (5k) of the
same course for the run, before finishing in the renowned
athletics stadium. Crystal Palace was the venue for the
first triathlon I ever entered - when it was the London
triathlon - but I bottled out when I figured I couldn't swim
50m in one go. It was surprising how short the pool looked
this time!
The course really does sound like a stroll
in the park, until you realise there is a nasty little hill
- which you have to ride nine times & run twice.

Now, I don't know what the weather was
like in Ipswich but when I got on to my bike, the rain was
absolutely bucketing down, with a fair wind blowing to boot.
I actually stopped at one point to see why my brakes were
binding, only to realise it was the depth of water which was
slowing me down! I later found that a whole bunch of
water had also made its way into my frame. Needless to say, when Kate began her bike
leg it coincided with the wind & rain deciding to give up
for a while. The words "lucky", "b*gg*r" & "you" were heard
to be uttered (but uttered very quietly - the only DQ was
for "abuse").
But I admit I did have a really warm
feeling when I quietly overtook somebody on the final lap of
the athletics stadium, thinking of the times when I'd seen
the big boys do it on TV! And, as well as the
chance to experience the Crystal Palace facilities, there
was a goody bag that would put some much more expensive
events to shame - a good quality back pack, and good
quality, subtle tee-shirts in varying sizes instead of the
usual "One size fits nobody". And it's not that
difficult to get to from Ipswich - we live just south of
Ipswich and I found it easier than going to Waveney.
However, a lesson for all forward-thinking
race directors: rather than rely on manual timekeepers, Big
Yellow* provided us all with timing chips. But then the
timing mats failed in the wet weather, so we have no splits.
(*Big Yellow is our nickname for Crystal
Palace's chairman, with whom a couple of us share the
distinction of a DNF at IMUK05. He is very big, and was
wearing yellow at the time...)
Also, a trip down memory lane for those of
you who did the Llanberis half ironman in 2002. There was a
chap we met in Llanberis called Dominic Hale. Dom won spot
prizes for both the appalling condition of his bike and his
dubious dress sense (stars & stripes trousers). He swam
Llanberis without goggles, totally breast stroke to keep his
head out of water, and was more or less last into
transition, where I was crewing. Dom then went the wrong way
around the bike course before being told by marshalls
basically to turn back & give up. So, to make up for it, he
ran the run leg - 13.1 miles up and down Llanberis pass -
twice.
I found Dom racking next to me at Crystal
Palace. Still swimming breast stroke, and without goggles,
he was last to finish. But at least he started - the race
had been fully subscribed with 600 people entered, so I
reckon that's over a 20% drop out rate. Worrying - they
can't all have been scared by the idea of having to swim 50m
non-stop.
|
Pos |
Name |
cat |
Time |
TeamName |
|
1 |
Dion Harrison |
M |
01:02:59 |
Thames Turbo Sigma Sport |
|
28 |
Ruth Hutton |
F 40+ |
01:09:26 |
SLH Tri Club (Evans RT) |
|
272 |
Kate Stannett |
F 40+ |
01:28:10 |
Ipswich triathlon club |
|
362 |
Charlie Stannett |
M 40+ |
01:35:53 |
Ipswich triathlon club |
|
466 |
Dom Hale |
M |
02:21:42 |
(see race report) |
Full results at
http://www.crystalpalace-tri.co.uk/race/2007-race/2007-race.htm
whence you can also go look at, and buy, more photographs of
the rain. |
|
Ant Birt

...tried running the swim leg earlier this
year.
|
Braintree Spring Tri - Sunday
3rd June The
weather was looking misty and not so good but all the racers
knew it would be hot soon and to prepare for a hot run leg.
I counted quite a few ITC members in kit, unfortunately I'm
to tight to buy a new suit so only had my tri T-Shirt. Dave
husband was looking nervous and Simon Palmer and Lee Bark
looked confused trying to work out the swim start sequence
(First Come first Served rather than the proper order) which
worked out well.
The Transition area was very
well laid out with plenty of room for each competitor, the
bike a straight forward out and in, the fact that the event
incorporated the Police Championships was evident in the
marshalling, the usual 'unsure' looking marshal in a
tracksuit and Hi-Vis jacket was replaced with some of Essex
finest (I counted at least 10 Police officers on one
roundabout), needless to say the triathletes benefited from
having the priority at all road junctions. Seeing all the
Police triathletes reminded me why I didn't lead a life of
crime as these guys looked fit and mean especially the
cloned Met police who all looked the same:-o and looked like
they could run after you forever and then disable you in one
move.
The cycle leg was quite
undulating but I got a good rhythm going, I managed to
convince myself I had got a puncture at one stage but it
turned out to be the road surface and the hill was taking
more effort than I thought! Strange how the mind works:-o, I
saw Simon on the in route and thought I might catch him but
never did. My transition went well and got a shout from the
PA (unfortunately he said Antonio Brit rather than Antony
Birt but hey). The run started with a hill not to long but
enough to think god this is not starting well. I had decided
on a new strategy for the run as it was 3 laps of the
course, 7min 1st lap, 6.5 Second and 6 last lap which gave
me a focus and for the first time the people I overtook on
the bike didn't run past me, in fact I wasn't overtaken on
the bike or the run (a first for me whey hey).
I stayed to watch Dave
husband finish a mere 30 Seconds less than me but I'm' not
competitive:-) and cheered a few other tri club members Mark
Bowditch was looking strong on the run and Lucy Bowditch as
well. Lee Bark won with a fine cycle leg (~3mins faster
than number 2nd place) and one guy (guess it was Graham
White) in retro ITC gear was there but never got a chance to
speak and find out who it was. Also Juliet who joined us on
Sat swim won the ladies (that should make Steve De Boltz and
Dave H feel better after she nearly killed them with the
pace at swimming:-) All in all a good 1st triathlon of the
season, and one I would recommend to others however next
year I think the venue will switch from Braintree town to
Braintree FreePort but if its marshalled and organised as
good as this its a good tri.
|
Pos |
Name |
Time |
Group |
|
|
1 |
Lee Bark |
00:55:19 |
M4549 |
|
|
7 |
Juliet Vickery |
01:01:21 |
F4044 |
Cambridge |
|
9 |
Mark Bowditch |
01:01:34 |
M4044 |
|
|
35 |
Lucy Bowditch |
01:06:09 |
F4044 |
|
|
46 |
David Husband |
01:08:00 |
M3034 |
|
|
49 |
Antony Birt |
01:08:30 |
M3034 |
|
|
67 |
Graham White |
01:10:19 |
M5054 |
|
|
90 |
Simon Palmer |
01:12:27 |
M5054 |
|
Fuller results at
http://www.essex.police.uk/about/a_so_11.php
give splits. |
|
Other stuff...
2007 EVENT VOLUNTEERING – by The Race
Directors
It’s that time of year again when thoughts
are on our Club organised events and the need to provide
sufficient volunteers to ensure we maintain our reputation
for putting on quality events, the profits from which are
re-directed back into the Club
to provide the
training sessions and other benefits while keeping
membership fees down.
Culford Triathlon is first up on 29
July.
At the time of writing this the following
people had committed to volunteer [where (d) means help on
race day, (s) means set up day before and (d/s) means both.
RD means Race Director]:
Antony Birt (d), Michelle Constable (d),
Steve de Boltz (d), Helen Farrow (d), Rob Peevor (d), Wendy
& Clive Quantrill (d), Chris Slemmings (d), Isabel Smith
(d), Denis Spashett (d), Charlie Tweed (d), Charlie & Kate
Stannett (d), Tom Wood (d), Laura Williams (d), Jackie Chubb
(s), Adrian Green (s), Brian McGeeney (s), Liz McGoldrick
(s), Andy Rudge (s), Will Meadows (d/s) Richard Balaam
(d/s), Dave Copland (RD), Iain Downie (d/s), Anne Fish
(d/s), Will Newland (d/s), Susananah Rosenberg (d/s),
Charlie Tovell (d/s), Graham White (d/s) & Julia Yelloly
(d/s)
Race Director Dave Copland needs approx 46
volunteers on race day, more if possible and currently he
has 23 for race day and 15 for pre-event set up so we needs
lots more people to volunteer for the race day duties if
this event is to be successfully run. Contact Dave on
culford@ipswich-tri.org asap to offer your help.
Ipswich Junior Triathlon is next up on
26 August.
At the time of writing the following
people had committed to volunteer:
Steve de Boltz (d), Denis Spashett (d),
Tom Wood (d), Brian McGeeney (d), Graham White (d), Ron
Bareham (d), Lucy Bowditch (d), Oliver Calver (d), Danny
Clifford (d), Jeremy Clipstone (d), Nick Collinson (d),
David Felman (d), Sam Fulcher (d), Sue Hargadon (d), Alfie
Hillbert (d), Simon Lockwood (d), Richard Woodward (d),
Eleanor Wright (d), Steve Robinson(d), Antony Birt (s),
Isabel Smith (s), Ian Bliss (s), Kevin Grant (s), Amanda
Mallett (s), Rosie Payne (s), Mark Ramsey (s). Susannah
Rosenberg (s), Jack Seccombe (s), Mary Skelcher (s), Mike
Stollery (s), Charlotte Wickens (s), Dave Copland (s), Ian
Duggan (d/s), Adrian Green (d/s), John & Chris Gabriel
(d/s), David Husband (d/s), Tonya Irving (d/s), Anita
Malster (d/s), Gemma Moore (d/s), Simon Palmer (RD), Michael
& Jonathan Palmer (d/s) & Nick Stonehouse (d/s).
Race Director Simon Palmer needs more
volunteers for race day duties so get in touch with him at
simon.palmer@talk21.com to offer your help.
Our final event of 2007 is the Ipswich
Duathlon on 23 September based at Alton Water.
At the time of writing the following
people had committed to volunteer:
Denis Spashett (d), Ron Bareham (d), Nick
Collinson (d), Sam Fulcher (d), Rob Peevor (d), Charlie
Tovell (d), James Bouttell (d), David Coley (d), Adam Ramsey
(d), Paul Rea (d), Derrick Smith (d), Tanya Smith (d),
Louise Tanous (d), Hugh O’Donnell (d), Graham White (s),
Susannah Rosenberg (s), Dave Copland (s), Anita Malster (s),
Lee Bark (s), Will Catchpole (s), Karle Howard (s), Peter
Kerry (s), Stephen Kidwell (s), Sarah Miller (s), Mark
Newman (s), Will Meadows (s), Tonya Irving (d/s), Simon
Palmer (RD), Michelle Constable (d/s), Mervyn Wake (d/s),
Ross Welton (d/s), Chris Harris (d/s), Steve Robinson (d/s),
Nik Bestow (d/s).
We need over 30 volunteers to cover the
race day duties at this event and currently we are well
short of this figure so to log your offer of help get in
touch with John Gabriel at
duathlon@ipswich-tri.org. John will be Race Director for
this event up to two weeks before when Simon Palmer will
take over ably assisted by Nik Bestow who is likely to take
over the organisation of the event in 2008.
If your name doesn’t appear on any of
these lists then it means you haven’t kept your side of the
bargain when you joined the Club which is to volunteer (or
provide a volunteer) for at least one of the Club events, so
let's see lots of volunteers coming forward to ensure the
success of the events in 2007 and their presence on the
fixture list in following years. And don’t forget every duty
you do earns you another point in the Volunteer Incentive
Scheme as well as a food & drink ‘goody bag’ on race day.
|
Nik Bestow

Nik Bestow at London... |
Interested in cycle time-trials?
Nik Bestow has compiled these two lists - members are
eligible for to compete in both.
Entry is at the race HQ on the day (say 30 mins before the
start) where you pay your £2 and get your number.
|
ICA events - 6:45pm
start |
|
Plomsgate events - 7:00pm start |
| Jun 13 |
Crowfield
Circuit |
|
Jun 14 |
Tunstall |
|
Jun 20 |
Crowfield Circuit |
|
|
|
|
Jun 27 |
Crowfield Circuit |
|
Jun 28 |
Tunstall |
|
Jul 04 |
Henley Circuit |
|
|
|
| Jul 11 |
Henley Circuit |
|
Jul 12 |
Tunstall |
|
Jul 18 |
Henley Circuit |
|
|
|
|
Jul 25 |
Henley Circuit |
|
Jul 26 |
Tunstall |
|
Aug 01 |
Henley Circuit |
|
|
|
| Aug 08 |
Henley Circuit |
|
Aug 9 |
Tunstall |
| |
|
|
Aug 23 |
Tunstall |
Crowfield
START at southernmost white post at entrance to water tower
at Crowfield going towards Hemingstone. Take second left
(1.8 miles), WITH CARE onto Gosbeck road and continue north
through Gosbeck to junction with B1077, where bear left past
Framsden Windmill to junction with A1120. Turn left and
continue to Pettaugh, where turn left onto Crowfield road
continue to FINISH approx. 100 yds past Rose PH, in line
with yellow hydrant on opposite side of road at entrance to
New Hall. (Signing-on & parking at The Crowfield Rose PH,
close to start)
Henley
Revised measured 10 mile course now starts at end of Clay
Lane approx 1mile north of Henley Cross Keys, at the
junction of Ashbocking Rd.Proceed to junction with B1078.
Turn Sharp left towards Hemmingstone. At Hemingstone, turn
left onto un-numbered road signed 'Henley 2' Proceed south
through to Henley .Turn left at Five-ways cross-roads.
Proceed past Henley School. End of lap one at the top of the
hill (Henley Square). Complete another circuit as above and
finish at top of the hill adjacent to farm gateway on L/H
side of the road. (Signing-on and parking in Henley
Community Centre car-park for the ICA evening events).
Tunstall
START on B1078 approx. 0.25 miles from junction with B1084
near Sudbourne (At Forestry Commission Track '30'). Proceed
on B1078 northwards through Tunstall village (care on left
hand bend in centre of village). Follow B1069 to roundabout
at entrance to former Bentwaters Airbase (4.5miles), where
retrace route along B1069 & B1078 past start. Turn left onto
B1084 to FINISH by large fence post in boundary fence on
left, approximately 200yds from 'Five Crossways' south of
Sudbourne village.
Race HQ and signing on at the start point.
|
|
John Gabriel

...introduces rugby. |
TAG Rugby Evening @ Greshams – Thursday 5th July
Thursday 5 July, make a date in your diaries for
trying out a new sport, TAG Rugby.
What is TAG Rugby?
It was originally created as a game for juniors
to avoid the physical contact of conventional rugby but has quickly spread into
a sport of it’s own being extensively played by more and more adults who wish to
experience the thrills of rugby but without the consequences of the contact
element.
It played on a half size pitch (or marked out
area) with no posts as there is no kicking, scrummaging, lineouts or tackling.
The objective is the same as conventional rugby e.g. to score a try and this is
done by placing the ball down in the ‘in-goal’ area.
All players wear a belt to which two flags (or
‘tags’) are attached by Velcro. Tackling is by removal of one of the tags and
when tackled the player has to release the ball by a roll-back (like in Rugby
League) to one of his / her team mates. If a team has not scored after a set
number of tackles (tags) the ball passes to the opposition.
What skills are used? – TAG Rugby teaches
handling skills, special awareness (good for transitions and open water swims!),
communication and teamwork. Ok maybe not the skills used in triathlon but it’s
great fun.
Teams are generally 7 a-side of mixed sex with
rolling subs to keep the game flowing and a game is normally two halves of
twenty minutes each with a five minute half time however these times are not set
in stone.
What do you need to play TAG Rugby? – just normal
training kit, shorts, top and trainers and a warm top for when you aren’t on the
pitch, all other stuff (TAG belts, TAG’s, balls) will be provided. A sense of
humour will help and the willingness to learn a new skill will come in handy,
who knows you may go away as a convert to TAG.
If you want to take a look at the Adult TAG Rugby
rules
click here to download a quick guide but don’t worry the important ones (and
there aren’t many) will be explained on the night.
Just turn up at 7 pm for a quick briefing then it
‘game on’ at 7.30 pm leaving plenty of time after to socialise with your new
‘rugby mates’. |
|
Heather Collinson

Heather models the red & black gillet... |
Club kit
Please remember that
club kit is ordered through Heather Collinson by e-mailing
kit@ipswich-tri.org or by
ringing 01473-620651 - not by
e-mailing ITCH. Heather's address is
14 Spindler Close, Kesgrave, Ipswich, IP5
2DA.
Heather sometimes has trouble putting together a sufficiently large
order to meet the minimum order requirements we have with
our supplier so, if you are still only thinking about
ordering kit, please give Heather a call
sooner rather than later.
Click here to download the current price list -
including availability as at December 2006 - as a PDF file.
|
Club championship
Do not forget to get your entry in for the
club championships – the Norwich triathlon on July 1st - by visiting
www.entrycentral.net - and entering direct. We do NOT have any special
entry route.
Please - when you are asked to enter your club name, do not enter simply
as "Ipswich" - use "Ipswich Triathlon Club"
On last count there were just 38 people entered as "Ipswich triathlon
club" members - and the event is now over three-quarters full...
|
Member |
|
Category |
|
|
Member |
|
Category |
|
|
John |
Wankowski |
Male |
E |
|
Julia |
Green |
Female |
F |
|
Tom |
Wilmot |
Male |
E |
|
Heather |
Collinson |
Female |
G |
|
Green |
Adrian |
Male |
F |
|
Laura May |
Williams |
Female |
G |
|
Jason |
Baillie |
Male |
F |
|
Lucy |
Bowditch |
Female |
H |
|
Antony |
Birt |
Male |
F |
|
Jacqueline |
Chubb |
Female |
H |
|
James |
Bouttell |
Male |
F |
|
Samantha |
Fulcher |
Female |
H |
|
David |
Husband |
Male |
F |
|
Amanda |
Mallett |
Female |
H |
|
Barry John |
Whitcomb |
Male |
F |
|
Sue |
Rule* |
Female |
H |
|
Nick |
Collinson |
Male |
G |
|
Julia |
Yelloly |
Female |
H |
|
Iain |
Downie |
Male |
G |
|
Sarah |
Miller |
Female |
I |
|
Simon |
Lockwood |
Male |
G |
|
Kate |
Stannett |
Female |
I |
|
Brian |
McGeeney |
Male |
G |
|
Maria |
Reynolds |
Female |
J |
|
Hugh |
O'Donnell |
Male |
G |
|
Anne |
Fish |
Female |
K |
|
Mark |
Bowditch |
Male |
H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dave |
Copland |
Male |
H |
|
*Sue Rule injured |
|
|
Stephen |
de Boltz |
Male |
H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lee |
Bark |
Male |
I |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nik |
Bestow |
Male |
I |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simon |
Palmer |
Male |
J |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen |
Robinson |
Male |
J |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derrick |
Smith |
Male |
J |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charlie |
Stannett |
Male |
J |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Graham |
White |
Male |
J |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grayhame |
Fish |
Male |
K |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael |
Stollery |
Male |
K |
|
|
|
|
|
Rules - the final rules for the championships
are still to be confirmed (so it's not too late to lobby
committee members) but proposals include:
Categories
- Male: open; vet (BT categories H-I); "super" vet
(J+)
- Female: open; vet (BT categories H-I); "super" vet
(J+)
In the case of someone placing (say) 2nd open but 1st vet
they should take the higher ranking award i.e. 1st vet.
Only first claim members (with respect to triathlon) are eligible,
and club kit should be worn. (So if you are first claim Stowmarket
Striders for running events but first claim ITC for triathlon, then you
are eligible. But you're not eligible if you are competing as a first
claim member of - say - Wimbledon triathlon club.)
Training...
Saturday morning swimming sessions at Woolverstone (25m private
school swimming pool):
Swimming is on every Saturday morning during June at Woolverstone,
and then again on 7th, 14th and 21st July. However, we won't bother
booking the pool over the school summer holidays - we think too many
members will either be away or racing to make it worthwhile. So come and
use the pool now for your final pre-summer sessions - arrive in time to
be changed and pool-side for a 9:00 start.
If you want to be on a ring round list for
notification of changes at short notice then let Steve have your number.
Steve is on 07795 564322.
Open water swimming - From TriTalk - (http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?p=458383#458383): "I am pleased to announce that we have added an extra evening
session to the Gosfield Open Water Swimming. The evening session
will be on Tuesday evenings between 1830 - 2030."
Click here for last leaflet we had.
Also - worth letting Steve know if you're interested in these as there
have been some car-sharing opportunities.
Also, London-based swimfortri are offering open swimming courses in the
Serpentine Lido (Hyde Park - so useful for people working in London,
Nik) on Wednesday evenings, priced at £60 for a four week course. See
http://www.swimfortri.com
Also - people who have entered Fritton triathlon have been receiving a
newsletter which includes: "For
those who would like to get in some pre-race practice and get some
advice from a qualified triathlon coach then we are providing training
sessions at the lake in the morning of the following dates: ... Saturday
16th June. These sessions will be led by a Level 3 triathlon coach and
will focus on open water swimming but will include opportunities to ride
the bike course and get in some run training." If you would like to
take part in any of these sessions then please contact
simonje@ntlworld.com - see
also web site at
www.somerleyton.co.uk/FrittonLake_Triathlons.html
Club training sessions on Thursdays at 7pm at Greshams, Tuddenham
Road, Ipswich - if you can't make the training, then why not join
us for a beer or some food from about 8pm
onwards.
- Jun 7th - hill-running session in
Christchurch Park
-
June 14th
- Fynn valley run
- June
21st - Sprint session
- June
28th - Bike ride 23km or 32km
- July
5th - Turbo run session
Unfortunately John Gabriel had
problems with the powers that be while trying to organise
mini training duathlons - he was being asked to set up
signage and marshalling as for a full scale race - all of which means
that the mini duathlons will not now take place.
The ITCH league
-
click here for fuller details
- remember the league is just for fun and to give you a focus
for your training, and to give you a baseline from which to improve next
year. The club championship at Norwich is included in the league.
Ipswich Bike Club training - Adam Keer
of Ipswich Bike Club is very keen for all junior members of ITC to come
along to the IBC sessions at Foxhall stadium on occasional Saturday
mornings. IBC is a member of the Go-Ride scheme that offer coaching
specifically aimed at juniors, although adults are welcome on the track
session.
If you would like further information contact Adrian Green on
01379388855 or e-mail
juniors@ipswich-tri.org or contact Adam directly via e-mail
adam.keer@ipswich.gov.uk - I have also put the calendar on to
www.ipswich-tri.org/titch
Have you seen...
- Grayhame & John have both highlighted that
Triathlon England Eastern region are proposing an "age-group"
training camp on Sunday 19th August - possibly at Woolverstone pool.
As of 1st June "All yet to be confirmed but looking likely to be:
Ipswich High School, Woolverstone, nr Ipswich from 9.00 – 5.00 ...
the day will only run if we have enough people attending to make it
financially viable. If you would like to book a place on the camp
please let [Ceri Winter] know by Tuesday 19th June."
Triathlon England Eastern Region
Age-Group Camp, Sunday 19th August
A training day
specifically for age-group athletes with a particular emphasis on
final preparations for the Age-Group World Championships in
Hamburg. The day will consist of both practical training sessions
and theory sessions:
-
Swim pacing strategies and tactics
-
Swim-Bike brick
-
Transitions and run pacing
-
Aerodynamic bike positioning
-
Race course familiarisation, tapering, and race
day nutrition
Sessions led by British Triathlon World Class Coach,
Dave Parry, price £40.
For further details or to book a place please contact
Ceri Winter, Eastern Region Development Officer (ceriwinter@britishtriathlon.org
07834 542087) by Tuesday 19th June.
- Live coverage of the 2007 Vancouver BG Triathlon
World Cup will take place on Sunday June 10th at 19:45 BST on
www.triathlon.org
- if you recently signed the petition
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/cyclists/ asking the Prime Minister
to "Build a world leading cycle lane infrastructure", you'll find
the Prime Minister's Office has responded to that petition and you
can view it here:
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11848.asp
- a petition against changes to the Highway Code is
at
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/roads4bikes (the revised Highway Code
says cyclists should "use cycle facilities where possible". If this
Code is approved, cyclists "will effectively lose the right to ride
on the road where there are alternative routes or adjacent
facilities." Which could have implications for races as well as
training.)
-
"Run/Bike Events" (including the same people who run the Bury 20
mile) have announced a "ground breaking charity forest
running/cycling race to be first of its kind in the UK" on Friday
20th July 2007 at 7.00 pm to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy
Campaign. The race will be staged over 11miles, entirely off road in
the Thetford Forest Park near Brandon, Suffolk, for teams of of two,
one cycling and one running. (Teams may swap on and off the bike as
often as they like or may elect to have one runner and one cyclist,
the only proviso being you stay within 10 metres of your team mate
and cross the finish line together.) Further details from the event
website www.runbikeevents.com
and
www.musculardystrophy.org
-
Ipswich triathlon club has been awarded "club mark" status
 |
|
CALENDAR OF EVENTS -
see
also
www.britishtriathlon.org and
www.ebta.co.uk
for triathlons.
For mid-week cycle time-trials, see Nik Bestow's list above.
For running events, see
http://www.suffolkathletics.org.uk/ - most members are eligible to
enter for "county championship"
events. Remember to tick the box, and wear your club kit. We have
had quite a few age group podium places over the years - especially in
the longer events.
We also usually do fairly well as a team in both the cross-country and
Friday Five series.
JUNE 07
01 Bury St Edmunds Friday 5.
06 Bungay 10km Summer Series Race 2 at Broome
06 Orwell Panthers challenge (I've no idea what this is)
06 Crowfield TT
09-10 Triathlon England South West women's
triathlon weekend
10 Wymondham midsummer 10 mile - see
http://www.wymondhamac.org.uk
for details
13 Crowfield TT
14 Tunstall TT
15 Kirton Friday 5 – entry forms
www.frr.org.uk -
County Championships
17 Ironman
UK 70.3 at Wimbleball in Exmoor
- see www.ironmanuk.com for
details
20 Crowfield TT
22 Stowmarket Friday 5 - see
www.stowmarketstriders.org.uk
23 "Suffolk Punch Trust" half-marathon - Bill Bulstrode Ltd, Framlingham,
01473-612639
23 Lee Bark's off-road triathlon at Wattisham - see
www.ssafa.org.uk/branch/suffolk.asp or
click here to download an entry form
24 Mersea Lions "round the island" approx half-marathon - ring
01206-386265
24 Harwich sprint triathlon - see
www.harwichrunners.co.uk
[NB afternoon start]
24 The Etape Caledonia - see
http://www.etapecaledonia.co.uk/ for more details.
27 Crowfield TT
28 Tunstall TT
JULY 07
01
Norwich triathlon -
including Ipswich triathlon club championships
- visit www.entrycentral.net
to enter on-line
01 Newmarket 10km
County Championships.
04 Sudbury Joggers 5 Mile MT - described as "a rural run which may
become muddy after prolonged bout of wet weather" - see
http://www.sudburyjoggers.org.uk
04 Henley TT
05 Social event - tag rugby evening at Greshams
07 - 26 Tour de France - see
http://www.letour.fr - starts in London
08 Mutford Relays.
11 Bungay 10km Summer Series Race 3 at Broome.
11 Henley TT
12 Tunstall TT
13 Great Bentley Friday 5 - last of series - see
www.gbrc.org.uk
18 Henley TT
20
Forest run/bike race - Thetford Forest Park near Brandon - see
www.runbikeevents.com
25 Henley TT
26 Tunstall TT
28-29 Dunwich Dynamo "semi-organised,
through-the-night bicycle ride from London Fields park in Hackney,
London to Dunwich on Suffolk coast"
29
Culford triathlon
(full, reserve list in operation).
AUGUST 07
01 Henley TT
03 Brandon Wibbly Wobbly Log Jog - see
www.bfh.org.uk
04 Norseman Xtreme - see
http://www.nxtri.com/ or Dave Copland for details
04 London triathlon
(Sprint & relay events)
05 London triathlon
(Standard events)
05 Ironman70.3
Antwerp - let Nick Collinson know if
you're doing this
05
MDC 10km Multi-Terrain Holkham Hall
08 Henley TT
09 Tunstall TT
23 Tunstall TT
11 National club relays - Nottingham
Anyone interested in entering a team (or two, or
three, etc) in the national club relays, please let Steve de
Boltz know and he’ll see if we can put at least a team together
to represent our club.
Details are at www.pacesetterevents.com
Steve can be contacted on 07795 564322 or
stevedb@btsgroupuk.com
12
Wandlebury 2.5km & 5 mile Cross Country
19 Ironman UK
at Sherborne - see www.ironmanuk.com
for details
19 Eastern region training camp
26
2007 JUNIOR TRIATHLON - visit
http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?festivalID=28 to enter
on-line.
26 Newmarket duathlon - visit
www.entrycentral.net to enter
on-line
26 Mersea Island 10 mile/5 mile
running race - 01206-383640
26 Rugby sprint triathlon - see
http://www.activeeurope.com/Events/EventDetails.cfm?E=45222 &Lang=EN
or John Gabriel for details
SEPTEMBER 07
02 Framlingham 10km.
05 Honnington 10km.
08 the Vitruvian
middle distance triathlon
at Rutland Water (appears to incorporate national middle distance
championships) - visit
http://www.pacesetterevents.com/vitruvian.php to enter on-line
09 Langham 10km
09 Waveney Valley triathlon II -
visit
www.entrycentral.net to enter on-line
16 Blackwater leisure charity triathlons - includes 200m swim novice
option -see
www.blackwatertri.org.uk
23 Ipswich
duathlon - visit
www.entrycentral.net to enter
on-line
23 Tarpley Ten miles.
30 Felixstowe Half Marathon (county
championships)
?? Lowestoft Scores Race.
OCTOBER 07
?? Martlesham 10km
?? Framlingham Cross Country (Suffolk League).
NOVEMBER 07
11 Stowmarket Scenic 7.
?? Bungay Cross Country (Suffolk League) at Broome.
25 Hadleigh Ten 10 mile.
DECEMBER 07
02 Norwich half-marathon - (they're obviously trying to avoid the
complaints they've had in the past about the heat ) - see
http://www.conac.org.uk/
16 Turkey Trot 10 Mile at Beccles.
26 Groggy Doggy Cross Country at Bungay Common 1030.
APRIL 08
13 Flora London Marathon - see
http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/ - remember that although we
normally manage to get a couple of places for club members, one of our
selection criteria has been whether you've applied for but have been
rejected through the normal entry ballot. |
Small ads
For Sale
Quintana Roo Tequilo frame for sale, 53
cm. 2004 model - 7005 aluminium with carbon forks, royal blue with white
bubbles. Never been used as I brought this frame to build my bike but it
was never completed. Immaculate condition as it has only been out of its
box three times. £310 or near offer. Call Emilie Fisher
on 07921 905 502 for more information. (QR website is
Trail-A-Bike, 3 speed, red.
Fits child age range approximately 4 to 8
years.
Quick Release fitting to a special rack (included) makes this bike much more
convenient and easier to handle than the cheaper 'clamp to seat-post' style.
OIRO £80 - Louise Tanous tel 07973 772814 or 01787 224161
New Balance W834GR "D width" UK size 7
- test-driven only, never even got hot let alone sweaty! Still in box.
£20 or offer - Kate Stannett - e-mail
shepherdess@btinternet.com
or ring/text 07729 318844.
Massage - Jackie Chubb
has a regular room at Rede near Bury St Edmunds, available any time.
Open to members & non-members but booking is essential on
01284-789576 or 07985-496918.
Wanted
| Captions invited for this
photograph You guessed it -
that wasn't a leggy girl in those shorts.
The worrying thing is that
some gentlemen were quite smitten...
(The photograph was taken following the
2007 running of the East Bergholt "pram race" in which a "baby" is
pushed around a course with six mandatory beer stops.
These three club members were in three different teams. Their
relative finishing positions - from left to right - were 3rd, 1st,
2nd.)
Question is: do we put together a pucker team next year! |

Leggy girl in shorts wasn't quite what she seemed... |
Sponsorship still invited
- Le Tour Challenge. Gary Matthews is attempting Le Tour Challenge, an
Alpine cycle challenge, in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Gary would be
very grateful if you would consider sponsoring him.
Please go to www.justgiving.co.uk/garymatt
for further details of what he's doing.
|