Our ladies' captain is Kate Stannett.

Well the AGM has gone so you can all come out of hiding now!

I have been re-elected as ladies captain for the coming season so you will have to put up with my witterings and musings for a while. I am proud to be part of the club and hope to be able to represent any concerns you might have. But, seriously, if I can do anything to help or encourage, I will try my best and if you have any questions, feel free to ask. If you want any issues to be considered by the committee, just let us know.

 I expect you are all sitting back and enjoying tick-over training, perhaps popping out in club kit for the odd cross-country race, or pottering along admiring the winter scenery in the occasional road race. Well just remember to take care when out training now that the nights have drawn in. Wear bright and reflective clothing, how about adding a few lights for decoration! I discovered some great little lights Sigma Micro R, perfect for running. They’re LED and come with two elasticated  velcro straps so that you can attach them to your bike, your helmet, or they can be comfortably worn on your arm. With the red one facing back, I feel much more confident that I am going to be seen, even the white one throws just enough light to see the path ahead in pitch darkness. Worth a look, I got them in Tesco.

 I have rather foolishly decide to try my hand (or feet) at an ultra-marathon in February, I’m really excited about it. Daft I know, but I rue the day that I said no-one in their right mind would do a marathon! How many have I done now?......I haven’t told Charlie has that the UK has been granted an ultra-triathlon!!!! Don’t worry, I wont be doing that…..well, not for next year anyway.

Happy days, Kate

Our men's captain is Steve de Boltz

Guess what men, we've had the AGM, a new committee has been sorted and somehow I'm still on it. WHAT!!!

Oh well, yes I'm Mens Captain for another year. Some might say HOORAY, some might say BOO, either way I can take it.

The end of the year beckons and it's time to look back over an eventful year for many people, the highlight probably being the great turnout for the Norwich Tri in July which had over 30 from Ipswich Tri Club competing, and what a wet old race that was, the actual race was fine but what a downpour just before the start. All good fun and bring on next year.

London was roasting hot, but again a good turnout and a great day and good to see the elite guys so close up. Pity they shortened the bike leg so you couldn't check against previous years. I'm still mulling over whether to enter next year or not. If there's a few of us there then I probably will, plus it would be a good warm up for the Vitruvian which a number of us have been talking about entering. If anyone else fancies a 1.9km swim,85km bike and 20km run in September then let us know as there should be a good crowd.

Apparently Harwich are to run an Olympic distance, open water event next year as well as their usual super sprint race and hopefully Wattisham airfield will be on again so plenty of local events going on. Our own races will be on again and please support your club by volunteering to marshall at these races, we have a reputation for putting on excellent events which cannot run without all our support.

That's me done for another month. See you at training.

dB.

Steve can be contacted on 07795 564322 or stevedb@btsgroupuk.com

Steve Robinson

...in warmer days.

Steve reminds us:

The Suffolk County Cross Country will be held at the ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL, HOLBROOK.

I have entered the following :- MARK HIRD, DERRICK SMITH, MIKE STOLLERY,  DANNY THORRINGTON, JOHN WANKOWSKI & STEVE ROBINSON.

The senior mens race over 12 km stats at  13.10. Its 6 to race and 4 to score , so I dont think we have to declare a team . Ihope you all stay fit heathly and happy over XMAS . Full reports on the dramatic events at Woodbridge in the new year. We at our highest level in the league EVER!!!

Best Wishes, Steve Robinson

Isabel Smith writes:

You don’t know what you’ve got till you lose it.

So will be the gap when John G leaves the area.  I first meet JG on SportscoachUk courses many years ago, we both see multi sports coaching as a way forward for all.  We adhere to the LTAD (long term athletic development) and LTCD and (Long term coach development) It may not be known by many but JG is also a Squash lv4 and Rugbylv1 coach.  He has expert knowledge around cycling and building road bikes and turbo practise in addition to his Tri coaching certs.

The work he put into Clubmark for ITC cannot be comprehended because many greater clubs have taken years to achieve the level of standard.  JG gained the qualification for the club in months.  It is a brilliant quality mark for the club and has been recognised as the jewel in the crown of Team Ipswich.

JG has always been there to support anyone and put in years (not hours or months) of his life working in voluntary coaching and administration for ITC.

Please join with me in acknowledge a legend in sport that we have been privileged to meet and have as a friend

Other stuff...

London marathon - the club was given three places.

Four members applied but one, Wendy Quantril, has since withdrawn her interest following injury.

So the three places have been awarded to the other "lucky" three - Sue Hargadon, Simon Lockwood (pictured left doing the Whole Hog) and Charlie Stannett.

Vitruvian - entries now being accepted for the Vitruvian - see www.pacesetterevents.com

Tanya Smith goes mad - I have!!  I've bought a new Bianchi bike…. It's my baby and I've named her Orca (no jokes required about 'Free Willy'!).  New helmet also adds to Team Tanya - cleat shoes etc to follow shortly.  You'll be pleased to know that my helmet is in Ipswich Tri colours.  I have a funny experience however on my first jaunt … one hadn't been shown how to use one's gears… I did the whole 10 mile stint in next-to-no time because I was in the highest gear and had absolutely no idea how to change them… little did I know that there's a sneaky leaver behind the breaks!  I then (rather embarrassingly) went into Elmy cycles complaining that my new Bianchi cycle wasn't working, that I wasn't going to bring it in for a gear check when it is brand new… then… I found out about 'that' lever!  Ummmm… hence the new helmet purchase of £90 in Team Tanya colours to sort of (!) make up for it!  Being a newbie is such fun!! ;-)

Ross 'would you trust a man who wears a hat indoors' Welton writes: "I am entering the Elche event that I did last year in Spain, this year they have gone for 4km 120km 30km...April 27, so anyone interested let me know as they are taking pre-entries now!!"

Sun 30th Dec - "Duff the Stuffing" off-road ride - Nik Bestow tells us of a "Tunstall & Rendlesham Off-road Group" event around Rendlesham Forest at 11:00 on Sunday 30th. See www.trogmtb.co.uk or ring 08454-729022 for details...

New Years Day - word on the streets is there will be an informal mix-terrain run on New Years Day in Colchester, starting at 2pm. Meet in good time at 53-12...

Fritton Lake triathlons - Fritton is June 8th and includes Supersprint & relay options as well as standard.

We have a new Chairman, and a race committee…
The AGM voted in Nick Collinson as Chairman and me (Charlie Stannett) as regional rep but otherwise the committee remains Steve dB & Kate Stannett as captains, Simon Palmer secretary, Nik Bestow treasurer, and Adrian Green junior/development. I will continue with communications.  You will recall that Nick was Chairman in 2006.
We have also formed a core “race committee” to share the load of organising events – more in ITCH when it comes out but if you’re interested in committing time to this, contact Simon Palmer. (Note – the committee won’t be doing everything! You will still need to nominate an event where you will help.)

I am trying to work out which events to include in the ITCH league for 2008.

·       It appears the Ironman UK and Vitruvian are now on the same weekend. The Vitruvian is on Saturday 6^th September, which makes it an ideal warm-up for Ironman UK which is on Sunday 7^th September.  Entries are already open for Ironman – see www.ironmanuk.com – and open for the Vitruvian on December 1^st.
I already know of three people going for IMUK, and there is also already a lot of e-mail flying around encouraging people to enter the Vitruvian.

·       But there is also a possibility that Clacton will be plumping for the same weekend in September so – what to do, what to do?

·       However, for those of you – Steve, Dave – who do like trying two events in one weekend, Harwich will be holding a triathlon weekend on June 21^st & 22^nd 2008, featuring a standard (“Olympic”) distance open-water event as well as their popular pool-based sprint event – I am minded to feature both of these.  Entries already open - http://www.harwichrunners.co.uk/triathlon/index.php

·       The ever popular shortie Waveney is listed as 11-May-08 on www.ebta.co.uk – this filled up quickly this year
·       Grays has moved to 29-Jun-08, which is the same date as Norwich Olympic – so, if we repeat our use of Norwich as our club championship, I will NOT feature Grays.

·       I know of three people already entered for the Ironman 70.3 UK at Wimbleball.  If you are thinking of doing this and are seriously committed to the idea of sharing transport, Nick is willing to look into organising a minibus or something – so let us know.

·       We really do not want to feature Culford in the league if it means people enter rather than help run it.  On the other hand it is a superb event for people just joining the sport, so I might see if there is a way of including it but only for recently joined members.

·       What say you?

3. Foolish things

·       Although three club members have already entered it, the league will NOT include the Thames Meander – it isn’t a triathlon! (but if there any other Meander-fools interested in a 54 mile training jog in February, Sue, see www.thamesmeander.com … )

·       Word on the streets is that all male places in the Norseman have already been taken. One Mr Copland is planning to be there again!