Forthcoming Greshams sessions (courtesy of Dave Copland)

11th Aug: 1 hour bike ride with optional transition run round the field - BRING A BIKE
18th Aug: Fynn Valley run (approx 5 mile off road; optional extra 1.5 miles)
25th Aug: Christchurch Park hills
1st Sep: Dave's House run (approx 5 mile road run)

Junior triathlon - Matt Dye has been e-mailing people who are down to help at the junior triathlon in Framlingham. Please watch for, and reply to, that e-mail.

Swimming - we have, after all, been able to retain the use of the pool on Saturday mornings so you now have a choice.

Busy race month - good luck to everybody competing this month and especially this coming weekend in Culford.

Training this week - as you'll have spotted from various twitter and Facebook updates, Tuesday's open water session has been cancelled but the owners have very kindly allowed us access on Thursday evening. So, with most regulars going swimming, this Thursday's "Greshams" session will most likely actually be an apres-swim social chat from around 8:00. (That isn't to say you cannot go running from Greshams if you want to.)

Saturday morning swimming - last of the current pool sessions is this coming Saturday, 16th July, before the school closes down the pool for its summer holidays. Simon Green is now the man to talk to about the school sessions.  Conversely, the open water facility is now open to us for the summer on Saturday mornings from approximately 9:00 to 10:30. Greg continues to be contact for the open water sessions.

TriYoga - advance notice that Susannah has been busy setting up some more Yoga sessions. Watch this space.

Thu 2nd - training session has been postponed to give people a chance to go into Colchester to see the town centre cycle racing.

Volunteers needed to help with a stand at the Great East Swim - please let Simon Palmer know when you could help.

Weekly time-trials will be on Tuesdays for six weeks starting 24th May (i.e. the Crowfield events), then back to Wednesdays on 6th July (Henley).

Training sessions:

STOP PRESS
I gave the wrong twitter feed for Neil Catling in the version of ITCH which was e-mailed out. Neil can be followed on http://twitter.com/neilcatling

Thursday nights at Greshams (from Dave):

10 Mar - Speed session (4 x 1200m intervals + 2k warm up & 2k cool down)
17 Mar - Fynn Valley headtorch run (approx 5 miles off-road; options to cut off 0.75m or add on 1.25m). Bring a headtorch.
24 Mar - Bleep test (how long can you keep up in Greshams car park?)
31 Mar - Dave's House run (approx 5 mile road run)

Sunday morning ride-outs (from Mary:

The next ride will be a Mountain Bike Ride on Sunday 20 March. Meet Rendlesham Forest (Tangham) in car park before main car park barrier. Meet 8.45(ish) for 9am bike off.
Contact: amanda (amandamallett@btinternet.com) or Michelle (chelleyjc@yahoo.co.uk)

The next bike ride will then be on Sunday 10 April, TBC.
 

However - the date of Culford has changed. It has moved from 24th July to 31st July. Clearly this means that some people may wish to change their volunteer duties either to or from Culford. Please e-mail charlie@ipswich-tri.org by 28th February if you want to change your selection from the one(s) you gave when you renewed, otherwise we shall assume that you are happy to stick with the event(s) you've offered to help crew.

Swimming arrangements - Saturday morning swimming has been extended. As a trial, we will be booking the pool for two hours - from 8:00 to 10:00 - until the summer closure.
This coming Saturday, 26th February, there will be a WIDTHs session for our younger members from 8:00 until approximately 8:30, after which the lane ropes will go back in for lengths-based swimming until the 10:00 cut-off.
A similar widths session will then be held on the third Saturday of each month. Contact Isabel to get on to the widths sessions.  Charlie will continue to offer coaching assistance for age-group "improvers" from 9:00 to 10:00 as now, until at least 19th March.

If you cannot wait, click here to download an old-style membership form but please note that the forms should go to Charlie Stannett this year, and not to Simon Palmer. Strictly speaking membership renewals are due by the end of January if you want to get your £5 kit voucher but I'll seek an extension to that cut-off if my testing takes much longer.

Local junior triathlon - we've been told about a triathlon in our region which might be of interest to our junior members. This one is at Southwold's St Felix School on 22nd May - see http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=100983

Thursday evening sessions

For 2011's subscriptions, we have decided to use EntryCentral to allow on-line renewals, and are currently setting up and testing our subscription pages.

If you cannot wait, click here to download an old-style membership form but please note that the forms should go to Charlie Stannett this year, and not to Simon Palmer. Membership renewals are due by the end of January if you want to get your £5 kit voucher.

Thursday evening sessions

Nov 18 - Valley Road hill session (8 x 400m intervals + 2k warm up & 2k cool down)
Nov 25 - Fynn Valley head torch run (almost full moon, but still bring a headtorch.  Approx 5 miles off-road.)
Dec 02 - Speed session (4 x 1200m intervals + 2k warm up & 2k cool down)
Dec 09 - Dales Road run (5 miles on road)
Dec 16 - Valley Road hill session (8 x 400m intervals + 2k warm up & 2k cool down)

Saturday morning swimming sessions continue at Woolverstone, with some coaching now available for seniors as well as juniors, subject to continuing demand.

Sunday morning ride-outs

Nov 21 - meet The Cottage Hackney Road Peasenhall IP17 2HS 8.45 am for 9am departure for a 2 hour ride (tel 01728 660034 for directions).
Nov 28 - muddy mountain bike ride meet Rendlesham forest main car park 8.45 for 9am departure (car park barrier opens at 9, so if driving, park in one of the spaces available near to the car park entrance).
Dec 05 - no ride (Woodbridge Cross-country).

For further info contact:Mary Skelcher (mary.skelcher@btinternet.com) or Michelle Constable (chelleyjc@yahoo.co.uk)

Sunday afternoon Nov 28th - Tri-Yoga session. To be sure of a place, please email Susannah Rosenberg via susannah@ipswich-tri.org

Friday evening Dec 10 - Christmas "Do" at The Greyhound on Henley Road, kick-off at 7pm.

Sunday morning ride-outs

14 Nov - meet at 36 Catherine Street Woodbridge 8.45 for 9am departure for a 2 hour ride.

21 Nov - meet The Cottage Hackney Road Peasenhall IP17 2HS 8.45 am for 9am departure for a 2 hour ride (tel 01728 660034 for directions).

28 Nov - muddy mountain bike ride meet Rendlesham forest main car park 8.45 for 9am departure (car park barrier opens at 9, so if driving, park in one of the spaces available near to the car park entrance).

5 Dec - no ride (Woodbridge Cross-country).

ITCH league - I don't appear to have received any appeals or further race data so these are the final standings. Congratulations to Dave Copland and Amanda Mallett.

A session with Joan Stonehouse for Tri-Yoga

"Make the weak bits strong.  Make the stiff bits flexible."

Sun 10 Oct - meet Northgate @ 8.45am for 9am departure. 35-40 miles.

Sun 17 Oct - Muddy Mountain Bike Ride - meet at Rendlesham Forest (main parking area) 8.45am for 9am departure. Return approx 11.15 - 11.30ish

Sun 24 Oct  - meet Maidenhall Sports Centre at 8.45am for 9am departure. 35-40 miles. (Maidenhall Approach, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 8NZ

Sun 31 Oct - probably no ride as X-Country at Fram (TBC)

For further info contact:Mary Skelcher (mary.skelcher@btinternet.com) or Michelle Constable (chelleyjc@yahoo.co.uk)

More information to follow as and when, or you try asking John. Please remember that the league fixtures are raced as club members and you must wear club kit.

Calendar - now includes SCAA road race dates for 2011

The ITCH league has also been updated - it now include Culford points and some points missing from Wattisham which have really shaken things up.

There are still one or two omissions from earlier races still to be added, & some kit violations to be considered, but top three men are currently Mark Bowditch, Neil Catling & Chris Tye, while the top three women are Lucy Bowditch, Amanda Mallett & Kate Stannett.

Scoring races coming up in the next few weeks with members entered include Culford, IM Switzerland, IM UK, Norseman Xtreme, Outlaw and Cambridge standard.

That will then just leave the Vitruvian and the Clacton weekend in September...

ITCH league - Norwich, Grays, Ironmans et al
ITCH League now updated to include points from Norwich & Grays.
(My thanks to Neil at East Essex for supplying me with relevant data for Grays.)
Vis-à-vis Ironmans and equivalents - I will try and get the IM/Roth/Norseman/Outlaw results processed during August - please let me know if I need to find your name - and if you know where I can find a copy of the full results in Excel format.

Wednesday time-trials - reminder that the local TT series is now open to club members. We will also be looking for volunteers for the two August races which we are hosting - please let Antony Birt know if you can help.

We can swim at the private reservoir on Saturday mornings from 9.00 -10.30, but we will have to swim around or away from the fishermen which can be arranged on the day. Tuesday nights is still on as well but the water level is very low now and the weed patches are getting bigger in places so people should be aware of the dangers and confident in open water

Do not forget your helmet for the bike rides.

No committee meeting in July - next meeting will be second Thursday of August; any intervening requests are being handled by e-mail.

The club is looking to invest in a “wetronome” - see an example of how to use it at http://www.swimsmooth.com/ramptest.html - but is there anybody out there already got one/used one

Please note that these figures are subject to confirmation by all concerned that you either raced in club kit or were prevented from doing so because, although you had tried, you had been unable to get kit in time.

3 Jun - Fynn Valley run
10 Jun - Bike ride (approx 1 hour)
17 Jun - Christchurch Park hills
24 Jun - Dales road run

Search  - I've inserted a "Google Search" button in the left hand margin of this page on a trial basis.

BBC Weather - I've also inserted an "iframe" containing the BBC weather forecast for Ipswich which, from experience with other iframes, might not work with all browsers but does work with IE8 on Windows.

Constructive feedback welcome.

Great East Swim -  we are hoping again to have a presence at this year’s Great East Swim but this will need members who are competing to help on some kind of rota basis.  Please give some thought to this.

ITCH league - the Merchant Taylor triathlon closed to entries with no take-up by our club's members so it will be dropped from the ITCH league.  Events in the league which were still accepting entries include both Cambridge and Fritton.

11th Mar - Dales Road run
18th Mar - Speed session (flat intervals on road)
25th Mar - Fynn Valley headtorch run
1st Apr - Valley Road hills
8th Apr - Town run
15th Apr - Speed session (flat intervals on road)
22nd Apr - Fynn Valley run (no headtorch needed)

To take part be at Greshams in time to change and be ready to start at 7:00pm.

ITCH League - I’ve been asked to add the “Swashbuckler” as an alternative middle-distance event. Any views/support for this idea?

Novice age-groupers - to repeat offer given in ITCH - are you an age-grouper (i.e. not a junior) who is new to triathlon and looking for some low-key coaching to get your through your first triathlon? If we have enough interest we’ll look at setting up some classes.

Thursday sessions

• Jan 14th - spinning session. Let Ross know if you're coming - and whether or not you're interested in these session continuing
• Jan 21st - Valley Road Hills
• Jan 28th - Fynn Valley head torch run

The Ipswich Triathlon Club Christmas 'do' (AKA end of season party) will be at the Woolpack
(Tuddenham Road, Ipswich), Thursday 3rd December: 7.00 - 7.30pm for food & booze.

Dress casual/festive (no tri-suits!)

We've reserved the back room at the Woolpack, but please order your food at the bar and pay individually.  The Woolpack have asked for numbers so please let Ross, Em or Mary (mary.skelcher@btinternet.com) know if you're in.

Click here for poster as PNG, here for poster as PDF (you'll need a lot of red ink to print it out!)

The "autumn" issue of ITCH is now online - including:

• development reports
• race reports from the Vitruvian, the Atlantic Coast Challenge, the Berlin Marathon, the Ipswich duathlon, the first Dunmow,... you name it, it's in here somewhere!
• to go with last issue's pointer to a Free Cervélo drinks bottle, there is an offer of a Free Cervélo frameset to put it on...

Special apologies go to Steve dB who has been really missing ITCH!  But we will want a full report from your Exmoor bike ride...

Nominations invited for 2010 committee membership.
Send names (of nominee & post, proposer, & seconder) to Simon Palmer.

LifecycleUK in Bildeston - Robert has agreed to offer a 10 per cent discount on general purchases, provided you have proof of membership needed. The discount covers their bike fitting service as well as spares etc. The discount is "not automatic" on bikes, where any discount is usually by negotiation. (Phone 01449-744467, closed on Wednesdays.)

Thursday sessions:

Spin sessions held "off-site", all others set off from Greshams at 7:00pm.

ITCH contributions: I plan to compile ITCH on Tuesday 29th so please let me have any further contributions - including any small ads - to itch@ipswich-tri.org BEFORE Monday evening.
I bet you just can't wait to see the finalised ITCH league...

County Athletics XC Championship race will be held on the 10th January at Newmarket. This normally requires entry in advance - contact John for more information.

ITCH league updated "pre-Vitruvian" - all to play for!
Click here to view; click here for XLS.

Duathlon volunteers needed - Nik Bestow is looking for more people to help from 7am to 11:30am on the Sunday (and a bit of help on Saturday to assemble the racking).
This is because some volunteers have dropped out which is taking us below the minimum needed to run with.
If you can help please contact Nik by e-mailing duathlon@ipswich-tri.org or telephone him on 01473 625070.

Swimming - reminder that Saturday sessions will be moving back to the pool from Saturday 12th September. (We're assuming everybody is in Rutland Water on Saturday 4th.)
Tuesday evenings will continue for now but will be reviewed as the evenings draw in.

twitter - try following www.twitter.com/ipswichtri - I'll give it a whirl, let me know if it works for you

Tri-Anglia Eastern Region Aquathlon Challenge - Saturday August 29th - we've been invited to "send a male and female team of three athletes and the total time of all three athletes added together to complete the course is the team's finishing time.  The team with the lowest score wins.  There are no medals, no prizes and no marshals - just the satisfaction of being the winning team."
Anybody interested in participating/coordinating, please let itch@ipswich-tri.org know.

North Norfolk triathlon club standard distance, Wells-next-the-sea, 6 Sep
1500m sea swim around Wells Harbour, three lap bike in and around the Holkham Hall and estate, out and back run through coastal - see www.northnorfolktriathlonclub.org.uk

Great East Swim, Ipswich half marathon - are you doing either or both of these?
London - did you do this? Please let itch@ipswich-tri.org know.

Thursday evening sessions -Susannah writes:

Junior swim-training - Wednesday evenings at Eyke Pool (IP12 2QW); 5:00 - 6:30. Contact Isabel via juniors@ipswich-tri.org or on 01394-460288/07970-937899

• a veritable feast of race reports from April, May & June
• exciting news about OPEN WATER SWIMMING (starting tonight!)
• Danny's holiday diary from the Pyrenees training camp
• a new triathlon, at Dunmow
• news of an attempt at the Ultraman

It's even got a new small ad!

Good luck to everybody racing or just taking part at Norwich this coming weekend. Steve dB plans to take a gazebo and a club power flag or two (as long as they let him in to drop it all off!) so we’ll have a base camp for everyone, so keep an eye out for him.

I have spent many hours sweating over PDFs and an increasingly irate PC but I think I have successfully processed all available data and updated the ITCH league - click here (and keep your fingers crossed that it works) to see the full spreadsheet approximately half-way through the season.

Some members have already completed four scoring events; others have yet to start. But it's already looking very interesting, with Rick Berry and Julia Green heading up things - and things can only get hotter as we go into July with Norwich & Grays, and also a bundle of Longs...

Thursday club sessions:

4 Jun: Fynn Valley run (off-road, approx 5 miles)
11 Jun: Spin session (not at Greshams; tell Ross if you're coming)
18 Jun: 1hr bike ride (2 or 3 groups, distance depends on speed)
25 Jun: Christchurch Park hill session
2 Jul: Shell garage run (4.5 mile road run)
9 Jul: Speed session (interval training road run)

Free talk at Bury Physio, Maynewater Lane, Thursday 4th June - see e-mail for details

Suffolk villages charity bike ride - Sunday 14th June - 20/40/80km options - see www.stowlions.org.uk for details & entry form.

Club championship - when I last looked, 27 members had entered the Norwich standard triathlon. If you intend entering then do it now - there were only nine places left. See http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?festivalID=46

Funding for training as a coach - more to follow in next ITCH but if you can't wait visit www.suffolksport.com for details. Look for the item "Leading the Field".

Apparently Waveney 2 has opened - see http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=100149

Time-trials - Wednesday evening bicycle time-trials start this week.
See ITCH or http://www.ipswichbicycleclub.co.uk/events.html for details.

April      11^th, 18^th  (No swim 25^th)
May.     02^nd, 09^th, 16^th, 23^rd, 30^th
June     06^th, 13^th, 20^th, 27^th
July.     (04^th No swim - club champs on the 5^th), 11^th, 18^th, 25^th

2 April – John W Speed Session
9 April – Spinning session £3 at the fitness unit on felixstowe road
( First come first served, only 15 places - let Ross know if you're coming)
16 April – Christchurch Park session
23 April – Shell Garage run
30th April – Fynn Valley
7 May – Turbo/Brick session or group ride subject to interest/weather

Specialist all-day swim coaching session: still to be confirmed with the coach but pencil in Sunday May 10th.

Long bike rides: Nick Collinson is planning to do the Hell of the East (his very own "Tour of the Four Counties") on the following weekdays.

Tuesday April 7th
Wednesday April 15th
Wednesday April 22nd
Thursday April 30th (depending how tired he feels)

He’s planning to leave about 8:30 each day and will ride north out of Ipswich on the Westerfield Road. The ride is c. 120 miles so takes 6:30ish.

Sport England Survey - if you haven't already done so, consider registering to take part in the Sport England Survey about your participation in triathlon.
See http://surveys.globalepanel.com/wix/p286573946.aspx?type=2&Sport=triathlon

ITCH for February 2009 is viewable on-line.

The ITCH league has now also been finalised for 2009 - click here for details.

Wattisham vs Fritton Super Sprint
Wattisham is taking place on Saturday 25th April - see http://www.wattishamtriathlon.co.uk/ - which clashes with the Pyrenees training camp and the London marathon that weekend.
Ant suggests Fritton Super Sprint as a replacement for the purposes of the ITCH league. The "Super Sprint" is the same weekend as the Fritton Standard event - June 6th and June 7th - so it seems like a good idea - see http://www.fritton-lake-triathlon.co.uk/
If enough of you are still going to be doing Wattisham, I can include both in the league, which will give a wider choice for people not yet up to doing a standard distance or further. Let me know.

Reminder - don't forget to renew your subscriptions.
If you renew by end of January (and enclose an SAE when you send your wads to Simon) you should receive a club kit discount voucher on due course.

You need to act NOW if you want to enter the Suffolk County Athletics Association Cross-country championships at Haughley Park, Stowmarket on 11-Jan-2009.  YOU NEED TO ENTER IN ADVANCE and the closing date is December 19th so please don't delay.
Dave Copland will collate entries and send them off together so that we can enter the team competition.  If you want to enter, please email Dave at davecopland@btinternet.com with the following information:

•     - Full name

•     - Address

•     - Date of birth

•     - Telephone

•     - Qualification (either born or resident in Suffolk)

The cost is £4.  Dave will pay for the entries and you can reimburse him at Haughley Park.  Men race over 12k and women over 6k.
Please let Dave know by Wednesday at the latest so that he can get the entries to the organiser by Friday.

Further details from http://www.suffolkathletics.org.uk/

Dec 13th            last before Christmas, to be followed by optional ALTON WATER run

Jan 3rd               CANCELLED

January             10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
February           7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
March               7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
April                  4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
May                  2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
To get on Steve’s “ring round” list, contact Steve de Boltz on 07795 564322 or e-mail stevedb@btsgroupuk.com

Thursday sessions – all in evening at Greshams (7:00pm start) unless otherwise shown

Dec 25th            No run

Jan 1st               Dales Road Hangover Cure – meet at 12:00 noon at 83 Christchurch Street
Jan 8th               Fynn Valley Head Torch – five miles cross-country under the full moon
Jan 15th             John Speed session – it’s hard, it’s fast and John is the boss
Jan 22nd             Valley Road Hills – the hills are alive with the sound of hamstrings
Jan 29th             Shell Garage Run – four miles on pavement

Feb 5th              Fynn Valley Head Torch – five miles cross-country under the full moon

• race reports from the Vitruvian, Lafarge Helwith Bridge Duathlon, Clacton & duathlon world championships
• ITCH league final outcome
• social networks
• possible change to the Culford bike route

Do not forget to come to the AGM.

You are reminded that the Ipswich Triathlon Club AGM is on Thursday 13^th November, to be held in Greshams’ annex (not the bar). Buffet from 6:30, formal business from 7:00.
Click here to download the agenda [PDF], which also includes a list of all valid committee nominations as at 29th October.
Note that there are currently no valid nominations for either treasurer or development officer. Any further nominations by e-mail to Simon Palmer.

Thursday run routes:

Arrive in time for a 7:00 start (except November 13th when, to be honest, 6:00 is probably pushing it!)

Christmas Social Shindig - Ross has booked 20 places at the Greyhound for Monday 8th December at 7:00pm (order from menu & pay at bar).  If you want "in", please contact Ross by mobile 0773 6322 776 or email.

ITCH league provisional outcome - click here to download as a PDF file - follows manual cranking of Vitruvian results, so this is really subject to confirmation from all the Vitruvian folk.

As most of you know this is all a bit unofficial but the “winners” are Dave Copland and Kate Stannett – both of whom actually scored slightly LOWER than last year. Lucy Bowditch would have scored higher if she had worn club kit at IMUK which would have given her an extra place or so.  Ross Weldon may also have done really well if he'd been first claim Ipswich.

The big improvers are all people who did more eligible events but, based on a quick butchers at my old print outs, words of praise must go to Julia Yelloly, Amanda Mallett and John Wankowski. And probably everybody else as well!

Thursday night sessions:

Sep 18th	Dave's House Run 4.5 miles with a couple of little slopes
Sep 25th	Valley Road Hills 400m repeats up hill to help improve your speed
Oct 2nd	Big John's Speed Session Experimental speed work session - ooer...
Oct 9th	Shell Garage Run 4.5 miles - and it's flat
Oct 16th	Finn Valley Head Torch Excitement in the dark for five miles on a cinder track - bring a head torch!
Oct 23rd	Dales Run 5 miles with one - okay, maybe two -small hills
Oct 30th	Valley Road Hill 400m repeats up hill - improve your speed or collapse in a shaky white pool of pain - it's your choice

Please remember these are informal social training opportunities - and a perfect way to build up a thirst before hitting the bar afterwards!

Nominations invited for committee posts - please remember that all committee posts are elected on a yearly basis at the AGM. Nominations should be sent to Simon Palmer before 6th November, and should show the consent of the nominee to stand for the post, the name of the person nominating them, and the name of at least one other person who is seconding the nomination.

London marathon places - we will be applying for club places for the 2009 Flora London Marathon, for which members can apply.  As in previous years the committee will decide where the places go based on various criteria such as "did you apply in the open ballot" and "have you already had a club place".  However, we are applying a new "golden criterion" - you MUST have fulfilled your race volunteer obligations before your application will be considered.

Reminder - Marshals Urgently Required for Ipswich Duathlon, 21st September.
We need over 30 volunteers to make the Ipswich Duathlon a success and as of yesterday morning still did not have enough. This is the last club race of the year so could any members, especially any who have not yet helped out at a race this year, please contact Derrick Smith ASAP at derrick.smith@bt.com or on 07710 105551 to volunteer their help, or that of a friend. If you are racing then you could bring a friend along to marshal and watch at the same time.

Reminder - Saturday morning pool swim sessions resume tomorrow

Club development plan for 2009 onwards - Adrian Green is drafting the club development plan for next year. I know Adrian wants to reflect the needs and aspirations of all our members - that's seniors as well as juniors - so if you have any (preferably realistic) proposals you'd like to make,  please contact Adrian sooner rather than later.

93 Darwin Road
Ipswich
IP4  1QD

Ipswich (01473) 711592.

John will be compiling an order soon so please let him know if you are thinking of buying any kit.

For junior kit contact Adrian Green, juniors@ipswich-tri.org - he operates a special scheme for juniors.

• update to the league following London, Cambridge and the Norseman
• a look forward to a busy weekend including the Vitruvian and the UK Ironman
• Framlingham race report & director's report
• cross-country dates

Don't forget as well that we need more volunteers for the duathlon - contact derrick.smith@bt.com as soon as possible.

Pyrenees training camp - the date for this is being fixed as 18th-25th April 2009.  See Susannah's item in April's ITCH for further details, and contact Susannah as soon as possible if you want to book a slot.

We are short of volunteers to help with the Ipswich Junior Triathlon on Sunday 24th August from about 9.00am until midday. Many people who originally offered help are now unable to do so.

If you can help please step forward by contacting Simon Palmer at simon.palmer@talk21.com as soon as possible.

• the new club champions
• Culford race director's report
• reminder about making your mind up NOW if you plan to enter a European Ironman in 2009
• advance notice of AGM on 13th November.

We need approximately 40 race day volunteers for the Culford Triathlon to run smoothly.  Currently only 17 people have emailed their confirmation for race day, which is insufficient to run the race.

So this is a big plea to club members to offer their support for the race on Sunday 27th July by volunteering to help. Could people please contact Derrick Smith ASAP at  derrick.smith@bt.com to volunteer their help.

Note - we have plenty of volunteers for race set up on the Saturday. It is race day itself that needs more volunteers.

Club championships - we had a very successful time of it at the Norwich triathlon, bringing home a major podium place and numerous age-group wins.  Well done to everybody - even the club member who thought it was a horse race.
If you were there, please send me a paragraph or two (or more) for ITCH...

Tour de France mini-league - Ant "Swiss Tony" Birt has set up an "Ipswich Tri Club" mini-league in Eurosport's fantasy TdF competition.  If you're interested, register and submit a team at http://fantasy.tour-de-france.eurosport.com/ and then contact Ant with some urgency (or you'll miss out on points).

Diss duathlon pictures - see http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/ipswich.triathlon/DissDuathlon

Ipswich BC closed circuit race - 13th July - Bentwaters
Ipswich bike club have been able to secure Bentwaters Park for a closed circuit road race event on the 13^th July 2008 (Bentwaters Park is situated off the A1152 between Woodbridge and Tunstall, just south east of Rendlesham.) The circuit is approx 5.1 miles in length. This will be reduced for the youth races.
Entries will be on the line only. The first race starts at 12:15.
For more information please contact the organiser, Paul Driver pd@pauldriver.co.uk or on 07770388993.
There might be more information on the IBC website.

Juniors training day June 22nd - see it in pictures

• "June-ior special"
• reminder that the club championships - the Norwich standard triathlon - are next week.
  June 29th is the final closing date - see http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=100057
• you need to be deciding NOW if you plan to enter a European Ironman in 2009
• Wendy's windy Windsor
• ITCH league update
• changes to kit arrangements

Social event Friday 23 May - Emily Carter has booked 15 places for 8:30 at Temptation Chinese Ipswich (all you can eat buffet).  Cost will be £10.90pp pay on night (drinks to be ordered separately at the bar, to stop any confusion).  E-mail emily.carter@fredolsentravel.co.uk  to book your place. First come first served, but Emily may be able to increase numbers if required.
Meet beforehand from 8:00 at the Milestone (formerly the Mulberry) opposite the Odeon at the bottom of Woodbridge Road.

Thursday evening "social training" sessions - May 1st Fynn Valley Run; May 8th Christchurch Park short hill session; May 15th dB’s Big Bad Turbo/Run session. (More in forthcoming ITCH.)

Invitation from the Broomhill Pool Trust - Saturday 26th April - in celebration of Broomhill Pool's 70th anniversary:

• OPEN DAY - BROOMHILL POOL 10:00-17:00

• BBQ AND PARTY - EMPEROR PUBLIC HOUSE 18:00 onwards

The Broomhill Pool Trust will host an "open day" at the pool from 10:00am to 17:00. The public will be able to view safe areas of the pool site (no swimming). There will be an exhibition of the pool, competitions, vintage cars and raffle prizes.  Entrance is free, but donations to the Broomhill Pool Trust will be welcome.

In the evening a BBQ and party will be held at the Broomhill Pool Trust's “worldwide HQ” at Emperor Public House on Norwich Road. Entrance is free, but donations to the Broomhill Pool Trust will be welcome. All proceeds from the BBQ go to the Trust.

A special "Broomhill 70th Birthday" souvenir booklet will be sold at £2.00 per copy.

www.savebroomhillpool.org

April junior training day cancelled - there have been very few confirmed bookings for the training programme so far, so Adrian has had to cancel the first training day, which had been scheduled for Sunday 13th April, at Framlingham College. At the moment Adrian is still planning to go ahead with the remaining three training days in May, June & July at Woodbridge School.

May 4th Junior Aquathon (swim, run) at Harwich Dovercourt pool - we have been invited to participate in a three-way challenge match against East Essex triathlon club and Harwich swimming/running club.  If you are interested in competing for Ipswich triathlon club, please contact Adrian.

Have you renewed your membership for 2008?
If you have lost the one Simon sent you, download a membership form and send it in now. Please note that we have reviewed subscriptions for 2008 and they are now Seniors £15, Juniors £5 and Family £20.

Waveney & Norwich events both open

• Waveney 11th May - see http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=100063

• Norwich Standard 6th July - see http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=100057

(Note that there is also a Norwich Junior event on 5th July, and a Sprint event on 6th July)

Please make sure that when you are asked for your club that you enter as "Ipswich Triathlon Club", not just as "Ipswich" otherwise it gets difficult to find people in the results amongst other Ipswich clubs such as Jaffa, Ipswich Bike Club etc.

The club committee won't be formally discussing the clubs championships (& league) until Thursday this week but I'm guessing that we'll be sticking with Norwich Standard as the club championships, and will keep Waveney in the league seeing as how it has been so popular.

Do you know an inspirational young volunteer? They can be nominated for a Young Achievers Award (by 20^th December) - see www.youngachievers.co.uk  or contact fiona.jamieson@youthnet.org for more information

Ipswich Triathlon Club Christmas dinner - Friday 14th December 2007 – 7.30pm

"Thai 1", 39 Upper Orwell Street, Ipswich, Tel. 01473 286371

Please email Laura on Laura.Williams@imperial.nhs.uk to book your place – no advance ££ or orders required.

Deadline for bookings Friday 7th December – capacity is 20 but I’m sure this will be flexibile if necessary.

Nice and central so plan will be food followed by drinks in town afterwards for all those keen. Have a look on the website www.thai-1.co.uk - click on IPSWICH to link to restaurant details. If you don’t know it, Laura promises it’s nicer than it looks!!!
Remember - please e-mail Laura.Williams@imperial.nhs.uk to confirm your seat!

What, no race reports? - After a BUMPER OKTOBERFEST issue, you’ve clearly all gone home to rest of something! Apart from a few pointers at cold packs, dangerous places, etc I do not appear to have received a single race report or similar contribution for November’s ITCH. So I’ll hold off publishing to give you a chance to send in any of those items you’d been meaning to write!
Meanwhile:

We have a new Chairman, and a race committee…
The AGM voted in Nick Collinson as Chairman and me (Charlie Stannett) as regional rep (John Gabriel is leaving the area and has resigned from the club) 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!

pre-AGM run - There will be a run session immediately before the AGM. We'll be leaving Greshams at 6:15 *prompt*, which will allow time for a 45 minute run and a shower before the AGM starts at 7:30. The route is open to negotiation but in the absence of any other suggestions it will be a repeat of last week's 'Shell Garage' run.

Ironman UK - The official Ironman UK TV show will be broadcast on Channel 4 at 8.25am on Sunday 4th November.  To tie in with that, entries have just opened for pre-registered people for next year's Ironman UK on 7th September 2008. See http://www.ironmanuk.com/ but do not hang around if you want to enter - I gather they had more people pre-registered than they had places.

Cross-country on Sunday - Nik Bestow has spotted that Ipswich are playing Norwich in Norwich on Sunday so you might need to allow a bit more time to get to Fritton Lake.

Swimming training - there was no swimming this morning (we don't usually get the use of the pool during half-terms). Steve did tell everybody he saw but if you went and were disappointed, then apologies.  Reminder that there is no swimming on 3rd November.

Ipswich Triathlon Club AGM - the minutes from the 2006 AGM can be downloaded in PDF format, as can the constitution as it stood going into that meeting.
Click here for 2006 minutes
Click here for constitution as at October 2006.

Ipswich Triathlon Club AGM - will be held on Thursday evening 8th November at Greshams.  Please try to arrive at 7:30 for a 7:45 start.
The agenda will include: election of committee members; a resolution to change the subscriptions structure.
Nominations for committee posts should be sent to Simon Palmer by Thursday 1st November and include the name of the (willing) nominee, a proposer and at least one seconder. Some - but not all - existing committee members have said that they will be willing to stand if no alternative nominations are made, but will still need proposing and seconding.
Please note that the AGM cannot be used by members to vote in changes to club rules. That is the role of the committee. However, members can propose changes to the constitution as well as voting in a new committee. If you wish to propose a change to the club's constitution you must submit your proposed resolution to Simon Palmer, again by Thursday 1st November.
The formal business is likely to last no more than two hours maximum. A "third hour" will be made available for open discussion to allow members to make their views known to the members of the incoming committee.
A buffet will be provided.

Thursday night training
25/10.   Dales Road run (5-6 mile road run).
01/11.   Shell garage run (4-5 mile road run).
08/11.   AGM.
15/11.   Sprint session with Derrick.
22/11.   Valley Road hill session.
29/11.   Night Navigation run (Fynn valley in the dark) head torches required.
06/12.   Dales Road run.
13/12.   New route (sorted by John Wankowski).
20/12.   Valley road hill session.

Abject apologies. For reasons which one or two people know about I have totally timed out with getting September's ITCH completed so, given how close we are to October, I shall carry everything over to a bumper October issue.

Thursday sessions at Greshams: Sep 27th - Speed session (Derrick to take); Oct 4th - Dales road run; Oct 11 - Valley road hill session; Oct 18 - 4/5 mile road run (with optional extra bit at the end)

Saturday swim sessions – Steve dB tells me: Sep 29th is now confirmed as ON. October 6th is OFF; 13th & 20th ON; 27th OFF. November 3rd OFF (but there might be another excuse to get wet near Ipswich), 10th, 17th & 24th ON. December 1st, 8th and 15th ON.

Social events on/being planned:
Fri 28th Sep “Fat Hen” playing “Keep on running” & other stuff at the Black Horse, Stratford St Mary. (blatant ad)
Sat 20th October “anything that dazzles” pub night at the Woolpack.
Provisional date for Christmas munchies Friday 14th December.

Facebook – Adrian Green is kicking off a “facebook” area. If you want to be invited to join, e-mail Adrian at juniors@ipswich-tri.org giving your e-mail address.  Once it gets off the ground we’ll add a link from the formal website.

My e-mail address: some people have been using my work e-mail address to contact me. Subject to some local confirmation, that address will fail soon so please use my club addresses.

Attachment filters - some members seem to be having problem receiving ITCH in the HTML format I send out as e-mail, with it being converted to a "WINMAIL.DAT" file. If anybody else knows why this is happening please let me know! But rest assured I always try to make sure that ITCH is published on the site before I send out the e-mail.

ITCH for September - work commitments mean that I might not now be able to compile September's ITCH until AFTER the Vitruvian, so there is still time for you to send in further race reports.

Good luck to people competing at Clacton - I know "Boggy" Copland & Steve dB are both attempting the double - and also to everybody competing in the Vitruvian, which incorporates the national middle-distance championships.

Cyclo-cross training - anybody reading this month's 220 magazine will understand the usefulness of cyclo-cross to certain triathlon events.  John Gabriel informs me that if anyone is interested in competing in cyclo-cross this winter, IBC training sessions start on Saturday 1 September at Foxhall Stadium, meet at 9.45 for 10.00am start, finish 12 noon, cost £2.  Anyone interested in the East Anglian Cyclo-Cross League, visit the website at http://easterncross.users.btopenworld.com/ for details of races, costs etc.

Junior triathlon & duathlon both full - waiting list in operation.

Thursday evening training sessions

Aug 16^th        Fynn Valley run
Aug 23^rd        Hill running session, Christchurch Park
Aug 30^th        Four-five mile road run (use as sharpener for Clacton)
Sep 6^th         Turbo/run session (use as sharpener for Waveney)
Sep 13^th        Hill-running session, Valley Road
Sep 20^th        Four-five mile road run

Swimming - the session originally planned for Saturday 25th August has had to be cancelled.

We have the special bike-training session.

Correction - there is NO swimming on 14th July - reminder that swimming goes from 9:00 to 10:00.

Club championships - the winners of the club championships were: Male – Dave Copland, Male vet – Mark Bowditch,  Male super vet – Derrick Smith; Female – Sam Fulcher, Female vet – Julia Yelloly, Female super vet – Maria Reynolds.

Saturday morning swimming sessions back on – July 14th & 21st (see below for complementary bike session later that same morning); August 11th & 25th. There will also be dates in September & later, which will be in ITCH.

Bike training special – July 21st at Foxhall Road (IBC members will be familiar with this).  It will cost you £2 and you need to be there for 11.30 am prompt, there being Foxhall Stadium, entrance off Foxhall Road. You will need your bike, kit and helmet (no helmet, no ride). Activities will be general track cycling, riding in groups, speed, sprints etc all on slightly banked concrete circuit, road bikes essential.

Thursday evening sessions: 12/07   Bike ride, 19/07   Fynn Valley run, 26/07   Turbo run session, 02/08   4 mile road run, 09/08   Drill session on playing field

Volunteers – we are still desperately short of volunteers, especially for the Ipswich duathlon which may yet have to be cancelled if not enough people come forward to help.  There will be more about this in ITCH but if you have not yet put your hand up – or if you are willing to help at more than one event – please get in touch with John Gabriel (for duathlon), Dave Copland (for Culford) and/or Simon Palmer (for junior).

Reminder of club championships - I intend sending a fuller reminder before my broadband goes but do not forget that our championships will be decided on 1st July at Norwich. The committee is looking into awarding the trophies at Greshams shortly afterwards, probably 5th July.

Visitors to titch may have found a broken link to the distances table. This should have been fixed now as well.

ITCH for May now on-line - contributors include Nik Bestow, Steve dB, John Gabriel, Adrian Green, Sarah Miller, Simon Palmer, Susannah Rosenberg & Laura Williams (social event May 18th - urgent reply needed by Friday 11th).

Forthcoming swimming sessions at Woolverstone - school holidays are upon us which means the current pool availability is:

• March 31st & April 7th - NO swimming
• April 14th - swimming likely BUT you are advised to check with Steve dB before cycling a long distance
• April 21st & 28th - swimming as usual (be there for a 9:00am start)
• May 5th, 12th & 19th - swimming as usual

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

Junior training events - the formal session at Framlingham on April 15th is filling fast, but about to be opened to non-members. So sign up now if you don't want to be disappointed.  Further information will start to appear on the "titch" pages shortly.
With the less formal events you must still let Ady know if you intend coming - he will cancel events rather than waste club resource if not enough people have committed to coming.
Contact Ady by e-mailing juniors@ipswich-tri.org or ringing 01379-388855.

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 is having some trouble putting together a sufficiently large spring order to meet the minimum order requirements we have with our supplier. So, if you are still only thinking about ordering kit - maybe you've spotted that your winter jacket has worn a bit thin in places and might need replacing before the autumn, or maybe you realise that you would have done more winter mileage if only you'd got around to ordering those fantastic club thermal bib tights - please give Heather a call sooner rather than later.

Have you renewed your membership? If you've lost your form, click here to download another copy.
(If you're a senior member you need only print & complete the front of the form.)

Ipswich tri - BSE XC at Nowton, training, plus ITCH - any more?
I’ve held back compiling ITCH for a couple of days – Steve has hit a slight delay on getting the cross-country league updates.  Meanwhile:

• please note that Sunday’s cross-country at Bury St Edmunds is back at the Nowton venue, and not at Culford
• there is still no immediate sign of the swimming pool re-opening, but do let Steve dB know your phone number if you want to be on his ring-round list for late updates
• this Thursday’s evening session at Greshams is likely to be a 5.5 mile run through the Dales area of Ipswich
• do not forget to renew your membership – I’ll prune my mailing list after the February mailing.
  PLEASE – if you are reading this, you clearly have e-mail, so don’t ask for a paper copy!
• do not forget to get your entry in for the club championships – the Norwich triathlon
• vis-à-vis the ITCH league, the early Waveney sprint event is full but they are putting on a second event in September.  How many people are likely to be doing that?

And, seeing as how I’m waiting for Steve to get his update on the cross-country, I’ll hold the cut-off for ITCH until midnight Friday 2nd Feb – so it’s not too late for you to submit any further stories for the February issue.

Boxing day runs - option 2 - Ipswich rugby club - Michelle Constable reports "theres a 2 miler on boxing Day at Ipswich Rugby Club if anyone feels the need.." http://www.ipswichjaffa.org.uk/diary/06/plumb_pudding.pdf

New Year's Day - option 1 - 53-12 Charity Cross-country in Colchester
Entry forms only available from the 53-12 shop but you can enter on the day - race starts at 2:00pm but be at shop from 1:00 to enter on the day.
Affiliated runners £10, unattached runners £12m, any cheques payable to St Helena Hospice.
The course is based on last year's but may need a slight tweak to avoid some water-logging - but I'm assured it won't be more than 5 miles.

New Year's Day - option 2 - Wymondham 10km
If you prefer tarmac and fancy a drive "up north", there's the Wymondham New Years Day 10km - see http://www.wymondhamac.org.uk

Membership for 2007 - watch out for a membership renewal form popping through your letter box in January.  Additional information will be needed for any junior members.  Membership subscriptions continue, in effect, to be subsidised by the events we hold which is why you must undertake to help crew at least one of our events as part of your membership subscription.

Ipswich duathlon 2007 - entries have also now opened for our own duathlon. Again, visit www.entrycentral.net to enter on-line. Further details will be published shortly.

Swimming cancelled until further notice - we shall try and get more details to put on to the website but essentially Steve de Boltz has been told that the Wolverstone pool has had to be closed and will remain out of action certainly until 2007, so no more sessions for this year.
Please - if you know anybody who comes to the sessions, could you mention this to them. Not everybody has internet access.
Steve is our point of contact with the pool - Steve's mobile is 07795 564 322.

Christmas Dinner 15th December - Laura has so far received well over twenty names for this but still has a few places left. If you would like to come please email Laura to let her know, as soon as possible.

Woodbridge cross-country 11:00 Sunday 10th December - we've been warned by Woodbridge Shufflers that car parking space will be limited at Woodbridge Rugby Club (Hatchley Barn) as we can no longer park on the rugby pitch surrounds.  Please car-share or cycle.

November 2006 ITCH - click here for PDF - or just click here to read on line
If you think you have renewed for 2006 and have given Simon an e-mail address, but have NOT received November ITCH by e-mail, please let me know - e-mail charlie@ipswich-tri.org

Christmas Dinner 15th December - Laura Williams has made a reservation at The Greyhound Pub (corner of Anglesea and Henley Road) on Friday 15th December for an Ipswich Triathlon Club Christmas dinner.  If you would like to come please email Laura to let her know. There is a maximum of around 30 people so it's first come first serve.  The meal is 7pm - 9pm but anyone who is unable to make the meal (or if it becomes over-subscribed) will of course be very welcome to come down for a drink.

BTA AGM - if you are a member of the BTA, remember that your AGM is at Loughborough on 5th November.

Flora London Marathon 2007 - if you intend applying for a club place please read the criteria we use for awarding them (assuming we get some this year!).

Club championships table - this has been updated, probably for the penultimate time before the awards are given out. It is looking good for Graham and Kate at the moment...

Suffolk cross-country series - read October's ITCH for further details but please remember that the first event is at FRAMLINGHAM CASTLE on Sunday 29^th OCTOBER.
Enter on the day in good time for the start time of 11.00am - the RACE HQ IS THE SPORTS GROUND NEXT TO THE POLICE STATION ON THE B1120 BADINGHAM RD.
We need 10 for a team, 7 men and 3 ladies.
There is also a junior race - you have to be 11years old on the day on the race--distance about 2miles and 5 for the senior race. It is £3.00 for seniors, juniors are free!

Ironman UK on Channel 4 - if you are thinking of entering IMUK next year, then try and catch Channel 4's "Adrenalin Rush" at 7:55am on Sunday morning before you go to the cross-country at Framlingham. The programme features the 2006 IMUK at Sherborne.

Ipswich bicycle club address amended on Links page.

October 2006 ITCH - click here for PDF - or just click here to read on line
If you think you have renewed for 2006 and have given Simon an e-mail address, but have NOT received October ITCH by e-mail, please let me know - e-mail charlie@ipswich-tri.org