WINCHESTER TRI

New member DAN BRUNTON raced in his first Triathlon for the club, clocking a very good time of 2- 01-25 for 183nd place and 20th in his age group from a field on over 300 with splits of 7.12/75.50/38.23. Joining him was DARA FRATESI finishing just a few minutes behind in 2-11-21. Her splits were 7.24/81.02/42.55. She was 239th overall & 7th in age group. ANDREW DANIELL was the other club member clocking the best time of 1.59.50 with splits of 7.18/73.22/39.10. His placings were 172nd o/a and 9th in his age group.

AUSTRALIAN IRONMAN at Port Macquarie

Asscociate member PAUL McKAY took part in this race recently for the 11th time clocking a time of 11 hours 44 minutes 14 seconds. Despite heavy work committments PAUL recorded creditable splits of 1.11.58 for the 3.8k swim, 6.10.26 over the 112 mile cycle course & 4 hours 13 secs for the full Marathon. The weather on the day was tricky at times with strong currents making it difficult in the water & a bit windy on the cycle and run course, hence, slow times for all. Of the huge field of 1200, he came in 631st. His ambition has been to break the 10 hour mark &, with the right training schedule in the past , has almost succeeded.....on the first time he came close he made it in 10 hours 4 mins & the next year he was well on course for the record when he got a puncture and finished in 10 hours 15 mins. Needless to say his preparation was pretty well spot on back then with more time to train than he has had of late.

DORCHESTER TRI

Two members visited the Thomas Hardye Centre for this 400m/15mile/4mile race.RON BOYES in the Vet65 class did times of 7.57/52.31/29.26 for a total of 1.29.54 to take 2nd place & 142nd o/a. Whilst DARA FRATESI came 4th in her category of Vet40 in splits of 7.26/54.30/30.40 for a total of 1.32.36 & despite walking for part of the run section due to a leg problem, she was 156th o/a from a field of 200.

SALISBURY TRI - Sunday 25th May

Several members took part in the Salisbury Triathlon over distances of 400m/20miles/4miles. DAN BRUNTON, BRIAN DAVIS, DARA FRATESI & RON BOYES. unfortunately ANDREW DANIELL pulled out at the last minute with back problems. Dan was first in with splits of 6.33/65.45/30.14 = 1.41.32 for 65th o/a & 4th in his age group. Brian was next 10.26/71.51/29.59 = 1.52.16. he was 118th & 2nd V50. Dara clocked 7.19/78.11/35.32 = 2.01.02 for 148th & 2nd V40. Ron was next 8.22/78.59/33.51 = 2.01.12 for 150th & 1st V65. A good days racing was had by all and more trophies to display.

HALF IRONMAN

DAN BRUNTON raced the exmoor Half Ironman at the Wimbleball Lake coming in 340th from a field of 1350 in a time of 6 hours 15 minutes 21 seconds. This was his first attempt at the distance and a good base for a shot at the Full Ironman.

MARLBOROUGH TRI

Only one member of the club attended this race.RON BOYES travelled to Marlborough for the annual 'Fast Twitch' event where, despite knocking off two minutes from last year, he came 2nd in his age category in a time of 2.06.40. His splits over the 400m/20miles/5miles course were 8.04/75.35/43.01.

BOURN EMOUTH TRI

Due to very high winds coupled with torrential rain the Bournemouth Triathlon was changed to a Duathlon for obvious safety reasons. Not all the competitors wanted to do that & went home disappointed but those who did (about 400) took on a 5k run/20k cycle/5k run course. our only club member who stayed to endure the conditions was STEVE HARWOOD who completed the race in 1.50.00, a reasonable time considering the wet & blustery conditions.

ANDOVER TRI

RON BOYES and DARA FRATESI attended this race representing the club. The distance from the 440m swim to transition was very long followed bu a 30k undulating bike & 7k run course. RON clocked 9.25/70.48/42.41 for a total of 2.02.54 to come 84th o/a & 3rd Vet65 whilst DARA was 86th & 3rd Vet40 in splits of 8.49/71.48/45.36 totalling 2.06.13. Both her children MATT & BETH won prizes in the childrens race.

WELL DONE TO YOU ALL.

TIDWORTH TRI

We had three members entered in this race with its undulating cycle and very hilly run. The best of our bunch on the day was DAN BRUNTON who did 6.36 for the 400m swim, 42.40 for the 14 mile cycle and 36.13 for the 4.5 mile run, making his total time 1.25.28 to give him a very respectacle 50th overall & 10th in his age category. Next was RON BOYES who did 8.12/51.26/41.26 for 1.41.04 & 113th o/a 3rd Vet65. Next was DEREK BIGGS with times of 9.19/54.50/47.45 for 1.51.54 giving him 135th o/a & 3rd Vet60.

COTSWOLD TRI

This was the 10th running of the TriFerris Triathlon over distances of a 750 metre Lake Swim, a 20 Kilometre Cycle and a 5 kilometre Run. With rain in the week previous to the event and more downpours on the eve and overnight, conditions were bound to be muddy underfoot. On the morning of the event the rain had stopped at least giving the athletes a chance of enjoying the race despite having to wade through the puddles. One wonders how many competitors gave it a miss this time & stayed away on the day knowing what they would have to endure ie. something resembling the Glastonbury Festival on a good day. Two club members had entered the race but due to illness DEREK BIGGS had to call off his attempt at glory which left RON BOYES the only stalwart to wave the flag for the club. He braved the conditions to finish 2nd Vet65 in a time of 1.27.02 splits were 17.19/48.33/21.08 & 265th overall from a lowly field of just 366.

PERRANPORTH TRI

ANDREW DANIELL represented the club in the Perranporth Triathlon in Cornwall over distances of an 800m Sea Swim, 35k Hilly Cycle & 7.5k even Hillier Run. His times were 37.19/83.04/39.56 for a total time of 2.42.59. He was positioned 181st overall and 15th Vet50 from a field of 230. This is one of the most demanding of races in the Triathlon calendar because of the very choppy seas (more suitable to Surfing than Triathlon) and the heavy wind & currents making it difficult to see, let alone follow, the marker buoys. The Cycle and Run routes were hilly affecting times but ANDREW' S time was good considering the conditions.

DEREK BIGGS and his Charity Swims

DEREK has made quite a lot of cash for charities during the year with his MARATHON swims. I shall detail here all the info of each and every one of them when I can find out from him as he is so modest, he keeps it all to himself and it's like trying to get blood from a stone but here's one to be coing on with.....He raised £325 for the Hampshire Air Ambulance with a swim from Sandbanks to Branksome Chine and back, a total distance of 4.8 kilometers in 1 hour 50 mins. WATCH THIS SPACE

GOLD HILL 10K

BRIAN DAVIS ran the Gold Hill 10k in Shaftesbury amongst 140 other entries. He came 30th in a time of 47.01. The course was the most difficult he had encountered ever....not surprisingly because of the many steep hills including the famous 'Gold Hill' plus another equally as steep. Weather conditions were on the warm side with a slight breeze.

TEWKESBURY AQUATHON

DEREK BIGGS travelled to Tewkesbury in the Cotswolds to race in an Aquathon where he came a creditable 27th in a total time of 35.44.

MORE TO COME........