Race Reports

Well done to all 33 athletes who took part in today's event. This is a big record turnout, and could have been higher but for a couple of injuries. We had fantastic weather and I think the vast majority really enjoyed the day even though that flat run is much more challenging than it looks, and the bike is fairly tough!

This time it was deliberately minimally marshalled, so we could test out a whole bunch of new signs, which of course, allows more people to race and because it was all low key, it allowed everyone to test kit and fitness and strategy.

A big thank you to our two timekeepers, Debbie and Roger, without whom we would not get any results, and also a big thank you to Martin and Lara Shoesmith for their huge effort in getting all the extra signs out and collecting them again afterwards.

The men's sprint race was dominated from the off by Phil Couch, but the women's race looked very exciting, with nothing to choose between the first five out of T2. Clio Lawrence kept something back for the second run though, to eventually win by nearly 2 minutes from Sarah Hinton who had posted the fastest bike split.

The men's standard race was comfortably won by Neil Giles, but the next 3 had a fairly tight battle throughout with only 3 minutes separating them at the end.

Lara Shoesmith moved up to the longer distance this year and did exceptionally well to win.

This race is not only about the winners though, and a few performances are worthy of mention. It was so good to see Del back racing again, and completing the sprint course was a great effort. Last year Rebecca Moore just did the 5k run, but this year completed her first duathlon, and has clearly progressed hugely over the last year. Emma Smith did her first standard distance Duathlon, but she had plenty of strength for the second run, and finished really strongly. All three of them clearly have a lot more to come.

We also had two relay teams, and several stand alone efforts. It was also great to see a couple of husbands taking part - they both look like potential future members of the club!!

The race results are available on the Duathlon event page and the BAR standings on the BAR event page.

Once the Triathlon season is finished,  many club members enter running events, to pursue additional goals other than pure triathlons.

Lisbon Marathon

Tony Asquith completed the Lisbon Marathon in mid October along with his son and best man.

Ed Barnes: Duathlons

Ed Barnes had a few busy weeks in October, when, after 3 months of intensive training, he completed the Windsor Half Marathon, Oulton Park Standard Duathlon and finally the Bedford sprint Euro Qualifier Duathlon (5km run, 20km bike and 2.5km run) on the 16th October, achieving 1.02.18 in gusty winds and torrential rain.

Beachy Head Marathon Saturday 29th October

The Eastbourne Beachy Head Marathon is one of the biggest off-road marathons in the UK. Formerly known as the Seven Sisters Marathon, it is popular for its scenic and challenging route through the South Downs National Park countryside. Four members participated this year, with Jean Fish completing the course in 6 hours, Amanda Durrant in 6.02, Sam Drake in 6.37 and Simon Hodges, along with wife Josie, in  just over 7 hours.

End of Season Saturday morning training swim in Ardingly Reservoir Saturday 29th October

Fifteen swimmers braved the chilly water early Saturday morning, with some in fancy dress, to celebrate 6 months of swim training on Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings,  deservedly followed by bacon rolls and mulled wine!

River Thames Autumn Half Marathon Sunday 30th October

Vicky Von der Linden took on this event which is alongside the River Thames, achieving a personal best of 2.06.00. She was joined by her brother Luke Davids who achieved 1.34.29.

Dublin Marathon Sunday 30th October

Occasional MSTC member George Murray completed the Dublin Marathon, his first, in 3.00.59, earning automatic entries into the London Marathons of 2018 and 2019 - if he wants them!

The weekend was really busy with members competing internationally, locally and for charity:

European Sprint Duathalon Championships in Kalkar, Germany

Lucy Williams was extremely pleased to place 6th in her age group in the Sprint Duathalon (5km run 20km bike and 2.5km run). The event has a spectacular setting alongside the River Rhine and within the grounds of Wunderland Kalkar. Lucy commented that the event was awesome and she had surpassed all her expectations with the performance of her life so far (1.11.36) and this had really given her something to build on for the World Championships at Aviles in northern Spain in June.

Club Duathalon at Ardingly Reservoir raising funds for Chailey Heritage Foundation

The main club event was a Duathalon at Ardingly Reservoir with entry fees being donated to the Seymour Department at Chailey Heritage Foundation for their Activity Week. This raised about £250.

Twenty three members turned out on a sunny Sunday morning for this very enjoyable club event which had options for a Short Course of 5km run, 15mile bike 2.5km run or the Standard Course of 10km run 25mile bike and 5km run.
Twelve members chose the Short Course with George Murray coming home 1st in 1.23.53 and Mike Jaffe second in 1.26.35 in the men's section and Emma Jaffe 1.45.42 and Sarah Hinton claiming the top places in the women's section. The occasion was quite a family affair with five family teams taking part.

Brighton Marathon

Ten other members chose to do the Brighton Marathon. In the men's section Jim Graham was very pleased to record 2.51.49 giving him 32nd place overall and 6th place in his age group. Edward Cockill was delighted with 3.36 in his first marathon, and Doug MacTaggart felt comfortable with 3.53. Jim said he really enjoyed the run, got stronger during the race and felt good afterwards. Jim is in training for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii in October, whilst Doug is training for the Comrades Marathon in South Africa at the end of May. This nearly 90km race starts in Pietermaritzburg and finishes in Durban. Doug is also competing in a couple of Ironmans later in the year. Peter Barnaby 3.46, and Simon Hodges 4.32 also competed. In the women's section Kate McTear came 42nd on 3.22.12, Nicola Cowles placed well on 4.37 with Amanda Durrant on 5.00, Kay Mcmenamin on 5.01 and Emma Smith on 5.54.

Windsor & Eton Duathalon

On Saturday Tony Asquith competed in the Standard Distance Duathalon (10km bike 40km bike 5km run) at the popular Olympic Rowing Centre at Dorney Lake recording 3.01. This is a flat course held on completely closed roads providing a safe environment. Tony commented that it was a really nice, traffic free event although the weather was poor. He is therefore looking forward to trying the event again in better weather.

Sunday 3rd April dawned sporting light winds and sunny spells, meaning that the notoriously windy Goodwood circuit would at worst be breezy, rather than the knock-you-off-your-bike gales that had been endured in recent years. This was particularly pleasing as I'd forgotten just how tough a duathlon is and had optimistically chosen the long course to complete. (I thought: it's only a couple of quid more, so why not??). Also, having previously completed an event at Brands Hatch, where the smooth, wide tarmac was a pleasure to ride on, I fancied racing on another closed circuit. There were a large handful of MSTC members who had also chosen Goodwood as their seasons opening race, split between the two race options of 4,20,4 and 4,40,8 (Kms).

Cliché alert!

It's hard to avoid them when you turn up at Goodwood: It really was glorious in the spring sunshine. As you emerge trackside from the narrow entry tunnel, the area was as clean as a whistle and the art deco buildings made you feel like you had stepped back in time. Parking is a stone's throw from transition, there is plenty of spectator viewing space and a small pop up cafe, selling those treats to be avoided as you try get down to race weight. The relaxed gun time of 10 am and Goodwood's proximity makes it a very good venue for family and friends support.

Children's entertainment

This chap turned up in true Goodwood fashion, having painted his three-wheeler in MSTC colours. It reminded me of a visit to Jerry Cottles circus, I imagined seeing  'Clumsy the cycling clown'  wobbling around registration on a unicycle whilst juggling a pump, a water bottle and a banana!

The Race.

Simplicity itself: Mass start on the track, run a lap, T1 (in the pit lane), ride 5 laps (20km) or 10 (40 km), T2, run another lap (or 2).

Reality bit on lap 1 as a group of 9 set off like greyhounds after a stuffed bunny, disappearing into the distance: duathlon is an aquaphobic's sport. I took in the views, looking up to Goodwood race course and across the flatlands towards the Witterings, as the first circuit was completed.

The bike was fast, with only a short section of the lap into a stiff breeze: It was very enjoyable to race flat out, unconcerned about potholes, road furniture and sleepy eyed Sunday drivers on their way to brunch. Even still I was lapped by a few of the greyhounds I'd last seen on the run and Colin C gave me a cheery "C'mon Phil!" as he also whizzed by.

The second run was a different story. On dismounting and attempting to jog through transition, my glutes were in knots and I realised I'd overcooked it. Hobbling back out on to the track, I looked like a man who was "in a hurry after a curry"… Thankfully this eased off and I pressed on, ever conscious that my legs were pretty shot, but I could see I wasn't the only one suffering: the first race of the season is always a loud wakeup call!  The end of the two laps came along relatively quickly, 8km seeming much shorter than the 10 covered in a STD distance Tri. I was relieved it was over and happy that I'd completed my first race of the season, ticking off several goals: another event on a closed circuit, a distance PB for an hour's ride and a sub 1.55 finish. Time to head to the cafe and treat myself to a post-race feed!

Full results here: http://www.portsmouthtriathletes.co.uk/results/2016/163-goodwood-2016.html

ARDINGLY Reservoir Sunday 3rd May 2015

Considering the conditions we had an amazing record turnout for the first Best All Rounder race of 2015. 21 competitors took on the course at Ardingly, 16 for the short course and 5 for the long course.

But first I must offer huge thanks to my marshals, who happily gave up their Sunday morning to stand or sit in driving rain and gusting winds to make sure the rest of us had a good race. Loz and Tim did the timekeeping, Pete Harris directed everyone onto College Road and Mark Jordan and Emma Alden made sure no-one went wrong on the run course. Dean Allen, Jason Cole and David Ricketts (before going on to do the Haywards Heath marathon weekend day 2) dropped by to cheer everyone on.

It is fair to say that this was not going to be a day for PBs. Most people know the run course and it is what I would term as semi-cross country. It is a rough path interspersed with mud and large puddles, with gates and dead turns. As expected James Dear shot off, with Barry not far behind, with Liane trying hard to keep him in her sights. Both Mike Jaffe and Jim and Helen Graham had run the London Marathon just 7 days ago so they were all a bit jaded on the run but still posted highly respectable times for the conditions.

The bike course is always fairly hard as it is quite undulating, alright - hilly. With the added interest of gusty cross winds, driving rain, recently dressed roads with loose gravel in abundance and a healthy increase in the number of potholes, the course was positively challenging. Apart from James blitzing the course in 44 minutes, and Barry in 52 minutes, the most impressive ride came from Lucy with a sub 58 minute split on her training bike. Jim Graham unfortunately went wrong at the Dukes Head roundabout, not because he didn't know the course, but being tired, with steamed up glasses, in awful conditions just led to an error. At least he could finish though. It wasn't the same for Kevin James. He had ridden over to the start and was a bit cold before the race started, but was just getting into his stride on the bike when a broken wheel spoke ended his race.

The second run was understandably slower paced. The conditions were taking their toll, although 4 athletes managed the 5.2km run in under 12 minutes, Barry, James, Liane and Jo. It was good to see some more recent members racing - so well done to Jo, as well as Paul and Sam who ran the race as a relay. It was also great to see another step in Brad's multisport comeback, following years of foot trouble with some quite fast running and the 3rd fastest bike split.

There are 2 people who deserve specific mentions for fantastic efforts in their respective races. First is Helen Graham. After beating Margaret Hollamby's club marathon record (held since 2008) last week, she came to race the duathlon having virtually not touched her bike for years. With no bike fitness and a lack of bike handling skills, this was a seriously tough thing to attempt, but she just didn't give up and earned a huge cheer when she finished.

Second special mention must go to Jean Fish. She was the only female athlete to attempt the long course, but like Helen, she just stuck at it. When she came through T2, Loz ran the final 5k with her, and I believe the rain finally stopped and she finished to rousing cheers.

The biggest winner from today's race is the club spirit. I know that I felt really part of a group all pulling together and supporting each other and welcoming athletes of all abilities, and overcoming tough conditions. On top of that we raised more than £250 for the club charity which is quite impressive. Everyone was cheerful and positive throughout, and a special mention for extended cheerfulness must go to the tea lady at the sailing centre afterwards!

The results are available on the Duathlon event page.