Race Reports

Tour of Wimereux

The ride sets off from Plumpton and heads out to Dover where there is a slight rest and a ferry over to Calais then onto Wimereux, 100 - 120 miles. Day 2 Wimereux - Dieppe approx 100 miles dependant on the navigator.

Quote from one exhausted rider "It is by far the hardest I have ever cycled in my life"

We managed to stick together for the most part in one peloton, but some of us were literally clinging on for dear life at times!  When Steve Dennis (noted as the fastest rider in Sussex) got on the front, the pace really took off!  The hardest bits were cycling into a pumping headwind in Romney Marsh and along the Kent coast.  And then those long drag hills after about 60 miles on day 2.  We went up there at 20 miles an hour!  I think the average speed for the whole trip was about 20 miles an hour!

There was obviously lots of beautiful scenery along the way (e.g. wide open expanses of yellow rape fields), but these went past in a blur!  There wasn't much drinking on the Saturday night - we were all too shattered.

There is genuine concerned that we didn't get the balance right - too much cycling and not enough drinking!

An initial report from Colin:

Start - hot - drink - hot - cramp - hot - drink - stomach cramp - hot - vomit - hot - wave at Kevin (he looks hot)- cramp - hot - where am i - cramp - hot - who am I - hot - who keeps shouting at me - shut up - hot - Finish - beer - where am I

Sounds like you enjoyed it Colin.

Update from Kev:

You forgot to mention run a bit - lose first gel - run a bit more lose another two gels - go to take on nutrition - uh oh empty race belt - throw race belt to side of road as now empty - run into wind and up hill - get tired - wait for feed station - around 11 miles - feel sick eating clif shots - notice its hot - cramp - hot- cramp - see Colin (he looks hot and unhappy) cramp - hot - where am i - cramp - hot - who am I - hot - who keeps shouting at me - shut up - hot - Finish -

   Kevin James race report.

 Can you email me more reports please and photos.

                                                Chip Time        Position

Kevin James (1082)                 3:24:32             339

Colin Chambers (5637)            3:47:59             1120

Samantha Anderson (1276)      3:58:05             1857

Stephen Birchall (9205)            4:05:30             2282

Mark Jordan (5156)                 4:05:51             2280

Kate Walch (6641)                  4:48:55             5138

Kay McMenamin (3444)          4:56:38             5350

Julienne Stuart-Colwill (3988)  5:28:57             6818

Goodwood Duathlon race report from Rachel Baker

On Sunday morning I travelled down to Goodwood to take part in the Goodwood Duathlon.  It was a well organised and small event which featured two races, a short 4k/24k/4k or long 4k/40k/8k race.  Both races were limited to 100 entries and I was taking part in the long race.

The race started at 10.00 with the long race competitors going off five minutes before the short race.  I had already warmed up with a cycle round the 4k track and there was a cross wind which turned into a head wind as you progressed round the circuit.  Having glanced down the start list prior to the race I was expecting to see about 6 girls in the race and was hopeful I might do quite well.  Once we were lined up I was surprised that there were so many ladies in my leg and of course they all looked a lot faster than me!  Bang on 10.00 the race started and I tried to start at a reasonable speed but without pushing so hard that I was couldn't put in a good effort on the bike.  This appeared to be a good tactic, I think I was about the 8th lady into transition and on the first lap round on the bike I had passed several of the faster runners.  I kept pushing hard on the bike and even though it was on a closed circuit with 10 laps the small field meant that everyone had plenty of room and it wasn't hard to keep out of the drafting zone.

The first 8 laps went quite quickly then on the ninth lap I was caught by a guy who had lost count of his laps and wanted to know how many I had done.  He seemed to think I was one ahead of him.  He seemed to want to have a chat but eventually we both got our heads down again and I was on the final lap.  I tried not to think my usual thoughts of how difficult it was going to be when I started to run again but visualised myself effortlessly running round the track (twice).  Unfortunately, I don't think I quite managed that but I did run at a reasonable pace for the first lap, possibly due to the bottle of water I had in transition-most of which ended up over my head.  The second lap I started to slow down a bit and by the time I got half way round I had to make a conscious effort to put some effort in and to keep my average speed up.   Then it was a final turn off the track onto the grass run in to the finish.

I decided to wait for the presentations and was very pleased to find out I was the second lady in the race.

I thought that this was a very well organised event. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who is happy to do a 10 lap bike.  It was nice to put my head down and ride and not have to worry about cars or potholes.

Mid Sussex Triathlon Club president Mark Jordan is attempting to complete the equivalent of two full ironman events in the space of two weeks to help raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

"I am going to try to complete a couple of 4 km swims, 100 mile bike rides and marathons from 8th - 17th April.  I will swim 4km on Friday 8th April, cycle 100 miles on Saturday 9th and then do the Brighton Marathon on 10th April.  The following week, I will swim 4km on 15th, cycle 100 miles on 16th and try to get round the London Marathon on the 17th.

I am doing them to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society which we have chosen as our club charity. I wonder please if you will be so kind - and I know that it is a pain given that many are 'charitied-out' - help me to raise some money."

If you would like to support Mark and help him raise money for charity then please visit http://beatms.mssociety.org.uk/netcommunity/MAJ.

Henfield 9 Mile was very muddy. James Dear came 2nd - well done!