Race Reports 2009

Let other club members know what you're up to by sending your reports to our publicity Officer, Mike Ward.

The most untimely of injuries cost Rachel Ward vital minutes in the final stage of her 2009 World Triathlon effort on Queensland’s Gold Coast, but all credit to her for gritting her teeth through the pain and still finishing respectably in the top half of her age-group.
Making her second appearance in GB colours after her debut in Vancouver last year, Rachel completed her 50-55 age group event in an overall time of 2.36.00.  She finished 28th in a field of 68, a remarkable effort in that our Worcester Tri club member feared she might not finish at all.
Rachel’s bike time of 1.11.28 was up there with the fastest competitors on two wheels but as Rachel knew would happen, one wheel metaphorically came off in the run and she hobbled home in 51.15.
What happened was that in a routine training run a fortnight before the World event, Rachel wore her faster shoes rather than the long-distance footwear and the old Achilles problem flared up again.  “My fault and I knew it was going to hamper me in Australia,” Rachel said ruefully. “I was pleased with my swim and bike, but the run was an ordeal and in the end I was just glad to limp home.  I would normally expect to do 47 or 48 for the run, so it was disappointing.”
Rachel recorded 29.21 for the swim and with transitions thrown, in finished in six minutes over two-and-a-half hours, some 26 minutes behind the event winner Margaret Ritchie of Canada (2.16.40).
Cloudless skies, warm spring sunshine and a spot of whale-watching in the Tasman Sea were Rachel’s consolation after the event, and her priority on returning to these shores will be to give the Achilles a complete rest and concentrate on her swim and bike disciplines in the autumn and winter months.  Rachel’s longer-term goal is to be fit for her fifth successive London Marathon in 2010.

Michelle Parsons of Worcester Triathlon Club and TriUK continued her successful run of results in the 2009 World Powerman Long Distance Duathlon Series with yet another podium position in Weyer in Austria. The race was held in over an new extended course this year and comprised a two lap 15.6km run followed by a two lap 82.4km bike section and finishing with a further 7.3km run.
The female field included last year’s winner Victoria Beck from New Zealand as well as the winner of the early season event Powerman Germany Kristin Moller.
The sun was shining for the race start at 10.50am in the town square in Weyer and the early pace on the first run was similarly hot with Moller soon stretching out the filed and taking a big lead in the process. French duathlete, Sylvie Quittot who had finished back in down the field in the recent Powerman event in Belgium, was not going to let the German build up too big a lead and by the end of the first 15.6 km run Moller was just 20 seconds ahead of Quittot. In third place last year’s winner Victoria Beck was a further minute behind and then came Austrian Jessica Jarz at 4.30 down with Michelle almost 6 minutes behind the leader.
The new and extended cycle route had received mixed reviews with many of the racers worried that the extension would add a disproportionate level of difficulty and time to the bike section of the race and they were proved to be correct with an unprecedented numbers of withdrawals from the race. The race was changing quite significantly as the bike progressed – Moller the race leader was soon overtaken by second placed Quittot and then soon afterwards Beck. Michelle meanwhile was moving up the field firstly into 4th place and then into 3rd when she also overtook the German.
Amazingly Quittot who had not impressed on the bike in previous races was suddenly storming away in the lead and ended up building up an unassailable lead over second placed Beck by the end of 82.4 km bike section. Michelle maintained her third position and was once again strong enough to hold off the chasers on the second run to secure her podium position.
Quittot finished in 4 hours 5 minutes and 9 seconds; Beck was second some 10 minutes later and Michelle was third in 4 hours 22 minutes and 16 seconds.

Also racing from Worcester Tri Club were Extreme Ultra Veteran Les Bailey who once again won the over 70’s age category in 5 hours 39 minutes and 31 seconds. More notably was the return to racing by Kevin May who has successfully recovered from a serious bike accident back in May. Kevin completed the full course in 4 hours 34 minutes and 25 seconds.
Michelle is next racing in the Powerman World Championship race in Zofingen, Switzerland in early September.

A unique event in the multi-sports world, this, and Worcester Tri Club had three teams taking part at the Holme Pierrepoint Watersports Centre in Nottingham last weekend.
One of the most exhilarating and fun events on the UK calendar, the Relays revolve around teams of four using a tagging format where everyone swims, everyone bikes and everyone runs in a race that looks like a mixture between competition and chaos.
Now in its 18th year the Club Relays really is the focal point as well as the vocal point of the season for many teams who look to a real club event to bring them together and where new friendships and teamwork really pay off.
With a 400m swim, a 15km bike and a 5km run any four triathletes can get together and make up a team and race in one of the range of team categories available. But don't think it's just one big laugh. With British Triathlon National Honours at stake the races are never taken lightly.
The race itself is the stuff of legends; there is truly nothing else like it.  Considering the event was inaugurated in 1991 with just 120 competitors taking part, it speaks volumes for the sport’s surge in popularity that some 1800 triathletes joined the organised chaos of the Club Relays this summer.
This event is now not so much about the swim, bike, run elements, but obviously these are very important. The whole weekend of fun is arguably triathlon’s answer to the Glastonbury Music Festival. Yes, there's the headline stage - over the years they have had Olympians and World Champions taking part but this event is also about the après triathlon. Where else can you find almost half the total number of competitors enjoying the camaraderie of camping and partying together?
The No.1 men’s team of Tom Watts, Johnny Stephens, Richard Gill and David Jubb excelled themselves to finish 26th out of a field of some 450 teams in a total time of 3.15.56 with split times as follows: Watts (5.55 swim, 22.24 bike, 17.43 run), Stephens (7.45, 23.03, 18.18), Gill (9.18, 22.03, 19.09), Jubb (7.50, 23.26, 18.56.)
The No.2 men’s team of Jim Chalmers (7.46, 24.35, 21.33), Gavin Vickers (8.33, 24.07, 21.03), Henry Walker (8.36, 25.04, 21.36) and Marc Scriven (11.10, 23.01, 19.46) finished 129 – still well in the top half.  Worcester Tri also entered a mixed team of Duncan and Gillian Jubb, Rachel Ward and Alison Hughes but gamely as they competed, had to settle for finishing in the lower reaches. This was partly because Alison, to the wonderful bemusement of her teammates, unwittingly cycled an extra lap of the bike!

Michelle Parsons followed up her recent successful forays into Ironman Triathlon Racing by returning to the Powerman International Series of Races in the long distance duathlon race in Geel, Belgium earlier this month.  With Michelle having missed the long distance duathlon programme since her Achilles injury last year, clearly it would be a testing challenge to see if our Worcester Tri Club star could convert the strength and endurance built up for the early season Ironman events into the speed required on a flat bike and run course.
The race, which is set in and around the busy Belgian town of Geel, comprised a 4 lap 10km run followed by a 4 lap 60km bike and finished with a second 10km run.  Notoriously flat and fast, the race once again attracted a strong contingent of athletes from around Europe.
The race started at 2.30pm following the smaller local event held earlier that day and the conditions were good with the temperatures in the high 20’s and, crucially for the bike section, only very light winds. The first run always starts at a phenomenal pace and Michelle sensibly settled into her pace allowing the leaders to gain a small advantage over the 10km first run.  Entering the first transition it was Suzanne Svendsen from Denmark and fellow GB competitor Emma Dews was 20 seconds back in 2nd but the two of them were clear of the field and were heading out first on the bike. Suzanne posted a run time of 38.41 for the actual 10.2km distance. Michelle was lying in 5th position having completed the run in a conservative 41.02.
Onto the bike course and with every lap returning through the town centre over the cobbled square it was easy for the spectators to see how the race was unfolding.  Michelle was making up ground lap by lap and by the end of the first lap she had caught and passed 4th Belgian Veerle D’Haese.  On the second lap she was hot on the heels on French athlete Sylvie Quittot moving into a clear 3rd position by the end of lap three and chasing down Svendsen who had been caught and passed by Dews.  Returning to transition at the end of the bike it was Dews who was well established in the overall lead and then came Svendsen with Michelle just 40 seconds behind.  Again Michelle bike split was up there with the quickest of the day completing the 60km in just over 1 hour 41 minutes. 
Dews showed the speed she had built up from all her short course racing this year in the final 10km increasing her lead over the rest of field.  The second was a real battle between Michelle and the Danish athlete, Svendsen.  After the first lap Michelle had amazingly bridged the gap and dropped Svendsen by 16 seconds.  That lead grew very slowly but lap by lap until finally she could relax over the last kilometre and soak up the warm applause of the spectators. 
 Michelle finished in an overall time of 3.04.46 some minutes behind Dews who took her maiden Powerman Victory in 3 hours exactly.
The European race season continues for Michelle her next Powerman event in Austria in the latter part of August followed by the World Powerman Championships in Zofingen, Switzerland at the beginning of September.

The first ever Hardwick Triathlon attracted almost 200 competitors to Croft Farm Waterpark in Bredon’s Hardwicke on 16 August.  The 750m swim took place in the lake, with separate waves for women, male vets and male open categories.  The exit from the lake was a steep slippery bank but there were several marshalls on hand to help us out of the water. 
The 20km bike loop took in the villages of Bredon, Kemerton and Overbury.  The course was fast and flat, with a few undulations and apart from a mile or so on the A46 was mostly on the quieter  roads. 
The 5km run consisted of 3 laps around the lake, mostly flat with a short steep climb towards the end.  Part of the run lap took us through the campsite, which was slightly distracting due to the  smell of breakfast! 
Although my goggles were kicked off in the early part of the swim and I got stuck in some densely packed pondweed, I managed to be the 5th Female Open competitor out of the water in 12:07.   I enjoyed the bike course and eventually got in to the run (I even overtook a few people!), finishing 21st in my category in an overall time of 01:28:26, which I was really pleased with having just got over a knee problem.
I met fellow WTC member Nick Turner at the end of the race, who had romped home in 01:19:57, 10th place in his category.  I think I also saw the WTC colours whizz past me on the cycle leg, which was undoubtedly Ros Townsend-Hope winning her category in 01:25:00!
This was my fourth triathlon event, which I found friendly and well marshalled.  I’d recommend this event to anyone thinking about taking part next year.

A record entry of more than 250 competitors took advantage of ideal summer conditions to consolidate the Droitwich Tri’s status as a popular drawcard for triathletes from all corners of the country.  Sunshine and the gentlest of breezes made for some rapid times and a pleasant day all-round.
And Worcester Tri Club athletes can be well pleased with their efforts on home territory, with newly-rejoined member Ceris Styler winning the ladies race in a time of 1.05.30 to add another niche to her successful comeback season.  Who knows what she could achieve in 2010.
Phil Parsons put in a superb performance to finish first in his 40-49 vets category and fourth overall in a commendable time of 1.01.28, while David Jubb paced himself superbly and and finished streets ahead of his rivals to win his youth class in 1.06.49.
Other club performances: Michelle Parsons (1.09.06, 3rd in ladies 40-49), James Poulter (1.09.14) (1.09.14, 7th male vet 40-49), Marc Scriven (1.09.44, 2nd male super vet 50-59), Mark Elliott (1.09.51, 8th male 40-49), Ed Garton (1.10.20, 18th male open), Duncan Jubb (1.11.13, 13th male vet 40-49), Nick Barrow (1.16.44, 40th male open), Russell Willis (1.19.54, 8th male super vet 50-59), Les Bailey (1.22.17, 1st male 70-plus vet), Sue Henderson (1.22.10, 7th female vet 40-49), Louise Massey (1.24.03, 10th female vet 40-49), Gillian Jubb (1.25.53, 12th female vet 40-49), Kim Bray (1.27.59, 1st female super vet 50-59).
All credit to Mark Elliott and his family for carrying out their role as the organising crew with the kind of efficiency which adds to the good name of Worcester Tri Club

It was just over a year ago that I first came across Ironman and all that it entailed.  I’d run the London Marathon and fancied more of a challenge and had considered duathlons/triathlons.
A year later and I’m treading water in a reservoir outside of Bolton waiting for the starting horn and wondering, “What was I thinking when I decided this was a good idea?”
Chaos had been caused in the previous week by rain drenching the transition area and car park.  No cars were allowed into the field that was being used as a car park as already vehicles were stuck fast.  This meant athletes being shipped from Bolton in coaches to the start which resulted in an even earlier start than normal but in the end the event ran more smoothly than was expected by most.
Once started the swim went well on the two lap course.  At some points I even seemed to end up in my own little area of open water while every other direction I looked there seemed to be writhing masses of arms and legs.  I finished the swim in 1:20:37 which was slower than expected but a lot of people had said they thought the course was longer than it should have been.
The run up to transition was up a steep concrete path and then on to a longer matted section which still was painful underfoot on the gravelly ground.  Then into transition, which using the word muddy to describe it is probably an understatement.  The nice clean white towel I had borrowed from the hotel was soon much browner once I had cleaned my feet on it.  I took my time to ensure I had picked up everything I needed and then went to get my bike.  This had the added challenge of hauling the bike over the mud to get out onto the road.
The three lap bike course started off with a long hill up Sheephouse Lane that seemed to go on forever.  It was fairly windy round the course and varied from main roads to quiet country lanes.  It was even the only Ironman bike course to feature a lifeguard due to a descent with a sharp left turn that if you missed you ended up in a large pond!  The bike course seemed to pass quite quickly but I did begin to tire a bit by the second half of the third lap so backed off a bit to prepare myself for the run.  I finished the bike in 6:58:46.
My legs felt good as I started the run and I kept going at a steady pace only walking at each drinks station.  It was an out-back-out course ending at Bolton Town Hall.  Support was good around the course but it wasn’t the most inspiring course mainly being down the main road towards Bolton town centre and there were a few short steep inclines just to throw your pace off.  I’d decided to run as I felt rather than follow pace or heart rate so didn’t have my watch with me and I found that the run seemed to pass quickly and didn’t really find myself struggling at any point.  The end of the run was bizarre running through half a mile of Bolton’s back streets to get to the finish outside the town hall which was pretty amazing with a huge big screen TV showing you running towards the finish and a huge crowd of supporters.  I finished the run in 4:05:21.Overall I’d finished in 12:45:55 which I was really pleased with although I am looking forward to trying to beat it!

It takes a steely resolve to tackle any Ironman event and it was a tribute to our Worcester Tri Club members Michelle Parsons, Dave Fenton and Neil Wick that they took on the challenge and emerged with flying colours.
Michelle, who doubles up as a member of Team Tri UK, maintained her stunning form this season to produce a personal best performance in Klagenfurt and so clinch her second age group victory of the season in the Karnten Ironman Austria Race.
The Ironman distance triathlon favours athletes with an exceptional endurance level and Michelle rose to the occasion with a personal best for the distance of 10hrs, 13mins, 48secs. Typically of these early starts, the race began with the sunrise over a picturesque Lake Wothersee, where Michelle took the plunge along with a record entry of 2,500 competitors from across the globe.
As the swimming discipline has never been Michelle’s strongest of the three, she was happy to emerge from the congested water with a minimum of buffeting and bruises. Although her time of 1:19 for the swim left her well back in 29th position in her age category and almost 20 minutes behind the leading pack, Michelle knew that the bike run would see her close the gap with a vengeance.
The bike course covers the 112 miles in two laps that include some testing climbs and by the end of the first leg \Michelle had ripped through the field to haul herself into 5th place and only 14 minutes adrift of new leader Michaela Trigg of New Zealand. Maintaining her momentum, Michelle continued to make up ground on the second lap and finished the total distance in a time of 5hrs, 8mins, 55secs. This surge was enough to 3rd position, reducing the deficit to just eight minutes with the marathon run to follow.
Michelle rapidly moved up into second place and after 15km had outstripped the Kiwi Trigg to go in front. With temperatures at their highest, Michelle kept up a blistering pace to consolidate her lead and was relieved to see cooling rain clouds appear as she approached the last 5km of the run.
She maintained her lead to finish some 6 minutes ahead of a resurgent but ill-fated French athlete. Michelle’s marathon time was 3 hours 35 minutes which is respectable on its own without the swim and bike beforehand. She finished overall in 297th position out of the 2,034 competitors who finished the race. Interestingly the French athlete was later disqualified from the race and so Michelle’s margin of victory was almost 16 minutes ahead of an America athlete who was placed second at the bike and whom Michelle had caught almost in the first mile of the marathon.
Michelle will now return to her favoured multi-disciplined event of duathlon for the remainder of the summer season. She is aiming to race in the Powerman Duathlon Race Series in Belgium, Austria and Switzerland in August and September before returning to compete at the World Ironman Triathlon Championships in Kona, Hawaii in October. She won her place in Kona at the Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon in May this year.

Dave Fenton, who was doing his first Ironman event in support of The Fire Fighters Charity did fantastically well to finish in a time of 11.34.25, placing him 226th in his category and 1021st overall.

From Neil Wicks.
For my first long distance event I decided to make a holiday of it by driving through France to Nice. Probably not the most relaxing preparation but good fun nevertheless. The race itself did not get off to the greatest of starts. Whilst doing a few stretches on the beach 5 minutes before the off I heard a rip and the appearance of a large hole in the shoulder of my 6-month old Orca wet-suit. No chance of repair so I simply had to get on with it. Swim was absolute chaos and I don’t think I managed a proper swim stroke for the first 600 meters. Happy to get out in a reasonable time of 1hr 09 mins 53 secs.
The bike course was awesome. The first 20km was flat and impossible to get any space. If everybody had applied the 7m by 3m box rule then we would have been riding in Monaco or Cannes. Despite this there was some blatant tight drafting going on until the first major climb. Fortunately after this relatively short 12% climb the field separated out a bit even though I would have liked to have seen the marshals be a bit harder on drafting.
We then started the long, drawn-out climbs that are difficult to replicate in Britain. I have to admit these were my favourite parts of the course. Not only was I passing a number of other competitors (which always feels good), but the views were fantastic and my legs were spinning free. I was using my TT bike and thought this would hinder me on the climbs and help me on the downhills. In fact it was more like the other way around. As we reached the first of the descents I notice a couple of Italians go flying pass. I accepted that this would happen as those guys really know how to ride.
The last section was the flat segment back to Nice and packs of riders started forming again. Did not want to get involved in this so sat behind them (approximately 7 meters) and just span my legs freely ready for the marathon. I thought I would be over 6 hours on the bike so really happy with 5hrs 46mins 25 secs.
After such a great bike course, the 4-lap out and back run may have seemed a little dull but the flat course was exactly what most competitors needed and the crowds made it an enjoyable atmosphere. Went off a bit quick on the first lap but settled into a steady pace and managed a respectable 3hrs 39mins 49 secs.
Total time 10:46:49 – 360th overall and 77th in my category. Over the moon.

By Mike Ward

It was only fitting that in the Worcester Triathlon Club’s 20th anniversary, Top Barn should play host to the kind of event that makes members so mightily proud to be part of it all.
Given its reputation for staging this flagship race with friendliness and efficiency, it was no surprise that the 2009 Worcester Triathlon attracted competitors from as far afield as Devon, the South Coast, London and Cambridge. We can rest assured that the far-flung and the typically strong contingent of Midlanders will be turning out in force again next year.
Malvern did well for us over the years, but there can be little doubt that switching venues to the Top Barn Activity Centre in 2008 was the best thing that could have happened to the event. Blue skies, a blazing sun and the ultimate challenge of an open water swim – what more could we have wished for? The championship embraced a Sprint Triathlon (750m swim, 25k bike ride and 5k run) alongside the Double-distance contest and well over 200 triathletes completed the two races.
Adam Thomson of the Bournemouth-based Primera club won the Double event in a total time of 2:30:52 and Tri Team Gloucester’s Garry Hughes finished three minutes clear of the Sprint Field in 1:14:11. Considering so many Worcester Tri Club stalwarts had swopped racing kit for a marshal’s coat, it was good to see three of our members finish in the top 13 in the Double distance event while five featured in the first 30 home in the Sprint competition.
Well done to Johnny Stephens for his effort in finishing second in the Male Open category and third overall in the Double race, clocking 2:40:36. Tom Wattts (fourth home in 1:19:51), Ceris Styler (12th in 1:25:01 and second female overall), Gavin Vickers (23rd in 1:29:38), Mark Elliott (28th in 1:30:31) and Jim Chalmers (29th, just 11 seconds behind) were the club’s leading standard bearers in the Sprint.
Rachel Ward was our first girl home in the Double race, clocking 3:17:27 to finish fourth female overall. On any other day Rachel might well have won her 50 and over category but it was just her bad luck that the first female home overall, Team Cherwell’s Kim Shaw, was also a super vet! While Rachel was glad to finish runner up in the Over-40 category, a shortage of training hours left quite a margin for going quicker on the bike.
Les Bailey, a shining example to septuagenarian athletes all over the world, tackled the Double distance race with his usual relish to finish 59th overall in 3:31:34, although as the burning sun took its toll even Les’s cheery banter on the first lap of the run had melted into a studious silence by the time he embarked on the second leg!
Russell Willis ended the Sprint Tri in 87th position out of 145 finishers (1:46:25) but would have been faster had he managed to turn up for the swim on time. While the rest of the field were half-way round the lake and turning home, Russell was still struggling into his wet-suit! Still, a pat on the back for our physio friend for battling doggedly through the pain of a dodgy hamstring to finish.
Credit, too, for some excellent work behind the scenes. No event of this size and stature could survive without the tireless organisation and unflagging logistical support which triathletes so appreciate. Duncan Jubb marshalled his marshals superbly, and among their ranks were to be found the likes of Michelle Parsons and Kim Bray bossing arrivals at the bike dismount.
Your publicity officer was precariously stationed at the junction where runners crossed paths with incoming cyclists with the stern brief of preventing any nasty collisions – not an easy task when the extremes of physical exertion can blind athletes to danger. I happily report that apart from one or two last-moment swerving manoeuvres by cyclists, there were no mishaps.
Marshalling can mean a long vigil, but the good humour of even the weariest triathletes makes the time pass quickly. A super vet by the name of Clive Fenn was bringing up the rear with more than four hours on his stopwatch when he passed me. “Am I in the lead?” he panted hopefully.
“Mate, you’ve lapped the rest of the field,” I assured him.
“Thought so!” he replied.
Such spirit was typical of the event and what a great occasion it was, all round. There can’t have been many better days since the Worcester Tri Club was formed in 1989. Take a bow, everybody.

A silver medal for Rachel Ward in the British Triathlon Championships at Druridge Bay County Park in Northumberland last weekend saw the Worcester Tri Club athlete take a significant step towards qualifying for the 2009 World event in Australia this autumn.
Rachel finished the swim, cycle and run combination in a time of 2.33.22 in her women’s veterans category to enhance her hopes of winning a second successive British vest at Brisbane in September.
Edinburgh Running Club’s Penny Rother took the gold in 2.18.40, while Philip Graves of the York-based White Rose Triathlon Club was the overall winner in a time of 1.49.17.

Intrepid Tri club members Kim Bray and Henry Walker headed down to Wimbleball in deepest Exmoor for the Half Ironman UK event on June 20, blissfully unaware that this was reputed to be the toughest of the 31-race series. Extremely popular, too, with nearly 1000 competitors lining up at the start.
Kim was more than pleased to finish fourth in her Female Super Vet series, recording 50.12 for the swim, a hard-earned bike time of 4.24 and a breezy run of 2.49 for a total time of 8hrs, 17mins.
Henry clocked 34.14 for his swim, 3.29 on the bike and a run of 1.46 for an aggregate time of 6.03.05 to finish 62nd in his category and 173rd overall – a mighty effort which sets him up well for his Ironman Challenge later this year.
Kim found the whole event particularly enjoyable and she could not have chosen a more picturesque rural venue, with the rolling Devon countryside complimented by a clear blue sky and the air full of birdsong. “All in all, a great day for competing,” Kim said.
She added: “I decided to do this event because I’ve done a couple of middle distance triathlons before and wanted to see what the Ironman series felt like. And what a different atmosphere it is altogether; far more razzmatazz, precision organisation, transitions involving putting your kit in red, white and blue bags and twice the price of the other British events I’ve done!”
It was also something of a culture shock for Kim, in that the scheduled 6am swim meant reporting lakeside at the unearthly hour of 5am. Not Kim’s favourite time of the morning!
After an anxious wait for the mist to clear, it was time to hit the water. “It was clean and clear – a pleasure to swim in,” Kim says. “One thing about a big race is that if you’re at the back, like I was, you can just draft your way round and save a bit of energy so I had a comfortable swim.
“With all ages and abilities around me, I swam over one guy (sorry!) who was doing breaststroke because I couldn’t get round him. Ironman UK operates a cut-off policy so I was pleased to exit the water in good time, around the 50-minute mark, because there were swimmers who who didn’t make it in 60.
“Then it was off to transition where a nice lady helped me take my wetsuit off, and even put it into the little bag for me.”
From transition, Kim and Henry embarked on the gruelling two-lap bike course which included no fewer than 52 hills – two of them punishingly steep ascents.
As Kim reveals: “I knew the bike ride was going to present the biggest challenge, and I had been huffing and puffing up hills in training. After half a mile of flat, the route became five miles of gradual climb; at the first smallish hill I saw people pushing their bikes and I knew if I succumbed to that I would never make the cut-off at 4.30.
“So I got into my “granny” gear and just got to the top any way I could. Not pretty, but I got there! Then came a fantastic undulating stretch where I could push on and make up a bit of time.
“One steep descent with a with a junction at the bottom, and a sharp left turn caught some competitors out. There were beautiful views (of the person in front!) and I even cycled with Julie Dibbens for a while as she came past me on her second lap. There was loads of support on the way round and and a bit of friendly banter up the hills helped make the bike ride fun.”
With her bike mission and the second transition completed, Kim set off on the 13-mile run to wind up a hugely satisfying day. “The challenge for me was to finish, which I knew I could do,” Kim added. “There wasn’t much left in my legs after the bike course, and after a while it became a mental thing. What am I saying? The whole thing is mental.”
Kim and Henry were sustained in their final effort by the encouragement of fellow-competitors and spectators. “One sign on the run course sticks in my mind,” Kim recalls. ‘Run like you stole something,’ it said. “That made me smile.
“I also forced a wry grin when I thought of Les Bailey telling me: ‘Go on Kim, you’re a tough old bird!’ Thanks, Les, I know what you mean, and I think it encouraged me to catch the lady in front.”
Although three laps of the course sounds pretty daunting, Kim found it suited her down to the ground. As she explains: “It broke the distance up nicely into manageable chunks and the course really was lovely alongside the lake.
“There were water and feed stations wherever you needed them and although it was quite a warm day by all accounts, I can’t say I noticed it. When I ran up to the finish it felt like someone had bussed in my whole family and friends to cheer me home.
“The support was amazing, with kids yelling, people clapping, whistling and hooting and my very own paparazzi to snap me in my moment of glory!”
The only downside was a pricey entry fee of £150. But looking back, Kim and Henry will readily say the cost was worth it.

Victories for Mark Scriven and Les Bailey saw Worcester Tri Club athletes prominent among a record entry for this year’s Acorns Triple Run at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern.
Mark won the 50-59 age group category in a time of 1.27.16, earning him 17th position overall.
Les was first home in the 70-plus category in 1.54.34, while his Worcester Tri clubmate Allison Hughes was pleased to clock 2.9.33 in her first-ever half-marathon.
Two days of almost continual rain had filled the field with initial trepidation, but the sun obligingly appeared just before the start to produce ideal running conditions. The overall winner was Tipton AC’s Stephen Ward in a time of 1.17.10.
Competitors in this popular annual race, which starts and finishes at the Three Counties Showground, had the choice of entering the wheelchair-friendly 1km race, the 5km Spring Fun Run or the Half Marathon.

Worcester Tri Club members Kim Bray, Tracey Hall and Neil Wicks took to the murky water at Belvoir Castle (pronounced Beaver) for an early middle distance event on Saturday, May 23. Facing them was a 1900m swim, 80km bike ride and 20km run.
After the Little Beaver Olympic distance World qualifying event in the morning, it was the turn of the real endurance athletes in the afternoon.  At transition, a couple of the Olympic distance racers had gleefully informed everybody that the wind was picking up and blowing away all the cloud cover. So we were looking forward to an afternoon of being windswept and sunburnt!
At no point in the 11.30am race briefing was the word flat mentioned – not even for the swim! With over 300 athletes entered, the race was split into two waves. Neil was the first to head off at 12 while Kim and Tracey had to wait another 10 minutes to launch their challenge.
With a split field, thoughts turned to a nice, relaxed swim.  Sadly, this dream didn’t last very long as 150 people crowded into a tight starting point. Visibility in the silt-based lake was effectively zero and regular kicks to the face, arms and back were taken in the best possible spirit.  After two laps of the swim, athletes then had a 500m barefoot uphill run to transition. The water had not been quite cold enough to numb the feet so every stone and nettle was painfully felt.
The bike race was a three-lap affair with a bit of everything to contend with through a number of small villages. Fast and tight technical sections were followed by long drags uphill and while this gave the course variety it never allowed you to settle into any kind of rhythm.  But the course was well marshalled and there was always someone in sight to keep you motivated.
After a quicker T2 than T1, it was out into the castle grounds for a hilly 20km run. With the castle itself in sight, the organisers obviously felt that the athletes would love the chance to run all the way up to it – three times!  With a group of army cadets providing us with the fluids (plus plenty of banter), and a number of Tri Clubs remaining from the earlier race, encouragement was continuous in the increasing evening heat.
Neil came home in 31st place with splits of 36.10, 2.40.07 and 1.34.23 for an overall time of 4.53.26. He finished 11th in his age group and was very happy to break five hours.  Tracey was placed seventh in her age-group with splits of 42.52, 3.25.37 and 2.27.01 for a total time of 6.40.51.  Kim had splits of 49.26, 3:33.36 and 2.37.04 for a total time of 7.05.26 and third place in her age-group.

Three resounding cheers are in order for Michelle Parsons, who achieved her first target of 2009 by putting in a superb performance in the Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon  to qualify for the World Championships in Hawaii in October.
The Worcester Tri Club member, who also races for Team Tri UK, finally put last year’s injury setbacks behind her to win her age group convincingly and break the Lanzarote course record for good measure in the qualifying event on May 23.
The Ironman Triathlon is rated the world’s toughest distance race and so to qualify for the World Championships in this event was a phenomenal achievement, especially considering that since returning from her Achilles injury in 2008 Michelle had managed only four weeks of uninterrupted run training in preparation for the Lanzarote event.
The race got underway at 7am at the popular holiday resort of Puerto del Carmen, where 1400 competitors lined up on the beach for a two-lap sea swim of 3.8km (roughly 2.5 miles). Michelle is the first to admit that swimming is not her strong point and therefore it was no surprise to her or her supporters that she did not emerge from the sea in the lead group.  In fact she could only manage 12th position in her category out of the 22 competing for just one place in the Hawaiian World Championships, with her time of 1.19.20 more than 17 minutes behind the category leader.
Undeterred by the swim, Michelle was well primed for her strong disciplines to follow. She made short work of transition to unleash a powerful bike challenge which rapidly saw her working through the field. The cycle leg was 180km (112 miles), covering the whole island and taking in the two biggest mountain climbs as well as crossing Lanzarote’s volcanic lava fields. The warm and windy conditions, never friendly to triathletes,  made it all the more daunting for them knowing there was a full marathon run to follow.
Not surprisingly, however, Michelle had not only overtaken all of the 11 athletes in front of her by the end of the bike course but built up a big lead of more than 20 minutes over her nearest rival. Her bike split was 6.04.14.
Come the marathon, temperatures climbed to their mid-afternoon peak back at the Puerto del Carmen resort, where the run followed the coast line and was divided into four laps.
Michelle stuck resolutely to her task and was rewarded with a marathon time of 3.52.52 – a laudable achievement given the conditions and the swim and bike exertions preceding the final race. Her overall time (including transition) of 11.28.40 beat the course record by some three minutes and put her 31 minutes ahead of the second-placed athlete in her category.

Well done to Rachel Ward and Les Bailey for their valiant efforts in the Flora London Marathon last month. While running specifically for their chosen causes, our intrepid pair were still flying the flag for Worcester Tri Club in spirit.
Rachel achieved a personal best time in her fourth successive year of competing in the capital, completing the 26-mile slog in 3:33:14 – almost three minutes faster than last year and nearly two minutes quicker than her previous best of 3:35:26 in 2007. Rachel has raised more than £7000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre since making her London Marathon debut in 2006, while Les ran this year for St. Nicholas Church in his local village of Peopleton. While Rachel was pleasantly surprised to clock a PB given that she had not had the time to put in as many long-distance training runs as she would have liked, prior injuries had prevented Les from doing no further than an eight-mile run on top of competing in the Scenic 6.
Rachel finished 18th out of 665 runners in her 50-55 category and overall was the 606th female home in a field of 11,017. Like Les, she felt the pain after 20 miles. “Maybe I pushed myself too hard in the early stages, because with six miles to go it was a case of doing a combination of walk-run, walk-run to see me home,” she said.
Despite his lack of ideal preparation, Les continued to show age was no barrier by clocking 4: 37:12 in his Over-70 category. And lest we forget, Les was timed at 2:50:18 when he ran in the 50-54 age group 20 years ago! Les was relieved simply to be able to run injury-free after his body had taken something of a pounding at the World Championships in Florida last November. “In the London Marathon, it was more a case of just getting round instead of actually racing,” he said. “I didn’t take a hammering as such – it was just that after 20 miles my legs were really tired.”
Rounding that final bend past Buckingham Palace and hitting that welcome home straight down the Mall is always enough to give the likes of Rachel and Les a final adrenalin surge. That and the constant roar of some two million spectators lining every step of the 26.2 mile route always makes the pain so much easier to endure.

Mark Scriven maintained his impressive start to the new season as Worcester Triathlon Club’s highest placed finisher in the Big Cow British National Duathlon Championships at Emberton Country Park near Milton Keynes last weekend. Worcester teammate Rachel Ward, who won her first GB international vest in Vancouver last year, came home with a silver medal after finishing second in the women’s 50-54 age group.
Scriven, competing in the men’s 50-54 age category, was placed 105th out of the 350 finishers in a time of 2:10:24 while Ward came in 255th overall in 2:34:38. The winner was 27-year-old Adam Bowden of Team Milton Keynes, who completed the course in 1:51:12 to take the gold medal 57 seconds ahead of Athlete Matters’ Matt Moorhouse.
Having to meet a 7.30am transition deadline in freezing temperatures came as something of a culture shock to many of the far-flung athletes like the Worcester Tri club trio of Scriven, Ward and Duncan Jenkins who were obliged to set off at 4am to make the Buckinghamshire venue in time. The event comprised a 10k run of two laps around the Emberton Park lake, followed by a 40K undulating bike ride and culminating in a final 5k run round the lake. A third Worcester Tri Club member, Duncan Jenkins (45-49 group), completed the first run in 38.50mins but despite a valiant effort was sadly forced to withdraw after seizing up with leg cramp midway through the bike ride.
It was a tough event, given that the early start was not exactly conducive to a good night’s sleep. But our hardy Tri Club athletes all agreed the effort was worthwhile in the end, especially when the organisers cheered them up with tasty, steaming hot burgers!

From Gavin Vickers: "On 29th March I stood on the Albert Dock in glorious sunshine and a stiff breeze ready to embark on what would be the first time I have run this distance and only the second time I had been to Liverpool (so the route was a total surprise). The first half mile went fine but the first corner was somewhat confusing when I was confronted with a 100 or so runners coming straight at me due to a small marshaling 'oversight'. A swift U-turn later and the route took us through Princes Park and Sefton Park before a long incline up Aigburth Drive and down to Otterspool Park finally tipped us out onto the promenade at almost 10 miles. It was a fantastic end to the run along the banks of the Mersey, aside from the cruel detour through the delivery yards of some warehouses just before the finish back at Wapping Dock. I finished 115th out of 3600 with a time of 1:27:09s."

Michelle Parsons celebrated her return from injury on home ground by romping home as first female in the Worcester Duathlon Championship at Peopleton last Sunday.
The Worcester Triathlon Club veteran was 20th overall in a field of 77, clocking 1:29:05 and typically leaving the women’s field trailing in her trademark bike sprint. The Tri Club’s flagship event boasted 13 finishers, with Kevin May the first of their men home in 10th place (1:24:23). Less than a minute behind was his club mate Johnny Stephens.
The Worcester Tri Club entry would have been considerably larger, but for the commitments of other members plus their families in acting as marshals. These willing volunteers, including two charming young sisters dispensing water and smiles, did a magnificent job in helping to ensure the event ran smoothly. The competitors also commented on the excellence and efficiency of the overall organisation, which is a credit to Les Bailey.
Almost two minutes ahead of the whole field was the championship winner James Gilfillan, now with Primera-Bournemouth on the south coast but a still Worcestershire man at heart and a former Tri club member who was competing on his home Peopleton course – one of the county’s most popular, picturesque and hospitable venues. An important event in the countdown to qualifying for the 2009 European and World Duathlon Championships, it was as ever warmly welcomed by the local Crown pub.
Gilfillan finished in a time of 1:15:30 while Lee Rankin, representing the DB Max Tri Club based at Mallory Park in the East Midlands, was second in 1:15:30. Paul Rogers (Black Country Triathletes) was third in 1:18:12 and Worcestershire’s highest finisher was Richard Lomas (Redditch Tri) in sixth place in 1:22:06.
Worcester Tri Club’s father-and-son duo of Duncan and David Jubb both finished in the top 32, young David clocking 1:28:38 to finish top junior and 18th overall. His veteran Dad Duncan was 32nd overall in 1:33:48.

The lure of qualifying for the European or World Championships later this year saw a posse of Worcester Triathlon Club members embark on their first big competitive test of a new season at the Clumber Classic Duathlon just north of Nottingham last weekend. Clumber Park is one of Britain ’s most scenic venues, with swathes of woodland complimenting the course’s landscaped beauty. But for all their aesthetic appeal, the long, rolling terrain is enough to test the fittest athletes.
Mark Scriven, competing in his 50-54 age group on the picturesque but punishing National Trust woodland course, was the club’s highest finisher in 58th place overall in a field of 230, clocking 2:08.59. Scriven’s effort was enough to secure his ticket to the 2009 World Championships at Concord , North Carolina , in September. The European event is to be staged at Budapest in May. Scriven’s Worcester teammate Duncan Jenkins, competing in the 45-49 age category, was the next highest finisher overall in 66th place in a time of 2:09.45.
Rachel Ward’s time of 2:31.14 for 179th position would have been enough to get her to the World Duathlon event in her 50-55 age group, except that Worcester Tri Club’s Stourport-based family doctor has opted to strive for the 2009 World Triathlon Championships in Brisbane instead.
Wearing Worcester ’s colours in the shorter Clumber Sprint Duathlon, Rachel Hobbs (35-40) was the club’s highest finisher in a creditable 16th place, clocking 1:06.30.
The longer event was won by Matt Moorhouse, representing the Manchester-based Athlete Matters club, in a time of 1:49.41, while Loughborough’s Richard Sumpter took the sprint honours in 59.15.
Worcester Tri Club finishers: Mark Scriven (2:08.59 - 58th), Duncan Jenkins (2:09.45 – 66th), Rachel Ward (2:31.14 – 179th), Mark Taylor (2:35.06 – 173rd)
Clumber Sprint Duathlon: Rachel Hobbs (1:06.30 – 16th).

More than 60 hardy Midland athletes braved the big New Year freeze to compete in the 2009 Worcester Aquathlon. The event, hosted by Worcester Triathlon Club at the RNIB College and comprising a 400 yard swim followed by a 5 kilometre run, was won by Philip Wolfe of the Mammoth Lifestyle Team based in the Staffordshire village of Milford. Wolfe completed the course in a time of 21 mins, 21 secs, almost half a minute ahead of Kelly College’s junior athlete Rhys Davey.
David Jubb was Worcester Tri Club’s highest finisher in fourth place, clocking 23mins, 35secs. His clubmate Johnny Stephens was seventh in 24:19, while Halesowen Swimming Club’s Mark Turton was the highest placed veteran in 13th position (26:52). First woman home was Birmingham University Tri Club’s Jodie Stimpson in a creditable fourth place, clocking 22:20.
Woolly hats and gloves were an essential part of the attire, while one frozen Worcester Tri Club marshal was grateful for the steaming mug of coffee and Christmas cake proffered by a local resident.