Race Reports

Mid Sussex Triathlon Club is 3rd club out of 66 in SE England to achieve Trimark Club Bronze Accreditation

Last Tuesday evening Kelly Wickens from Triathlon England SE attended the club's open water swim session at Ardingly Reservoir to present the Trimark Club Bronze Accreditation Award to members.

The Bronze level is the entry point into the Triathlon England accreditation scheme. This level outlines that the club has confirmed it is a community club with a management committee, that it has a constitution, an active activity programme, and a Welfare Officer. Additionally the club coaches  must be operating within their qualification remit and the club should have an open and inclusive membership offer. The Mid Sussex Triathlon Club is the 3rd club out of 66 in the South East Region to achieve this award.

The open water swim sessions have proved to be very popular this summer with between 20 and 30 and sometimes over 40 swimmers taking part in the Tuesday evening and Saturday morning sessions. 

Eastbourne Rovers Cycling 10 Mile Time Trial: East Hoathly to Boship and back on A22

The Club's 10 mile TT Best All Rounder competition took place on Saturday 8th September within the Eastbourne Rovers event on the A22. Top woman was Emma Smith in a time of 32.41 (a PB) closely followed by Clair Hunt in a time of 34.23. Top man was Lawrence Wintergold in a superb time of 22.40 followed by Phil Couch 25.19. Derek Hastings (age 70+)  rode brilliantly in 30.44.

Ironman Wales

Meanwhile club member Doug Mac Taggart competed in the Ironman Wales event at Tenby on Sunday 9th September. Doug reported that he struggled a bit with his breathing initially in the swim, probably due to four weeks of no swimming, the last being at Maastricht in 27 degrees, and it was only 16 at Tenby. However he had a decent bike ride on the notorious hills, although not helped by pretty strong winds, and finished off with a good run to get around in 13:40:24. This event includes a marathon run which was Doug's 189th marathon. He plans to complete marathon number 190 at the Chiltern 50 next weekend and his 200th in Brighton in 2019, where he also ran his 100th marathon.

South Downs Marathon

Darren Bird and Douglas Mac Taggart competed in the South Downs Marathon, starting at Slindon College and then following a route up to and along the South Downs Way to the Queen Elizabeth Country Park at Petersfield. Darren completed his marathon in a very respectable 3.27.13 whilst Doug completed his 150th marathon in 4.58.37.

River Arun 3.8km swim

Twelve members competed in the 3.8 km swim from Arundel to Littlehampton on Saturday morning. Sarah Moore finished in a fantastic 11th position and was the second woman to finish on 53.07. She was followed by Katie Chatfield on 59.21 (71st), Mark Jordan 1.00.02 (77th) and Mike Jaffe 1.05.52 (135th).  Debbie Nisbet 1.08.21, David Ricketts 1.09.38, Simon Hodges 1.11.00,  Sharon Chaldek 1.11.38 and Rose Ryan 1.15.58 were not far behind.

Dambuster Olympic Distance Triathlon at Rutland Water

Eight MSTC athletes made the journey up the A1 to Rutland Water on Friday night to take part in the Dambuster, an Olympic-distance triathlon that started early on Saturday morning and was a qualifier for this summer's age-group World Championships in Mexico.

 Conditions were cold and overcast for a 1500m swim in Rutland Water, followed by a 42k bike ride on the roads around the reservoir and a 10k run that went out across the dam and back, finishing in front of a large crowd, stoked up by pumping rock music and an excitable race commentary.

 Callum Murray led the Mid Sussex contingent home in 2.54.26, just 18 seconds ahead of Matt Critchley in 2.54.54, who in turn was followed by Julienne Stuart-Colwill, the first MSTC woman home in an impressive 3.02.42.

 Cliff Wilson finished in 3.14.49, Joanne Barton in 3.19.51 and Ricci Lennon was delighted with a 3.23.13 in her first-ever Olympic-distance triathlon.

 Tracy Brownings wasn't far behind in 3.34.38 and she was followed home by Angela Murray in 3.43.17 and by Clair Hunt in 3.58.44.

 All these results were put into perspective, however, by the overall winner's time, an amazing 1.58.21, not far off the time that the winner of this summer's Olympic triathlon in Rio de Janeiro might expect to post. This was a high-quality field.

Saturday Morning swim in Ardingly Reservoir

Meanwhile 11 members did the regular 8am swim in Ardingly Reservoir, supported by 3 safety observers in kayaks and on the dock.

East Sussex Cycling Association 50 mile Time Trial Sunday 19th June

Nine members competed in the 50 mile time trial along the A22 in East Sussex. Kevin James was first member home on 2.16.04, followed by Neil Giles 2.16.32 and Phil Couch on 2.18.43. Lawrence Wintergold, Colin Chambers and Jez Fallon finished on 2.20.27, with Graham Bond 2.20.54, Steve Alden 2.21.49 and Sharon Chaldek 2.31.12 also competing.

Unfortunately only 13 started with Pete Harris worried to test out his new TT steed in wet and windy conditions, whilst Mark Jordan proved that it is just as dangerous doing a training ride. He cycled into a stationary car, fortunately quite slowly, and no significant injuries.

Due to recent roadworks on the original course we were riding a modified course, with the start some 5 miles away. This caught out Trevor who missed his start time by 2 ½ minutes, but was nothing to Colin Chambers who got to the start early then wandered off aimlessly, thus joining Ant Grey in that specialist sport - the Time Trial for people with no sense of direction. He eventually found his way back over 20 minutes late! Mind you, he also missed his start last year!

It was a wet and windy day but both James dear and Rupert Robinson were comfortably under the hour, with James taking the win by just 4 seconds!

3 minutes down was Rob Hoodless in 62.26, with the ever improving Dave Lashbrook with his second PB over 25 miles in as many weeks, just 16 seconds behind in 62.42. Ant Grey also had a very strong ride to finish in 64.03 and Colin (I haven't been on my bike all winter) Chambers did his now expected 65.43 and Steve (I have trained quite hard and this is probably as fast as I can do) Alden managing 67.11

One of the strongest rides of the day came from Rachel Baker as she also lowered her PB to 69.27, comfortably ahead of Steve (I shouldn't have ridden so far last week)Mac in 71.02, although I heard a rumour that these long rides were called training, which ultimately will result in more speed!

Martin Sanwell also earned himself a PB with 73.00 but is sure to better this once he gets his new bike on the road. Trevor managed to get over his late start and also rode a PB  in 76.01, closely followed by Hazel Tuppen in 77.07 in another PB.

Rose Ryan may have been the last home in 95.56, but she entered it, worked hard all the way round and earned a PB. This is the true essence of Time Trialling, that you are racing against yourself, and to my mind, Rose earned the 'spirit of the race' award for her efforts.

MEN WINNER 53.27

James Dear         59.29   1st  11.28%  10pts
Rupert Robinson   59.33   2nd  11.41       9
Rob Hoodless       1.02.26 3rd  16.80       8
Dave Lashbrook    1.02.42 4th  17.31       7     PB
Ant Grey               1.04.03 5th  19.83       6
Colin Chambers    1.05.43 6th  22.94       5
Steve Alden          1.07.11 7th  25.69       4
Steve McMenamin  1.11.2  8th  32.89       3
Martin Sanwell       1.13.00 9th  36.58       2     PB
Trevor Moore        1.16.01 10th 42.21       1     PB

WOMEN WINNER 1.04.42

Rachel Baker      1.09.27  1st  7.34%    10pts   PB
Hazel Tuppen     1.17.07  2nd 19.18        9    PB
Rose Ryan         1.35.56  3rd 48.27        8    PB

Author - Steve Alden