Race Reports

On Saturday 1st September eight members competed in the 5km River Adur swim. This race starts opposite the Old Shoreham Cement works with competitors swimming with the outgoing tide and finishing at the Adur centre, next to the A259 roadbridge. A few sandbanks have to be avoided along the course.

Barry Davids finished in a very commendable first place in the fin swim in 1.06.41. Steve Mcmenamin was first club member to finish in standard swim in 1.17.30, followed by David Ricketts in 1.21.33  just ahead of Gareth Handley in 1.21.35.  Liane Davids was first female club member to finish in 1.25.28 followed closely by Merrin Forbes in 1.27.09, Kay Mcmenamin in 1.27.36 and Sharon Chaldek in 1.36.32.

In spite of very low temperatures (there was an average air temperature during the bike leg of 11C) culminating in torrential rain in the afternoon, there were 68 athletes taking part in the TriFest.

The increasing popularity of this annual event is impressive and gratifying. It is organised by Steve Alden, together with the help of other club members, who time keep, patrol in kayaks and safety boats, put up signage, act as spotters, carry out registration and generally ensure that the day passes without a hiccough.

This year there were participants competing in Sprint distance, Olympic distance and Half Ironman distance groupings. The events began with a swim in Ardingly reservoir, followed by varying cycle routes through Turners Hill, Balcombe, Haywards Heath & Lindfield and finishing with the run sections around Ardingly Reservoir.

The sprint event was won by Jo Fleming in a time of 1.28.55 with Adam Bryant 2nd in 1.29.32. Jenny Blackwell was 1st woman to finish in 1.39.46 with Helens Jaconelli 2nd in 1.45.24.

The Olympic distance event was won by Ian Giles in 2.11.25 followed by Phil Couch in 2.14.56 and Andy McGregor in 2.25.30. Rachael Baker was 1st woman to finish in 2.29.20, followed by Lara Shoesmith in 2.58.11 and Sandra Westcott in 3.04.27.

The Half Ironman event was won by Matthew Chipping in 4.30.50, followed by Kate McTear in 4.34.06, Emily Iredale in 4.58.16, John McTear in 4.58.37, Anna Lawson in 5.02.36 and Steve Alden in 5.05.13.

Participants generally agreed that it was a great day; it was friendly and professional, with supportive and cheery volunteers. Thanks to everyone who took part.

The entry fees of 20 pounds each are collected and donated to the club's chosen charity Kangaroos, who organise year round clubs and trips out for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and complex medical needs. This year a very pleasing 1100 pounds was collected, which added to the 400 pounds collected in the earlier duathlon, makes a total of 1500 pounds raised so far this year.

Castle Triathlon Series

Andrew won the starter sprint event in 45.20 on the Saturday (200m swim, 500m steep uphill transition, 13km bike and 2km run), which he did as a warm up. He then tackled the Olympic Distance Triathlon on the Sunday. This comprised a 1500m swim, a scenic 45km bike ride, and a brutal 10km run in the heat, which he completed in 3.01.59, placing 35th in his age group.Having competed at the Cholmondeley Castle Triathlon event in June, Andrew Biggs went to Yorkshire to the Castle Howard event on the weekend of the 21st/22nd July. 

Maastricht Ironman Triathlon

Doug Mac Taggart described some of his training for the Maastricht Triathlon which takes place on the 5th August.

On the weekend of the 21st/22nd July he completed an Olympic Distance Triathlon in 2.45, followed by the Lunartic Night Trail Marathon at Shoreham in 4:45. He would then have a 2 week taper before going to the  prestigious Maastricht Ironman event. 

Triathlon Pucisca, Croatia

Adam Cameron-James joined in the enthusiasm of club members about competing internationally, by entering the Triathlon Pucisca, for the second time, on Saturday 28th July on the Island of Brac on the Adriatic coast of Croatia.

The event consists of a 400m sea swim, followed by an 11km cycle route on steep gravel roads and a 3.5km run on the asphalt roads and stone steps of the town. The event started at 6pm to avoid the hottest part of the day. Adam commented that although it was very scenic, it was also the most brutal triathlon that he has ever done, with 1000m of climbing on a mountain bike and 150 steps to run up, all in 33C heat. 

Mark Jordan and Jim Graham from Mid Sussex Triathlon Club were delighted to both finish as top GB athletes in their events amid a large GB age-group team. It was a wonderful boost to shake hands with Gomez, a true great.

Mark was fast on both swim and bike to finish 5th in the world in the 60-64 Aquabike category. This terrific result was despite a chronic ear infection. Mark's pain and deafness was remedied within 24 hours of his return to UK by an emergency appointment procedure by top Sussex ENT surgeon, Mr Prodip Das.

00:50:38 3km swim
00:02:57 transition
03:39:11 120km cycle
04:32:46 overall

Jim had a slow swim as usual but strong cycling and the 2nd fastest run in age group lead to an 8th in the world finish in the 55-59 Long Distance Triathlon Category. A weak run at Ironman Norway 2 weeks earlier made him narrowly miss 1st place, but this time there was a steady 7:30 minute/mile pace throughout plus a good sprint finish.

01:11:20 3km swim
00:03:47 transition 1
03:26:01 120km cycle
00:03:22 transition 2
02:18:29 30km run
07:02:59 overall

British Middle Distance Triathlon Championship at Hever Castle 8th July

Mid Sussex Triathlon Club Member Kate Mactear, who is studying for a Masters Degree at Bristol University, achieved a magnificent 3rd place with a time of 5.19.47 in the British Middle Distance Championships held within the Festival of Endurance Gauntlet event at Hever Castle. This is an event in the popular Castle Triathlon Series and involves a 1.9km swim in Hever Lake followed by a tough 90km bike ride round the High Weald of Kent anf the Ashdown Forest, and finishing with a 21km run with a challenging off road element.

Vitoria Gasteiz Midddle Distance Triathlon, Northern Spain 8th July

New member Amanda Hyatt achieved 2nd place in her age group with a time of 7.21.11 in this popular event held in the Capital of the Basque Autonomous Community in Northern Spain. It comprised a 1.9km swim in Ullibarri-Gamboa lake, a 94km bike ride around the beautiful landscape of Alava, and finishing with a 21km run through the medieval town. Amanda commented that the club's open water swimming sessions at Ardingly Reservoir had given her the confidence to tackle the swimming part of the event.

Thorpe Park Middle Triathlon, 14th July

Emma Jayne Smith took on her first Standard Distance Triathlon at Thorpe Park (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run) finishing in 3.27.36. She commented that it had a nice course, was well organised and very enjoyable.