Weekend Round Up 9th 10th July
An absolutely scorching weekend, but once again we had an action packed race weekend from Tuffs at home and abroad. The Swiss Otillo SwimRun article has already been published, and a separate report to cover the Middle Distance Club Championship is about to be released. We had club members complete their first ever multisport event, through to others stepping up to longer distance, plus seven different podiums and race wins – fantastic work everyone.
COTSWOLD CLASSIC MIDDLE DISTANCE TRIATHLON
The Cotswold Middle Distance Triathlon is one the thirty eight Tuffs will remember as it was our 2021 Club champ race, albeit, with a cancelled swim. Some Tuffs have stated their intention to return to complete this event (with the swim next time), although please note 2023 will see it carry a new name and also a different bike route. However for this year well done & congratulations to Elaine Rousseau on reaching her goal of completing her first middle distance event. With Cotswold complete Elaine turns her attention to The London Marathon where she is raising money for Romsey Cancer Support Centre. Elaine reports on her 70.3:-
“Oh my goodness – it lived up to all my expectations”.
“Now, how nervous I am for events is in relation to how early I get there (Friday afternoon I arrived at my base for the weekend). Graeme and 113 were trialling pre-registration and race briefing on the Saturday which worked really well. Alarm goes off at 3:45 (we were told to arrive as early as possible) and out the door by 4am – 30 minute drive to the Cotswolds water park. Now I looked like I’d packed for a weekend away – lots of food and a change of camelback bladders”.
“Rolling wave for the swim saw me enter the water at about 6:30 ish – taking it relaxed. It became apparent that while sorting out tailwind and water I got some tailwind in my goggles despite flushing them out – half way to the first buoy my good eye began to sting – I sorted that out and the first buoy appeared quite quickly. The second buoy was into the sun (not a fan of that 😂) carrying on round the right hand buoy and then it gets really shallow (so much so you walked some of it) round the buoy and head back to the shore – out of the swim I’m pleasantly surprised (estimated 45mins to an hour came in at 51 give or take)”.
“Onto the bike (the elephant in the room of all disciplines for me) – two laps that’s ok – have realised I might need a sign on my back saying “sorry not good with left and right” – I shouted sorry to a lady on the bike who tried her best to tell me where it was going. Anyway shortly into the bike I realised I needed the loo – being the person I am and sticking to the rules I had to wait till miles 20 something 🤣 – also a lesson learnt 2 piece tri suit is the way forward). Anyway as I passed the dismount point for lap 2 I had a look – a little over 2 hours – I couldn’t believe it I was well inside my target time of 4:30 for the bike – I began to relax and was taking on water from my camelback but the mouth piece came away and was literally drenching me in water (probably not a bad thing in the heat) but I stopped again and gave the leaking bladder to a Marshall. Off I trundled again without further incident and came in under 4:30 (clipped in all the way round CPL).”
“Changed water and shoes and off for the run – the heat was brutal and the run was not my finest, another loo stop required as running on a full bladder is really uncomfortable. 3 laps of the run, well more like a walk interspersed with running. It was tough but I saw the medal around people that had finished and I had worked so hard on my bike fitness not to finish this. Total time 8hrs 31 mins but actually it didn’t feel that long”.
There is a quote from Michael Flatley (Riverdance fame) that inspires me – If you have a dream and you are willing to work for that dream you can have anything in the world – nothing is impossible
“Thank you to all in the club for all your best wishes and encouragement. I truly want to inspire others – this club supports all abilities”
Elaine
CHICHESTER – NATURES WAY FOODS TRIATHLON
Held at the Chichester Westgate Centre, the weekend was full of multisport with juniors Saturday, and adults on Sunday. Pleasing to report we had five Tuffs racing across four of the race categories as follows:-
In the Sprint distance Triathlon we had two fantastic results over the 400m pool swim, a 33km bike, and 5km run. In third place overall and 1st in his age group, congratulations to Dominic Chapman, Dom had a great race recording the fastest swim split.
The good news didn’t finish there as Jo Baldwin also raced Sprint. Jo has reported below, but she is being very self deprecating as she was less than 30 seconds off the podium for 3rd female overall with a particularly strong bike leg.
“Chichester triathlon series had a range of events; standard and sprint distance triathlons, a duathlon, aquathlon and aquabike. Having thought I was the only Tuff at Chichester it was lovely to bump into fellow a Tuff (Carey), who was doing the aquathlon.
The sprint triathlon didn’t start till 9 so with a swim start time of 9.35 , I was anticipating a hot one which it certainly was. I thought of all the tuffs competing a 70.3 in Eastbourne in the heat and told myself to just get on with it!
After a ‘snake’ format pool swim which I never enjoy, I was pleased to have a good bike and run given the heat and came 4th overall, 1st in the 35-39 age category although there was only 4 of us so not sure that’s a lot to shout about!!
Jo
The Aquathlon event was across the same 400m swim and 5k run and there was yet another podium as Carey Woods ran home as the clear winner overall with the fastest run split to claim victory by over 30 seconds.
And the good news kept coming as Steve Woodbridge raced the Aquabike – 400m swim and 33k bike. Steve finished 3rd overall with first less than a minute ahead.
Great results from Dominic, Jo, Carey & Steve but what is equally gratifying is that Nathan Bilham completed his first ever triathlon – and chose the longer Standard distance to do it. Nathan’s course covered 600m pool swim, a 42km bike, and a 10km run. Whilst Nathan modestly says he “was just really happy to finish” he returned consistent times across all three disciplines – congratulations on your first Tri Nathan – a brilliant stepping stone towards your September 70.3.
THE BIG WELSH SWIM
With plenty of parking nearby for the day, the location of Lake Padarn for the Big Welsh Swim in Snowdonia National Park is a tremendous backdrop for a swim. Congratulations go to James Hodge who not only completed but was on the podium. Whilst James’s report states he was in a group of three at the turn, he finished ahead of 80 other swimmers; a great performance James:-
“I travelled down to the Big Welsh Swim at Llanberis at the foot of Snowdon. It is an absolutely stunning location for a swim. The 6k is from one end of the lake to the other and back. Other distances see competitors get the Snowdon train to start at the other end of the lake.
It was a time trial start so I didn’t know the exact result until the end. At the 3k Australian exit I was in a group of 3. From here the race went flat out resulting in a big negative split with the fastest pace being at recorded at 5k as we all made our bid to drop the others.
With the times in I was 3rd Place male overall in the 6k also 1st in Age group in a time of 1:54:13
A fabulous well organised race I hope to return to next year”.
James
SALTY EVENTS SWIMRUN
Congratulations to our own Nikki Gatland on a very successful event on Sunday. The banner shot if our Tuff participants. Nikki’s company Salty Events is already building a great reputation for sea swim training and other events like a Rampion Swim following Nikki making the first ever out and back crossing. Well done to the marshals including Debbie Gatland. Andy Tester went along to support.
It was pleasing to see a strong Tuff participation from seven club members. Kate Evans and Vicky Cooper came joint first in the fun event. Also competing were, Wendy Kane & Sue Pinky. Not yet a Tuff but having trained with us, Vicki Hedger ensured it was a Tuff monopoly over that distance. For the full distance Salty event great to see Mark Walford on his return to race action after Montreal. Also competing were Ness Green & Jenny Oliver to complete some great results. First up we have a report from Jenny Oliver covering the full distance and the the thoughts of Wendy Kane and Sue Pinky covering the fun event.
“Sunday 10th July was the long anticipated Tuff Fitty Middle Distance Championship race at Eastbourne. Not yet able to attempt the distance, tidal swim or hilly bike, it appealed to me to embrace a different challenge at the Adur Swim Run organised by our own Nikki Gatland’s Salty Events.
There were 2 options: Fun (swim 500m/run 1km/swim 200m/run 200m), and Full (swim 2km/run 1km/swim 200m/run 1.5km/swim 200m). I decided that I might as well get my money’s worth and so entered the Full (for Fun)!
Not having any swim-run kit, I decided to improvise. Adrian’s buoyancy shorts which somehow were very tight on me! A neoprene vest that I had bought for an extra layer during the winter Penguin Gold challenge. A pull buoy with a couple of tie wraps around its waist and a strip of old bicycle inner tube threaded through the tie wraps and tied around my thigh, firstly to prevent the pull buoy popping out and floating off down the river, secondly to be able to spin it round to the outside for carrying on the run. Having had a go using Adrian’s larger hand paddles I decided to stick to my own small ones as they were more manageable. I also practised swimming with shoes in the sea, and a few alternating swim runs. Drying my running shoes in the conservatory resulted in a fairly bad smell, so out with the bicarb!
A few Tuffs were signed up including Mark Walford, Vanessa Green and myself for the Full, and Vicky Cooper, Kate Evans, Wendy Kane and Sue Pinky, for the Fun.
We were given an excellent race briefing by Nikki before being walked over the bridge from the Adur Recreation Ground slipway to the East bank. The entry into the water was extremely squelchy. Good job we had shoes on. It required a great deal of concentration to not fall over or get stuck in the mire so I completely forgot to start my watch!
A countdown from 10 and we were off. The first bridge was in sight and soon passed. Then the far bridge came into view. A 1km swim out with the tide was fairly straight forward and we reached the turn point. I was slightly confused whether some swimmers had gone further but another swimmer and the safety crew assured me that I could turn here. Another 1km back with more or less slack tide. Goggles misting, glaring sun and onset of slight vertigo meant that my navigation may have been a little suspect. Although I had reached the turn together with another swimmer, I was now at the back. I found it a little confusing as to which slipway to exit by. Got there eventually but very giddy! Managed to totter up the ramp, encouragement from those who had already completed the Fun event, welcome hydration and a gel, started my watch and pressed button again to progress to the run.
Great start to see an enthusiastic and encouraging Debbie Gatland pointing me in the right direction. In fact it seemed that the whole course was dotted with the Gatland family marshalling team. Happy that I managed to run and not walk for the whole 1km before re-positioning the pull-buoy, paddles, watch and re-enter the water.
This time 200m swim against a current, slow and steady. Slowly up a slippery ramp and off on a another run, 1.5km and no walking again!
Back for a final 200m swim with the current. A paddle board safety crew led me to the exit. I think I heard him say ‘Finally!’. Actually I was pretty much thinking the same! Up the ramp and a resemblance of a sprint to the finish.
Last in (as usual these days) but satisfied that I completed the full distance and a really fun challenge.
A short awards ceremony and chuffed to hear that Kate and Vicky were first ladies back in the Fun event, and Mark Walford first man in the Full! Well done to Nikki for organising a super event and to all who took part!
Back home and watching Adrian and the Tuffs in Eastbourne progressing to their finish. Well done super Tuffs! And beep, the washing machine has finished and my shoes smell a lot sweeter now!
Jenny
This was my first attempt at a SwimRun Event (I did the fun taster distance) so wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out! As most of you know I’ve been recovering from plantar fasciitis for the last 10 months but at last things are starting to improve, so this was the idea opportunity to test out my feet! After a lot of deliberating on what to wear and opting for the full wetsuit with the theory of ‘don’t do anything new on race day’ even though it was scorching hot, I found myself ready standing in the briefing on the edge of the River Adur! Nikki had put us all at ease and I was among familiar faces so felt quite at ease! My first chance to experience a mass start but as there weren’t too many of us there was no pushing, shoving or kicking. The klaxson went and we were off, I decided to start slow and build up. I was very pleased with the first part of the swim as I managed to keep going at a steady pace and even my sighting had improved a bit from the last attempt, so didn’t go off course. Before I knew it I was out the water and into the first run! I was so pleased I managed to shuffle round without stopping and running in the full wetsuit wasn’t as bad as I was expecting! However, I did get lots of funny looks from the people in their cars queuing to get into the field! Probably thinking ‘why is that women running in a full wetsuit on such a hot day’! 🤣🤣 The last swim and run were over before I knew it and I was over the moon to come in 3rd over the finish line! I would also like to thank NIkki Gatland for a fantastic event and also all of her training sessions in the sea which have taken me from be a person who was nervous in deep water and big waves to absolutely loving it! And I cant wait to do more!
Wendy
I was feeling very nervous about this as I’ve not been able to train, I’d opted for the short “fun” event which I thought would be an ideal swim distance.
This was only my 2nd swimming event, I cycled over as my warm up, which I soon regretted as my shoulders were aching from Saturdays swim, my own fault and luckily didn’t impeed me in the swim.
Nikki had set everything up perfectly with canoeists out on the water if we needed them.
Getting in the water at the ropetackle slipway was fun, very slippery in the mud but it helped me to relax. Somehow, I managed to be at the front of the swimmers which wasn’t ideal but it gave me a sense of perspective for bigger events.
We had to swim upto and under the railway bridge before turning back to the slipway by adur rec. The water was a perfect temperature and crystal clear.
Coming out the water Nikki was there cheering everyone on. The run route was very well signposted and the marshals all gave clear instructions.
After the run around Adur rec it was back into the water for a swim up to the canoe slipway which was just past the scout hut. This swim felt better for me, I slowed my stroke down and concentrated on my breathing. Out the water and the slipway was very slippery, the marshal did try warning me but with my earplugs in I couldn’t hear anything.
Once I was out, it was a short run to the finish where came 4th, but placement doesn’t matter, for me it was all about finishing and doing something new.
Once I’d finished, I went and stood in the water to cheer everyone else home, was soon given a hi vis to wear! Lol.
Everyone loved it and everyone stayed until the last person was home.
I will definitely do this again and I’ll opt for the full, something to aim for!
Sue
BHF BOURNEMOUTH PIER TO PIER SWIM
The annual Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim for British Heart Foundation was staged for the 30th year and is one of Europe’s biggest charity swimming events. The course is between Bournemouth Pier and Boscombe Pier – a distance of 1.4 miles. Great to see two of our inspirational swimmers entered for this – Helen Bull and Claire Luckham. Thanks to Helen for her thoughts on the event.
‘What a beautiful event! One of the most well organised and safety conscious events I have ever seen. Scorching weather & perfect conditions. As a group of friends, we are all of different ability. But we swam as a pack and were graced with a guard of honour the whole distance in way of 2 lifeguards on paddle boards. The race organisers went above and beyond to make sure that as a wheelchair user, I was kept safe at all times. A truly inclusive & wonderful event!’ 
Helen
WEST SUSSEX FUN RUN LEAGUE
There have been two West Sussex Fun Run League Fixtures over the past week. Wednesday 6th July saw the Round Hill Romp, starting from the clock tower on Steyning High St before running up to the top of the South Downs Way, along and down to finish on the playing fields – a route of circa 10k. Strong performances from Jay McCardle, Danny Cunnett, Richard Budd and Tony Pearce. Sunday saw the Hove Hornet Stinger from Brighton Rugby Club; a start time of 11am for a 10k route. Results not yet seen although it is known Tony Pearce was in action again
PARK RUN ROUND UP
Starting at Bognor parkrun this week well done to Nathan Bilham on his 79th parkrun ahead of his first triathlon the next day. Next across the line was Sue Simpson who reached a great milestone with her 150th parkrun. Crossing the line together, Colin Simpson was next in the results racking up his 187th pr. Sheila Bailey was next running well for her 38th parkrun & then Kate Evans who finished her 31st parkrun ahead of her swimrun the next day,
Emily Moore was back on home turf at Littlehampton parkrun as she finished her 131st parkrun in style Emily romped home 1st female overall 49 seconds ahead of the second female in just 20:27 Richard Budd was next home for this 180th and Alistair Evans is closing in on his one hundredth with his 91st run. A major 70.3 triathlon the next day wasn’t going to stop Pete Littleboy selecting this weekend to complete his first ever parkrun, but he did restrict himself to pacing duties this time. Good to see Sue Pinky back on the parkrun scene with her first since March to complete PR number 119.
Worthing parkrun saw Shelley Dodman record a very strong 21:57 to finish 6th female overall. A huge round of applause to Ed Lay who finished and in a strong time of 25:46 despite the ‘small’ matter of also heading off to Eastbourne to do the 70.3. Phil Turner was next across the line running with his son.
Another new parkrun for our club to cross off was at Killerton parkrun where Steve Fryer took park in this location which is a one lap multi-terrain route on national trust property. Located just outside Exeter Steve finished his 47th parkrun in 22:38.
Well done to all 14
