Royal Windsor Triathlon

Windsor Triathlon was established in 1991and has won ‘event of the year’ seven times. A popular choice for many of our longer serving Tuffs, this year attracted many to race for the first time as both the Sprint and Standard were BTF nominated races. Whilst unfortunately two of our entrants could not make it, we still had 12 jumping into the Thames producing some sterling performances. It had been uncertain whether the swim could take place with the Thames failing a water quality test earlier in June. It was cleared to proceed, although from comments on social media about illness afterwards, Including some Tuffs, perhaps it wasn’t as clean as it should have been.

SPRINT TRIATHLON

The sprint race started first with a 6am plunge into the Thames for some, and we had 8 successful finishers. Following the 750m swim and into transition, there was a long 325m run with the bike to get to the mount line before a scenic ride around the Berkshire countryside. The 14 mile route sees cyclists sweep down through Windsor Great Park into transition. The run contains the cheeky run up the hill to the Castle before entering the Long walk. this loop and hill climb is tackled twice to complete the 5k.

Our first finisher was Mark Walford who finished 21st overall and 2nd in his age group, This was the top 3% of all finishers, a fantastic result as this race was a World Championship qualifier for Australia. Stephen O’Donnell was our next finisher who did well despite stating he hasn’t had the time to commit to as much training this year. Darcie Lacey deserves a great mention who finished 2nd in her age group. Mum Verity Lacey was in hot pursuit using her strong swim and bike to great effect. Colin Simpson was another podium in his age group achieving 3rd, achieving the percentage to qualify. Bob Rogers won his age group outright which is fantastic. Sue Simpson was next, happy with her result as she steps up her training again. Kate Evans completed our Tuff eight. If you would like to see a short video of the event, including our very own Kate running on the Long Walk – click on the attached link.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2503665556502372

We have some great reports; firstly Mark Walford, Verity Lacey & then a Sue & Colin Simpson combo; –

Mark. Verity and Darcie

‘Racking Saturday seemed a pain but when I saw the size of the event and I could see why they do. The biggest triathlon I’d ever seen and real chance of losing my bike in transition. Luckily, I got to rack next to a massive tree. Race morning, cold and 4am start for 6.16 go time. Nice to bump into a few fellow tuffs. Looking at the river swim, the current was strong and sun low, so sighting was tough. Just thought I’d swim hard and see how it goes.

I was swimming with a little pack but gradually they dropped off and I found myself just following a few people, turning against the current for 20m I turned hard and managed to gain a few places as people was getting pushed down the river. I helped an older lady onto the steps before I got out, onto a 750m run to my bike then 350m run with the bike; this was definitely a runners course. Attacking transition definitely worked, bike was fast and kept going but before I knew it I was back into transition. Not many bikes left from my wave which was a shock, my bike work over the winter has helped. Run was nice but nothing of note except seeing Verity and Darcie. Crossing the line very happy and impressed by the big race feeling. Nice to cheer on a few tuffs doing the standard. Windsor was great, definitely recommend.

Mark

‘I ended up signing up to Windsor because Darcie wanted to do it with the specific intention to qualify for Team GB as the Worlds are in Australia and she is desperate to go! I thought I was going to have to be there anyway, so I may as well race as well. At the point of signing up I wasn’t actually able to run but just thought I’d do an aquabike if there was no improvement with my foot’.

We arrived in Windsor on Saturday to rack our bikes and bumped into Clive, Trevor, Tiff, Jon and Glenn in the car park, then Sheila, Kate and Stephen in the race village. It was a lovely atmosphere and very easy to find our way around. We walked to swim start (felt like a long way) then walked along to swim finish and realised how long the run was into transition and to the bike mount line!

We spent Saturday afternoon scoping out the bike route and catching up with friends before an early night.

Darcie’s swim start was 6am and you needed a minimum of 10 minutes to walk to the start line and had to be there 15 minutes before for a race briefing, alarm set for 4:15! We had a bit of drama with our timing chips, I chucked them both in the same bag with no idea whos was whos so we had to return to transition to sort them out, Darcie was not impressed at this point as we were cutting it fine to get to the start.

Darcie was off first and managed to find herself at the front of the pack, I was off 4 minutes later. I was already nervous but having your daughter competing at the same event brings a whole new level of nerves into play. What if she had a problem in the water, what if she missed the turn point, what if she gets a puncture…….honestly, I think I grew a lot more grey hairs just waiting to start.

The swim was super fast due to the fast flow of the river, the run into transition was pretty uncomfortable under foot and the run to the mount line seemed to be forever. Anyway, bike mounted and time to just relax into the ride. The bike course was lovely and the roads were actually far better than I thought they were going to be. The last part of the bike was great, flying downhill with the castle in the distance.

Off the bike and onto the run, I just went with the view, if my foot holds up so be it and if not, it will be a nice walk. I saw Darcie a few times on the run as it was an out and back course, so managed to do the proud mum moment and cheer her on.

Darcie did incredibly well and came in 2nd in her age group. She is marginally outside the 115% time criteria for Team GB , but we are hoping they will use discretion and give her a spot as it is so close. I was pretty happy with my time, I came in 11th in my age group and even with a really slow run I managed to meet the time criteria for Team GB but just outside the automatic places as I was 5th out of the others in my age group that registered their intent. Just have to wait and see if I get a roll down spot.

Definitely an event worth doing and in my opinion one to champion for club champs next year 🙂

Verity

‘After a Saturday swim at Chichester testing our wetsuits we went straight to Windsor to register and rack….Upon seeing the transition size, the 750 run from swim,350 run to bike I was not best pleased! Colin just smiled…! I had entered to remind myself how to race…Col was hoping to qualify for Oz and then hope I do the same in the aquabike in July…my swim went well just slowed near the exit by the previous wave of pink hats blocking the ramp… long transition and slow start to the bike due to dozens of speed bumps. After that I enjoyed the course ( except that hill!!!) and even enjoyed the run finishing before Col caught me… Colin planned to start well back in the swim as still not back to form after his dislocated shoulder…however the current took him to the front and despite trying to swim back the hooter went with him facing the wrong way… Of course he got swam over ,dunked, drank the Thames (more later) but was pleased to finish ok…the rest of his race went to current form and he was surprised to come 3rd in age group but pleased…We tried to drink the beer tent dry (non alcoholic 🙂 ) and met some of the others who all did fantastically well… staying in Windsor we had a lovely long day shopping (Col ) checked out Wetherspoons and of course a curry evening….Col came down with a stomach bug on Monday…mmmm…………Thames water or too much shopping?

Sue

Tuff’s Standard quartet – Sheila, Tiff, Clive & Trevor

STANDARD DISTANCE TRIATHLON

The Standard distance is traditionally the larger event comprising 67% of this year’s competitors. Despite the iconic river and Castle setting, it’s not an easy event with DNF’s three times as high as the Sprint. With swim waves starting 4-5 minutes apart, swim waves see faster swimmers overtake slower swimmers from previous waves, particularly when the standard had a long haul back up against the current. A 1,500m swim; (Tuffs successfully completed) before a 25 mile bike and then 3 laps of the run course (up Castle Hill three times) to complete the 10k. Tiff Orton, then Clive Harvey, Trevor Harvey and Sheila Bailey. We have two reports to share, firstly Trevor & then Sheila’s thoughts on the morning: –

‘For the 27th time, Clive and myself, joined by Tiff & Sheila, leapt into the Thames last Sunday making 4 Tuffs for the Standard/Olympic Tri at Windsor. This longevity partly stems from me winning ‘free entry for life’ almost ten year ago, so a very valuable win!’ (I’ve just redeemed again for 2025! 🙂 )

‘Whilst the sprint was a qualifier, the standard distance was a British Standard Championship race, and as such the wave groups were fairly large, and a bit of a bun fight in the old git’s wave for the swim.   A bright but chilly morning, and with a long walk to the swim start, with freezing feet it didn’t seem such a shock entering the cool Thames. The river current was very strong giving a good swim some 1,000m down to Eton Bridge staring straight into the sun, but that made the turn and back up into the current a struggle for the final 500m – several DNF’d at this stage, but all 4 Tuffs safely exited.  As I was wasting time rolling on the floor to get out my wetsuit, we saw Verity in transition – having finished her sprint distance.  The cycle and run, both fairly undulating, were all safely completed. The cycle out through countryside to the west of Windsor, whilst the run heads from the river, up Castle Hill, through the town and then down the Long Walk, before a turn, retracing the route, and then to complete for three laps in total.  Tiff was first Tuff home, followed by Clive, Trevor & then Sheila.

We were lucky with the weather, as cool and bright and sunny with little wind during the event, but on completion, the weather clouded over and the wind came up, so perfectly timed.

Trev

‘Windsor was everything I had heard about it and I loved it. 

We went up on Saturday to register and rack the bikes, whilst there we saw Tiff, Clive, Trevor, Jon and Glenn,  we had a catch up and then we headed to our Air bnb. 

Kate was in the sprint which meant a really early start, as she need to be at her race briefing at 5.50am. Once Kate had got off in her wave I got myself ready for my race briefing at 6.50am. Thankfully I bumped into Tiff in transition as we went down together, which really helped settle the nerves. 

Swimming in the Thames was amazing, the current was with us for the first 1km and then we turned and wow it literally pushed us back the other way, but I dug in and got to the exit. T1 was soooo long! 

Cycling around the Berkshire countryside was just beautiful, and such good fun. The roads were pretty much pothole free and slightly undulating. 

Back to T2 which thankfully it wasn’t so long – straight out onto the run which was through Windsor high street and along the Royal Mile, with a lovely hill halfway round. As it was three loops it was lovely to see, Clive, Trevor and Tiff during their loops, and Jon, Glenn and Andy around the course, the best time to see them was as I was leaving the ladies on my second loop!

Windsor you did not disappoint! Will I go back? Mmmm maybe! 

Sheila

Thanks to Andy Gomm, Glenn Parisi and Jon Roper on the cheerleading team. Particular thanks to Jon for most of the photo album, with some from Sue. Jon tried to capture as many Tuffs as possible but spotting those without club kit in amongst the 2,016 starters proved very difficult.