HOT NEWS 2004

 
Sunday 28th November 2004
The Boscombe 10k
Both Graham and Julie competed in this race. Luckily the weather held and it was dry. The race started in Kings Park on the grass but the ground was firm and did not cause any problems.

The long climb through Pokesdown did not cause any concerns prior to the finish at Kings Park by the track.

Graham finished in a time of 38:22 minutes.
Julie finished in a time of 48:01 minutes.


Saturday 13th November 2004
The Ballbuster
The Ballbuster uses an eight-mile loop, which incorporates Box Hill, a steep hill with switchbacks. The competitors complete the first loop on foot, followed by three loops on the bike and one final loop on foot.

The course obviously caused concern amongst the team, as the usual banter was strangely a miss around 7.30am. The cold and the hill seemed to have made an impact as even Bryce could only mutter the odd few words of complaint about having to race!

The first run did not cause to many problems as all of the team came in fairly close together and set off on the bike.

The bike loops seemed to be more of a problem as the cold took its toll with many of the competitors cramping in their legs and back. Unfortunately the combination of the hill and cold caused Julian to have to stop and he was unable to finish the race.
The second run was survival to finish the race.

The rest of the team soldiered on and put in good times, all personal bests and even managed a smile after when they were warmed up with hot drinks and homemade cakes from the café. However this is one of the only occasions when I have seen Bryce literally shut down and he could not talk or even move after the race.


Bryce Dyer 3:15:45hrs 72nd overall
Paula Matheson 3:18:28hrs 86th overall and 3rd female
Graham Starmer 3:29:28hrs 136th overall

284 competitors finished the race.
The overall winning time was 2.39.15.


Saturday 12th September 2004
Team 2005 launch.
Despite the fact athletes are still racing, triathletes never stand still, it was with an informal meeting that the 2005 De Soto Synergie team met at David Lloyd, Ringwood. De Soto Sportswear and David Lloyd, Ringwood have been two long term supporters of the Synergie Coaching athletes.

The 2005 team sees the classic mixing of experience and youth.

Clive Agate is looking to use the 2005 season as a springboard to his goal of a podium place at the 2006 European triathlon championships in Lausanne, Switzerland. Clive knows this course having represent GB there in 2004.

Julian Allen remains within the team and is looking to improve on his PB of 11.41.02 set at Ironman Brazil this year. Julian will be going long at Ironman Lanzarote in May and Ironman Canada in August 2005, he may also squeeze a GB vest at the European standard distance, depending on where and when that is!!

Alexandra Chester. Alex is now fully recovered and rehabilitated from her back injury, 2004 was a quiet multi-discipline year for Alex but she has still put in some impressive times in the pool, recording a number of PBs and podium places. Alex is looking to go even faster aiming at podium places in the Southern Series next year.

Phoebe Chester. Phoebe has been racing the Southern Series again this season in triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon, at time of going to press she is lying 3rd and 4th in the various competitions. Phoebe is looking to get top 2 in her multi discipline stuff in 2005.

Mark Chivers trained with the team as a guest athlete in 2004 and despite that wasn't put off. Mark was invited onto the team for the 2005 season and will be looking to get his standard distance times close to the 2 hour mark, as well as racing the various Army Championships there is a possibility of an international outing at the World Master Games in Edmonton in July.

Bryce Dyer had a storming season, the highlights of which were representing GB at the European triathlon championship in Switzerland where he finished 5th and being invited to race at the Duo Normand, a two up time trial, where together with Lesley Anne Allen, he won his category. GB vests and fast times are Bryce's goal for 2005.

Nigel Eldred is the 2nd new team member. Nigel has been involved in the sport for 3 year and completed his first standard distance triathlon in 2004. Main thing for Nigel is to have consistency in his training with a view of getting faster across all three disciplines, although he does say that he fancies trying a half Ironman!!

Melissa Hood, another new team member and again another relatively new triathlete. Melissa has dabble in multi-sport for the last couple of years and completed her first Standard distance race at Swanage this year. we will be looking for structure and consistency in Melissa's training and racing, no doubt we'll see the times getting faster.

Dave Pratten was the first of the team to pull on a GB vest this year, having gained qualification to the World triathlon championships in Madeira, he finished the season off in style as well winning his age group at the South Coast Classic Triathlon in September.
Dave is another team member looking at the European & the World Masters Championships.

Graham Starmer had another tussle with The Longest Day this year where despite nutritional problems he was right on his swim and bike target times, unfortunately lack of fuel cost him dear on the run. In 2005 Graham will be chasing a GB vest on the long course circuit.

Julie Treadwell makes up the team, Julie started triathlon in 2002 and has previously been selected for GB. Julie like all the athletes is looking to go faster in 2005, equally she is looking to claim another GB vest at the European triathlon and duathlon championships.

As can be seen the team for 2005 is the smallest we have had for some time, that said the quality is easy to see with a number of athletes who achieved PBs, Age Group podium places and GB vests in 2004.

Di and I would like to thank the athletes that have left the team this year and wish them every success with their new teams for 2005.
Debbie Austin, William Garnier and Jackie Hansford all intend returning to running as their preferred sport whilst Kev James & Peter Rabjohns intend racing for the Dorset Police Triathlon Section.


Sunday 4th September 2004

South Coast Classic Triathlon
Dave Pratten was the only athlete out at this race and without team support he won his age group in a time of 2.29.54. Dave finished 34th overall out of 155 competitors. Not a bad way to end the season.

Whilst Dave was busy in Brighton, Bryce Dyer teamed up with one of our old athletes, Lesley Anne Allen to take part in a two up time trial in France, below is his story

Well, where to begin?
The Duo Normand is an international UCI event based on a 2 person team time trial over 33 miles of both flat and incredibly hilly terrain. The race now in its 23rd year is one of the few pro races in which amateurs can race alongside some of the big names. This year to avoid the World Champs the race had been pulled earlier into September and experienced some of the hottest weather I’d ever stepped outside in (let alone raced in). It was 82 degrees and in some places hit 86 making it a true race of attrition and strategy. It's hard to explain the sheer flamboyance and atmosphere of a French bike race but needless to say they're into their cycling. No expense of logistics is spared for the 500 competing pairs that rolled into a quiet town for a few days of torture.

Like the Tour de France the entire circuit around Marigny is closed from traffic with hay bales and barricades laid out making it impossible to get lost (and we all know about my sense of direction !) plus you have a following car with your names on boards roaring around behind you. I was racing in the mixed sex category and my partner was former triathlete turned uberbiker Lesley Ann Allen who these days whups men on a weekly basis notably placing 5th in the national 50 mile TT champs earlier this year, so bets were being taken as to what state I’d end up in.

Two days before a few of us rode round the course and it all got a little bizarre when a tractor overtook us with some farmer complete with huge moustache, wide handlebarred bone shaker, and rain mac slipstreaming behind it's trailer at 40mph. Even the locals seem to be motorpace training I guess……..

Come race day you are held in numerical order in a long barricaded paddock with the general public separated staring at the wide range of machines being ridden. The start itself was on a ramp with two gents holding your seatposts behind you with a third person counting down from 10 on his fingers in front of me. Riders were off at 1 minute intervals. The gun went and we quickly launched up a rise and settled into what I’d hope would be a sensible race pace……………30 mph. So common sense went out of the window. We roared through the first rolling rough roaded 10 miles in 22:55 (and this included some serious climbs). It settled but we began to quickly catch other pairs which was like waving a red flag in front of a bull as far as Lesley was concerned. We overtook 5 pairs inside the first 10 miles alone. Lesley would come through every now and then during this period so I could drop back and take a drink. Once the damn team car was happy that I’d ‘recovered’ the car horn was blaring out again to signify that I would be expected back on the front. Everytime I shifted up a gear to recover that damn horn went off again.

The great moments were when you caught a pair in front, our team car would be blaring it’s horn along with a French police motorbike (which was now escorting us) so that the caught car would pull over and we would roar past the riders. Spectators were on every bend. As a result (and I think I’m going to pay for this when Scott takes over my turbo testing soon) my heart rate never dropped below 191 and topped 204 (My 10 mile TT pace is normal 181).

By mile 12 we were into the hills and I decided to get on the front and start to go until we blew because my pre race strategy had long since evaporated. I turned off my monitor and computer because the data was becoming too unusable. I spent nearly an hour on the front from that point. We hit the first hill so hard that we both went up in the aerobars seated as we passed two pairs out of the saddle. Luckily our team car was filled with some vocal friends I’d made (Scott, you were solely missed !) and as we would climb, the team car would be yelling encouragement as we would go up climbs that would drag for 10 minutes on occasion. By now the temperature was taking in it’s toll on everyone.

The town was approaching and a 45 mph switchback descent greeted us with a short climb again into the town centre as you then go through a large grandstand area. They went absolutely bonkers everytime a team came through. By now I was getting vocal with my partner and when a caught team car slowed our way through, our language was colourful to say the least.

The course then heads out of town and back on a 10k dogleg uphill one way and downhill into the finish. We were hurting at this point but due to the out and back you can see if you're getting caught and who is up front. By this stage team support was essential but with 2k to go the police fed the team cars away leaving the two riders left to empty the tank………….at 50mph downhill. You hit the finish line so fast riders were having to unclip from their pedals and use your feet to brake luge style. Awesome. I would have been ecstatic to finish it all there.

What I didn't know was that the experience didn't end there. This was only the start though…………………what I hadn’t realised until the results went up was that we’d won our category by 42 seconds leading through all 3 checkpoints. The best Lesley had managed to do before this year was third and then by using top draw specialists. I was absolutely stunned. An hour later we were quickly pulling on jerseys as we were called onto the podium along with the other winners. I had to kiss the podium girls (bummer) accept the flowers (yellow of course), the trophy, and a Credit Lyonais lion only available to winners of French bike races. The white jersey winner at last years Tour de France Sandy Casar was awarded his 2nd prize from the elite race and stood next to me. When Tour winner and TT legend Jan Jannsen plus tour great Jean Bobet shook my hand I nearly bloody died. The photos flashed away and the next morning we all made the French papers.

There was a split moment before we were called up onto the podium when I realised I was about to enjoy one of the greatest moments of my life. Everyone else wanted to get out of the scorching sun after 5 minutes but I could've spent all day up there. Along with my GB tri vest earlier in the year I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to top this. Wow.

At this point, a hell of a lot of people need to be thanked. Aside from the essential (and emotional) coaching support and of Di and Scott, Bill @ Primera spent god knows how long tweaking my new bike with my usual list of outrageous techie demands, TT supremo’s Steve Walkling and Simon Berogna (who also won their cat) took me under their wing showing me the ropes out there, the A3crg road team for driving the team car and hurling a never ending torrent of abuse (and car horn honking), an incredibly supportive girlfriend and lastly but by no means least Lesley who probably had as many doubts as I did about the whole deal before we raced.

The only problem now is if you win it’s really rude not to go back and defend it…………….
 


Sunday 29th August 2004

Southampton Fast Twitch Triathlon
 400m/18mile/4miles
Well this literally was a first, Scott Murray's first race this year. Let's see if the coach can walk the walk?

Approximately 200 competitors took part in this Fast Twitch race, Scott was there trying to remember what to do, Julian Allen was nursing his blisters and trying to work out why he had agreed to do this only a week after a half Ironman and Graham Starmer was looking to see how his rehab was going, so we weren't really looking for the team prize.

Scott's hopes that an early swim time will mean no-one sees his are dashed in the car park when he started to bump into Army triathletes that he'd worked with in Cyprus.

It was a good social race with the athletes and coach finishing as follows
Graham 13th overall & 5th in age group 6min swim,49.49 bike, 22.07 run, total time 1.17.56.
Julian 25th overall & 5th in age group 7.12 swim, 52.15 bike, 21.25 run, total time 1.20.52
Scott 138th overall & 21st in age group 9.12 swim, 69.36 bike, 34.48 run, total time 1.48.38


Sunday 22nd August 2004

Half Ironman UK
Julian's account
Well, after a 0330 rise I picked up Mark and drove to the Castle, no queue and so we got there 2 minutes after transition opened at 5! Mark demonstrated his pre-race nerves after I pumped his tyres with my track pump and then asked to hold the head on as I added the last bar in the tyre on my disc, and he promptly dumped all the pressure out and then I showed him how to hold it on and he dumped it all again, not good for my nerves! This was after he declared that he had forgotten to pin his numbers on his change of clothing in the bags he had checked in last night! So we had to try to blag his way into his bags.

After meeting up with what seemed like half of the triathletes in Dorset, we got into the holding pen at 7 and watched the first wave go off before they allowed us in the water to swim the 150 metres to the start line. It was cold treading water for 10 mins, so I was relieved when we started, even more so that I didn't get beat up like last year. However about 750m in it started to get a bit violent with one guy pulling me back by the ankle 4 strokes in a row! I found a nice clear, straight line to the finish away from the melee of the pack. I later found out that this was because it took my through a patch of lily pads! Well, I got out in 36 mins and on to the bike after a speedy transition.

Scott stated on Thursday (via Di, coward!), that the recent lactate testing dictated that I ride at 150 bpm, however after a measured first 6 miles I still hadn't got down to that rate and since I was getting very pissed off at the drafting packs that were racing around I just let rip and laid down a 2:42 bike having hit 48.8mph downhill on the Giant's Head! The weather got hot on the bike, dry but with a light wind. But then I had to go out on the run, I decided to wear my clima cool trail shoes without socks and thought the chance of blisters on the insteps a fair trade off against time lost fidgeting with socks in T2.

Bad move, because the run course takes you up and down 3 hills per lap, it meant that I had blisters on the first descent! The onset of cramps in my lower quads took my mind off it for a while, but not for long as I lost the blisters on the second descent and felt like I had someone taking a cheese grater to my insteps! I did the first lap in 47 mins so figured that if I ran less than 4 minutes longer on lap 2 I could go under 5 hours (I had estimated 5-5:15) and would be v happy with that. This resolve was re-enforced by Bryce, telling me the splits to Dousty and Shaun.

BUT, I then began to have a severe case of hamstring cramp which reduced me to walking for 50 paces up the first hill to ease it back and continue again at which point Andy Gater came by and told me to tag on, after checking his age group calf marking and seeing he was a G ager (I later discovered that this was a doctored C, bad boy!) I decided that I couldn't let an older guy through and so tagged on for the rest of the climb and flat to the turn around.

Andy dropped back to use the feed station as I decided to get ahead on the descent so that I could use him to get up the next hill, this didn't happen! I got halfway up and the cramp in the quads came back and forced me to walk, run again, a little visual motivation in the form on Katriona Morrison walking ahead forced me into trotting with her for a while and the next thing I recall is coming down into the woods for the last mile only to seize up in the left hamstring! I guess that was the point where I knew Scott was right (there I said it, AND in print!).

I had resigned myself to a hobble/walk to the foot of the grass bank to the finish when I heard cheers for Batman behind me!, NO WAY was someone in a costume coming past me! So I bundled my cramp and raw insteps to the back of my mind and gritted my teeth to run to the finish. Graham can tell you how fast I looked, I can tell you how fast I felt, and they are probably not the same. In the end I managed a 5:11:16, which I guess I am pleased with.

I had to go straight to the medical tent to get my feet sorted and the American Doc offered to get my bag sent to the tent to get my sandals for me! Unfortunately, it took an hour and a half for it to arrive, by which time Bryce and Graham had both left, I never got to meet up with them and thank them for the cheering. So Guys, thanks for coming all the way out to cheer me on it really helped, I know Graham will appreciate how much it helps and Bryce will too when he goes "long" at Lanzarote next year.


Sunday 8th August 2004

Swanage Classic Triathlon
Another good turnout at this race with 350 athletes racing over a new, revised course.
De Soto Synergie were well represented with the following athletes racing
Pete Rabjohns, Julian Allen, Graham Starmer, Dave Pratten & Di Newnham.
Pete managed to steal the bragging rights from Julian.

Pete finished 70th overall, 23rd in his age group with splits of 27.25,70.39,43.31 total 2.21.35
Jules was 74th overall, 11th in age group in times of 27,71.17,44.37 total time 2.22.54
Graham was next, 94th overall & 28th in age group in 24.08, 71.43, 49.34 total 2.25.25
Dave was through in 120th & 5th in age group with these times 23.54, 77.27, 48.30, 2.29.51
Di was 36th in the female field, 7th in her age group in 34.26, 94.25. 57.57 total 3.06.48


Sunday 18th July 2004

The Longest Day Ironman DistanceTriathlon
First of all I would like to thank my Employers, Key Industrial Equipment Ltd www.keyind.co.uk for helping me finance the entry fee & accommodation. I would also like to thank my two Coaches, Scott & Di, my Mum & Dad, but most of all my very supportive “Coach 2”, Nikki. Without them all, the race wouldn’t have taken place.

July 18th 2004 – Longest Day “Ironman” Triathlon
2.4 mile Swim, 112 mile Bike, 26.2 mile Run – 6am Start


4am. Alarm call on race morning. Get to Gailey Reservoir at 5:15am. Weather & forecast seemed just right. Feels like a good day to beat last year's times.

5:50am. Final call. Enter the water. Final warm up.

6am. The claxon goes. We’re off. I’ve been waiting for this for 364 days. The winter training has gone fairly well. Lots of long swims, even more long bike rides, but not much running due to a foot problem, but I WILL COMPLETE THIS RACE.

Three laps of the swim go well. Stand up in 61:57. Predicted time of 62min so spot on schedule.

On to the bike. Predicted time was 6hrs. It’s a two-lap course. Half way through the first lap is where the day starts going wrong. Try to eat some food but immediately throw it back up (sorry). Try & block that out & get on with it but it’s not happening. I was sick another two times. I’m unable to keep anything down. By about 60 miles I could’ve quite easily just got off the bike & died in the gutter. I felt that bad, but it won’t beat me. The weather was also as unpredictable. One minute warm, one minute cold, one minute chucking it down with rain, then repeat it all over again. I struggle on to the end of the bike to finish in 6hrs 11min. All I’ve got to do now is run a marathon. Not going to be easy when all my energy is on the roadside.

The run was four laps up & down a disused railway line. With all the rain it has turned into a bit of a mud-bath. This is going to be a long hard run (with not a lot of run training miles in my legs). The first lap took 1hr. The second lap 1hr 10min then my body decided to shut down. It didn’t want to do any more but my mind said different. I was going to finish it so I had to walk & do very slow runs for the last two laps.

Total running time 6½ hrs.

Total race time 13½ hrs.

Do I want to do another one after that awful experience?

YES!


Sunday 11th July 2004

Mitre Triathlon (Winchester to Salisbury)
600m/40k/10k



A day of sunshine & showers greeted the 200 or so athletes for this low key, friendly race. You start in the army barracks pools in Winchester, cycle from there to Salisbury then run around Salisbury.

Di Newnham was the only team member at the race, swimming 11.30, biking 1.42.12 and running 53.54 to finish in 2.47.36. 11th overall out of the female athletes and 5th in her age group.


Saturday 3rd July 2004.

European Triathlon Championships
Lausanne, Switzerland

Race Report by Clive Agate.

Firstly and most importantly special thanks to my sponsors David, Karl, Russell & Tina at Fawns Recreational Services Ltd and Mike at 1st Gear Cycles Alton without whose help none of the following would have been possible - THANK YOU.

"Feel the rhythm, feel the beat" "Feel the rhythm, feel the beat"
It was just after 9am and I was on the second run lap of four and struggling. I needed something to get me back on track, take a drink, good idea, no not from her -from him, stay focused!! The mind was beginning to wander.

It all started so well a few hours ago with a two lap 1500m swim in Lake Geneva. Unfortunately in an effort to get in a good position at the pontoon start I forgot that nearly 200 swimmers would converge on the same line I intended to take.......best if I just hang back abit and let the more impetuous shoot out in front!

The mild hypothermia caused by the freezing water conditions of the swim were soon forgotten as I started the first of the seven trips up the 1300m long climb of the Chemin de Bellerive. At 12% gradient it was a serious climb but the descent down the opposite wide road, traffic free, 40-50mph into a left hand turn-no brakes was exhilarating!! The chicane leading to the turn point by the marina demanded high degrees of concentration tempered only by the vocal support of the Team GB Supporters Club.

The seven strips of tape on my stem (one for each lap) proved invaluable-as by lap 4 I was adamant I only had one to go, the hill was taking it's toll. Perhaps it would have been easier to have timed each lap...............if only I could read my computer without the aid of glasses!!
The inner debate continued but in the end I decided to be a real hero and stick to the game plan, remove a strip every time I started to climb.

It was with some relief that I found myself being ushered into transition to start the four lap run. Along the edge of the lake, into the park and past the Olympic Museum. It was a real mixed bag of twists, turns, short climbs & descents, narrow and wide paths. Not ideal for fast times or overtaking, which as it happens was just as well. I remember passing the bronze statue of Emil Zatopek and thinking of my hero, such a nice gesture to give one of your Olympic medals to Ron Clarks. I will think of you if and when the going gets tough. Well it did get tough and I didn't think of him but I did keep repeating "Feel the rhythm, feel the beat"


Saturday 3rd July 2004.

ETU European Championships
Lausanne, Switzerland

Race Report by Bryce Dyer.

Lausanne is the Olympic capital home to the IOC headquarters. In early July it was home to the GB team for the European age group champs. It is a town of amazing beauty on the edge of Lake Geneva surrounded by the Alps.

The champs saw a selection of some of the fittest age groupers around battle it out over an icy swim followed by a very hilly and technical bike course culminating in the run through the gardens of the Olympic museum. The organisers suffering from a financial shortfall last year were all but forgotten as the Swiss had really got behind this with full road closures, the alleged Sydney 2000 transition carpet, police escorts, and some rather bizarre entertainment. This was the test event for the proposed 2006 World Championships.

GB fielded the biggest team although representation from most European states was evident. On Saturday most of the field got down to the lake at some stage to test out their swimming over the course and in the afternoon saw (and was my highlight) a bike tour of the course complete with police escorts through the streets of Lausanne. This was nothing short of fantastic. Obviously to stay out of trouble I went up to the front behind the police (no, honestly that was the reason!). People were applauding the length of the course and the inter peleton banter lightened the mood of all.

The course itself was truly unique. The swim was a freshwater 2 lap affair. The bike was 7 laps of incredibly hilly terrain with 7 ascents of a 25% incline and a technical descent through parks that were more akin to a bike criterium than a triathlon. The run was 4 loops of a generally flat course but comprising 2 steep rises.

The Race:

We all started in the water and I’d selected the best position of the straightest line between two points. This was however, my ultimate mistake and it cost me. My tactic was to swim even with no definitive change in pace but to get into the fastest group available. Ultimately due to the course shape the competitors on the left converged with those on the right in an ‘x’ type fashion with me at the apex. The bun fight began with a few of us getting swam over and beaten senseless as competitors desperately searched for a way out into clear water.

 I lost a lot of time exiting the first loop in approximately 15 minutes. The dive off the pontoon (apologies to the German I swan dived from above) got me into a solid working group and I blitzed the second 750m loop in a shade over 10 minutes. I exited in 25 minutes which was a lot further down that targeted.

The bike leg was a cause of concern for many. Drafting looked to be an issue and the course complexity worried a few more. It was definitely one for the uber bikers. I wasted no time in scything my way through many of the early packs. I rode on the limit and without issue although I started getting a few reports back that swiss bikers on the far side of the course were forming pacelines with the draft busters ignoring the situation.

The lap turnaround was filled with noise and atmosphere plus the crowds were dense including a temporary wooden bridge built by the organisers for the spectators. 1:15 was the bike. There were a couple of bad crashes mainly due to those that had no experience in tight bike racing taking lines through corners that their handling ability couldn't support and this made back markers a frustrating obstacle.

It was at which point the run began. I got into my running stride quickly but I began to pay the price for the bike leg as cramp was beginning to settle into the quads making the run painfully slow. I was getting run down by competitors and it became evident that survival was becoming the only option with every ascent becoming sheer torture.

My options were becoming limited but with a relatively blind run course you could hide from sight and I sought to hang on knowing that overtaking was limited if I made things awkward. I concluded with a 44 minute 10k which wasn't ideal but still got me 5th in my age group in 2:29:05 and 63rd overall.

The location was excellent, the people friendly, the race A1. Recommended.


Sunday 27th June 2004

FOUR GO MAD IN DORSET…..
BADBURY RINGS 10K
Madness had obviously been sprinkled around me and at the last minute I decided to pop along to Badbury Rings 10k and enter!

When I got there I could not allow sanity to take hold as I immediately bumped into Jackie and Dave and they would not let me escape or blend into the supporters crowd….but I don’t do shy and retiring very well anyway.

So as quick as a flash on my way to the start Scott distracts me by mentioning chocolate and before I know it he has stolen my watch, so I have to run how I feel. Jackie then decides this is a good idea and offers her watch to him!

Pete manages to exchange child-minding duties with Kate and casually bimbles to the start…..with echoes of “We love you Pete”  behind him.

The race was off road around the famous site and was very well marshalled. I would particularly like to thank the guy at the 5k turn as he was really enthusiastic and spurred me on.

Pete Rabjohn crossed the line in 37:55 minutes coming 5th in his age group.

Dave Pratten had a sprint finishing crowd pleaser giving him a time of 45:52 minutes and was 7th in his age group. And we believe Scott’s jolly jape of “Look out Dave, Di’s right behind you.” probably fuelled the fast finish. And this is the first time we have heard him swear!

Jackie Hansford cruised home, winning her age group in a time of 47:31 minutes.

I eventually negotiated the finish line in a time of 55:18 minutes.

A well-organised race with instant results published on computerised screens. I would recommend this race as a must.

by Di Newnham


Sunday 13th June 2004

A bad day out in Bognor.
Alex & Phoebe were racing at this leg of the Southern Series Championships, below is a brief race report from them.

A bad day out in Bognor Regis.

A long hot drive. Dad forgot the crash helmets (thank goodness for Halfords - and their refund policy!!!). Phoebe tired having just got back from a week in France with the school got 7th place. Alex threw her chain after a minor bump with a post and couldn't get it back on (DNF). A good well organised event nice 25m 8 lane pool with max of 2 swimmers per lane - Bizarrely no tumble turns allowed.

Despite everything, they looked the best in their new De Soto kit (It's not the winning, it's not the taking part - it's the looking good).


Windsor Standard Distance Triathlon
Still probably one of the biggest triathlons in the Country Windsor had over 1500 athletes racing.
Clive Agate & Dave Pratten continued their age group "rivalry" with Dave gaining the upper hand on this occasion.

Dave times were 24.35 for the swim, 74.28 on the bike and 44.04 for the run giving him a total time of 2.23.53 and 4th place in his age group.

Clive swam 30.18, biked 71.32 and ran home in 45.18, total time of 2.28.21 and 7th overall.


Sunday 6th June 2004
A busy weekend for De Soto Synergie Athletes.
Toby racing middle distance at Bala, Graham racing 1/2 IM at Weymouth and Alex, Bryce, Pete & Phoebe, taking on the runners at Poole Festival of Running.


Bala Middle Distance
Third at a half!!
Despite the race website showing Toby as a DNF he actually picked up the third place in the BTA National Long Course Championships, finishing in a time of 4.48.

It seems that he was second out the water in his age group in a time of 30.18, lost a place on the bike with his 2.21 and ran home in about 1.48.
This was his first race back following injury and the first time over that distance so a good race for a number of reasons.


Weymouth I/1 IM Distance Triathlon
By all accounts near perfect race conditions for all the 300 athletes at Weymouth, Graham came out of the water at the head of his age group wave in about 33.40, the time indicating that the swim was probably a bit long.

However a good bike of under 2.30 put him out on the run in 3.04. This was where it was always going to be a tough day with the temperatures rising and limited run training, Graham ran home in 1.49 finishing in 4.54.30.

A good race to get under his belt before the Longest Day.


Poole Festival of Running
Having supported Graham at Weymouth in the morning, Di got across to Poole to see how Alex, Bryce, Pete & Phoebe were getting on at the festival of running.

By this time it was a hot afternoon and that is reflected in all the runners times.

Alex recorded 15.09 in the 12-14 year old girls race, Phoebe set 6.22 in the 10-11 year olds. Bryce & Pete were running in the main 10k event. Pete Rabjohns finished in 36.23 with Bryce recording 42.02.


Saturday 29th May 2004

Ironman Brazil
3.8k/180k/42k

Julian Allen went out to the warm, exotic location to race IM Brazil, below is his race report, his photos should appear soon on the photo link.

Despite the storms and strong winds that Florianopolis had been suffering right up to Friday, race day dawned bright and still. The swim course was a two looper beginning with 800m into the sun (great for sighting), I got kicked in the mouth at about 500m thus setting the tone of the swim. The tides and under current meant that the field was constantly tacking back in toward the buoys and adjusting constantly. I managed to get out in 73 mins to begin the long 800m into the changing tents avoiding the wetsuit strippers due to my T1 beginning off to my groin as soon as I was out of the water. A quick change involved shoving my wetsuit and goggles into the bag, a long run to the rack before donning my glasses, helmet and grabbing my bike to run out.

The bike unfolded through various dead turns in town prior to heading out to the highway and the centre of downtown Floripa. On arrival in town on Saturday I managed to strip the thread out of my Deda stem on one of the bolt housings so you can imagine the thoughts that were going through my head when on the first climb I could hear a loud creaking noise coming from that area, not a nice thought with the fast descents that followed. Although there were half the number of competitors of Germany the bike packs that formed where about the same number with 20 or so guys riding like a TTT! I verbally shamed them in English, German and then Portuguese, and finally resorted to breaking the packs by getting on the wheel of the second rider and blocking until the pack could not hold! Boy, was popular! but if they want to draft they should go ITU, right?

By sticking to a 150 HR I managed a sub 6 hour ride including both of the transition times, which felt like I was holding back, the proof of which would be the run.

The run was mostly flat with the exception of three hills at the 15k mark, I ran them twice in training and had difficulty running the second fresh so decided that it would not be a good idea in the race. Well, I ran out of T2 holding a good pace which I maintained (despite the crappy uneven block roads) up to 12k, when I had to walk as I felt incredibly light headed giving rise to fears of being pulled from the race à la Darren in France. After a pee check which was flowing clear I stopped at the next aid station and sat down to drink 2 cups of Gatorade and 2 of water. This did the job for a while and after walk/run of even quantities I began to cramp in the hamstrings, I managed this with water until the special needs where I stretched and massaged some embrocation that purports to assist with cramping into the legs.

For the remainder of the run I managed to run 10 and walk 2 mins except for the hills which valour decreed would be best walked up and ran down.

Sadly for me Jostein managed his run better with a 7k run, 2 min walk strategy which saw him overtake me at the 22k mark to finish in 11:19. I finished my run shivering with cold (as the sun sets quickly at 1800) in the dark for an 11:40:58 according to the race clock. I then hit the massage tent before riding home to the cabana for a hot milk and bed at 2130!!

A short nap saw Diana and I cruising town at 0430 to liberate a couple of race banners before breakfast.


Sunday 23rd May 2004

Salisbury Fast Twitch Triathlon.
400m/35k/9k.
Three in top 10 places.

Over 300 athletes at Salisbury showing how popular the Fast Twitch Series is.

Toby Hood was first home in a time of 1.24.08 which was fast enough to win his age group.
Toby's times are swim 5.44, bike 52.43, run 25.41. He was 20th overall.

Bryce Dyer was next home in 1.25.05, placing 6th in his age group.
Bryce's times swim 6.37, bike 50.41, run 27.47. He was 24th overall.

Dave Pratten was third in his age group in a time of 1.32.45.
Dave's times swim 5.52, bike 58.50, run 28.03. He was 61st overall

Winning men's time was Ryan James in 1.16.25.


Saturday 22nd May 2004

Ironman Lanzarote
3.8k/180k/42k
Kev James returned to his favourite race, Ironman Lazarote. A race report has been requested but the bare facts are as follows.
Kev swam 73.23, biked 6.42 and ran 4.48 to finish in a time of 12.54.02.

Within a couple of days Kev was preparing himself for his next IM distance race at the Longest Day in Wolverhampton, he's hoping it will be a bit cooler than Lanzarote!!


Sunday 9th May 2004

Dorchester Fast Twitch Triathlon
400m/22k/8k
A field of over 200 athletes started this poole based event competing at the same time as the GB athletes at the World Championships in Madeira.

Pete Rabjohns and Clive Agate were the only team members racing, Pete came in on 1.10.52, broken down as swim 6. 28, bike 41.18 and run 23.06 giving him an overall position of 13th and placing him 5th in his age group.

Clive finished in 1.19.35, with a 8.26 swim, a 44.35 bike and a 26.34 run, placing him 65th overall and 3rd in his age group.


Saturday 8th May 2004

ITU World Championships Madeira
1500m/40k/10k
Dave Pratten achieved his first GB vest at Madeira racing in the 50-54 age group, no doubt Dave will provide a full race report but here are the basic statistics.

1500M swim in 23.45, 40k bike in 1.36.34 and 10k run in 37.13 giving an overall time of 2.43.03.
Dave worked hard to qualify and is the first team athlete to achieve a GB vest this season.


Sunday 25th April 2004

Winchester Triathlon
Once again the sun shone at Winchester making almost perfect racing conditions for a large and fast field of athletes.

Clive Agate was the first of the team athletes away and got of to a bumpy start, a bit of a bun fight in the pool meant Clive came out of the water in 8.25 not far of his projected time. A good bike and run meant Clive finished inside his anticipated time of 1.54, coming home in 1.50.58 & taking 3rd place in his age group.

Julian Allen was off next, looking to use this race as transition practise prior to Ironman Brazil in May. Jules had a good swim in 6.44, a sub 60 min bike and a strong run getting around the course in 1.45.57.

Bryce Dyer was looking to chase Julian down from his wave, an easy swim off 6.16 set Bryce up for a 55-56 min bike although he paid for the early pace on the run, running in on 1.42.56, a massive 6 minutes quicker than 2003.

Dave Pratten also took it easy in the swim, swimming a pedestrian 5.57. Dave was also looking just to put it all together prior to going out to the World Championships with the GB squad. Dave finished in 1.50.06 squeezing past Clive to take 2nd place in his age group.

A good days racing by all the athletes.


Saturday 24th April 2004

Thruxton Duathlon
Phoebe Chester started her Southern Series campaign at Thruxton. Phoebe ran 3.59, biked 9.07 before finishing with a 3.07 second run, coming home in 16.13 & 5th place overall.
A solid start to the campaign where Phoebe is now at the bottom of the age group racing athletes who are older than her.

Phoebe wasn't finished there though, she also did a swimming gala on the Saturday evening before going off to an athletics meeting on the Sunday where she competed in the sprints, 800m, relays and long jump. Not to be outdone her mum, Sharon was roped into doing the shot putt - and won it.


Sunday 18th April 2004

Flora London Marathon
We all watched it on TV and saw thousands taking part in the cold and very wet, one of those was Pete Rabjohns.

Pete didn't have the best of days (his words) getting around the course in 2.56.18



Sunday 4th April 2004

Blandford Triathlon
With the World Championships less than 5 weeks away a number of GB age group athletes were looking to blow away winter cobwebs at the first triathlon of the season, subsequently there was a lot of talent in depth across the 250+ starters. A dry but blustery day greeted the athletes who would be faced with a 400m pool swim, a 15 mile undulating bike and a revised 3 1/2 mile run.

 





















Julian Allen

 The first wave saw Julian Allen, Bryce Dyer, Pete Rabjohns & Graham Starmer in the same swim lane, the athletes were under pressure to improve on last years times.
Graham was first out of the water in 5.53, closely followed by Pete in 6.14 who in turn had Bryce hot on his heels in 6.20, with Julian coming out in 6.49.

The main purpose of the day, as far as the coaches were concerned, was to practise transitions at race pace. Consequently the athletes were looking to make time up going from swim to bike, Graham was first onto the bike course with Bryce, Julian then Pete in close attendance.

The rolling, twisting course and strong blustery wind always meant the athletes were going to have to work hard on the bike.

Bryce blasted to the front and by halfway had opened up a 40 second gap over Graham, he had a similar time gap over Pete with Julian a further 30 seconds back. These time gaps remained pretty constant throughout the bike with Bryce coming home in 43.56, Graham in 44.30, Pete in 44.59 and Julian in 47.31.

Bryce knew that all three behind him were capable of fast run times and worked hard to get through T2 in 11 seconds, Graham lost three seconds in the transition area but unknown to the others he had no intention of completing the run course.

Pete knew that he had three and a half miles to make up a minute and was quickly into his running, Julian appeared to have trouble with his footwear but still got through the 2nd transition in 17 seconds.
Out on the run the race was changing with Pete chasing Bryce down and Julian also making ground.

Back to the finish and Pete came home in a run time of 20.55 giving him an overall time of 1.11.48, Bryce kept Julian at bay with a 23.48 run finishing in 1.14.04, despite running 22.46 Julian completed his race in 1.17.04.

Having gone off in the first wave the team athletes going off in the later waves now had a benchmark to aim at. Next up was Kev James, Kev swam 6.39 before getting around the bike course in 45.57 and running home in 23.43, finishing in 1.16.19.

The wave after Kev had Clive Agate racing, Clive had a good swim of 8.14, biked 47.29 before completing the run in 24.33, overall time 1.20.16.


The winning time was 1.02.49 posted by Ryan James(Primera)



Saturday 20th-27th March 2004

Scott & Di's essential training experience
Sancture Sportifs, France
Knowing that the triathlon circus was due to kick off at the beginning of April and with a lot of high profile races scheduled by the athletes between May & July it seemed like a good idea to try to get a holiday in prior to April.

An opportunity afforded itself at Richard Laidlaw's training venue in France, check out www.sancture-sportifs.com

Now it was supposed to be a holiday with a little bit of training included unfortunately my geography is less than satisfactory.
How was I supposed to know that if you flew into Girona Airport where Rich would pick us up and drive us to Amelie les Bains that it meant we would be training in the Pyrenees?

I should have guessed that things might not go too well when I got the flight times wrong and rather than booking in 2 hours prior to the flight we got there four hours early.......... this theme continued when we got on the plane and Di decided she'd had enough already and didn't want to sit with me. Was she really napping or just avoiding speaking to me?

All augured well upon landing, Girona was lovely and warm unlike the cold & wet left behind, about an hours drive and we were in Amelie and got our first chance to sample Michelle's meals and to meet Sam (be careful of his wooden sword - it hurts like hell!!)

There were another couple of athletes booked in over the week, Nick & Marc had come out to put the final touches on their London Marathon build up, Nick was also intent on the E'tape where you cycle part of the Tour de France route and both were looking to do a long distance triathlon later in the year.

 "Coach Rich" or "Coach Oui Oui" as he is known locally had prepared a training schedule for us, although the 20 mile run on Thursday and the 5 hour bike on Friday caused some hysterical & nervous laughter. Thankfully Rich & Michelle's knowledge of the area mean that training (& eating) plans can quickly be adapted.

The week seemed to fly by, even I managed to squeeze about 14 hours training in over 6 days, Di did a couple of sessions more and "grande chapeau" to Nick & Marc for some of their sets, although they couldn't take the pace whilst shopping at Decathlon.

Rich has the experience to give you a schedule based on how much/little you want to do but be warned the amount of food Michelle lays on you may come back heavier than you started.

Whilst I can recommend sancture-sportifs to all athletes of all abilities be wary of Richard's flat hills....coaching ethics prevents me from saying that he tells lies!!



Monday 9th March 2004

Hot News Update
Most of the athletes are coming out of the dark winter training days with niggles & aches treated and are swimming, biking and running faster & stronger than last year.

With the majority of the heavy volume training behind them the team are picking the intensity up and looking for events to test themselves on prior to their first race, which for most of the seniors will Blandford at the beginning of April.

Some of the events that have seen team members perform at have been the Monsterman Duathlon, a series of three exceptionally muddy off road duathlons.
Julian Allen finished the series with a top 10 place ending up 8th overall. Dave Pratten came to notice for slightly different reasons, cycling off course into an Army live firing exercise area and then breaking the bike he had borrowed to do the race on. Consequently he borrowed someone else's bike for the next race and promptly broke that as well!!

Bryce Dyer has also been achieving his own top 10 placing, this time in time trials where he has been flying the flag for De Soto Synergie and Primera.

Bryce & Julian have also had some interesting head to head races over running courses, currently it's one apiece as Julian beat Bryce at the Winchester 10k but Bryce got his revenge the following week at the Pewsey 10 mile Terminator.

Graham Starmer has been getting both run and biking miles in his legs ready for the Longest Day, Julian & Graham have been out on some mammoth rides recently although I'm sure the weather was more akin to Wolverhampton than Brazil.

Pete Rabjohns is getting himself ready for another attack on the London Marathon, whilst Kev James' preparation for IM Lanzarote is going well.

Jackie Hansford is anticipating starting her racing later in the season, whilst Clive Agate intends using some early races to judge his form and has half an eye on the European Championships in July.

William Garnier is looking to improve his ironman time and will test himself on the Wolverhampton Longest Day course with Graham.

Toby Hood & Debbie Austin will no doubt fit in some races but both have had quite heavy work commitments recently, Phoebe Chester is chasing swimming BAGCATS points racing consistently for her swimming club and thankfully Alex Chester has recovered from her back injury but unfortunately has broken a finger whilst playing netball.

 
Thursday 1st January 2004

Broadstone 1/4 Marathon
Dave Pratten & Graham Starmer were the only two team members competing on New Year's Day.

Dave set another personal best of 43.17 to finish 30th overall, whilst Graham showed that his niggles are becoming a thing of the past with a 42.16 run, coming in 24th overall.


 

Friday 26th December 2003

Round the Lakes
10k
Julian Allen, Graham Starmer & Dave Pratten opted for this way of losing some of the Christmas excesses.

Julian was out to see how his injury is coming along and although he didn't complete the race the overall prognosis is positive.

Graham had set himself a goal of 40 minutes for the race, his pace awareness was spot on with him completing the race in 40.04.

Dave ran with Graham, knowing what time that he was looking for before kicking from home to set a new PB on the course of sub 40 minutes, about a minute & a half quicker than he has run before on this course.


Friday 26th December 2003

New Forest 10TT
Bryce Dyer preferred to take his bike out for a spin rather than go for a run in order to shake of all the bombay mix consumed in the lead up to Christmas.

Bryce just missed out on winning the race, coming second to Julian Jenkinson an elite triathlete, however Bryce did manage to upset one of his training friends Ryan James by beating him into 3rd place by one second....nuff said.

Bryce recorded a PB in 24.43

Alex and Phoebe Chester had a hectic time just prior to Christmas they competed at the
Bournemouth Dolphins Club Championships

Due to her back injury Alex only competed in the 200m freestyle where she set a Personal Best, a real gutsy performance.

Phoebe raced and won two events, again setting a PB in both
200m breaststroke 4:02.84 & 200m freestyle 3:12.51.