Quietly confident

Nick experiences the 'after carnage' and reminds himself never to volunteer for the first swim leg again...

Sally bringing home the bacon

Fantastic performances all round ! Well done ladies

The birthday boy and head supporter

Where's your team kit Parker & Palmer ???

Love the new pumps........

Richard streaks home

Martin & Tim post run

Gerry gets stuck in to the run

Four teams of four travelled to Nottingham for this prestigious and very popular event which is run in relay format, everyone taking turns to swim 500m, cycle 15km and run 5km all in and around the lake at Holme Pierrepiont. The ladies and mixed teams race in the morning and the open and men’s in the afternoon. The weather was near perfect, bright, warm with a light breeze.

Our Vet 40 ladies, silver medallists last year, were after gold this time but had some very stiff competition especially last years winners from Leicester. First swimmer was Angela Wylie who was again given the task of fighting 200 other swimmers off the start. She yet again handled this well handing over to Maureen Parker who in turn handed to Claire Jackson with Sally Dickinson on the final leg. As Angela left T1 on her bike it could not have been closer with Leicester right along side. Everyone gave there all on the bike staying fractionally ahead of Leicester and Birmingham. Now it came down to the run, who were the best runners? Angela and Maureen ensured they were still in contention as they handed to Claire and Sally, surely no team could have two runners as good, and this proved to be the case as they took over 3 minutes out of the other teams ensuring gold was theirs.

An excellent team performance working very well together.

Before we could catch our breath it was time for the open senior and male veteran teams to race. One Life were fielding three teams, an open team of Alan Copland, Nicola Jameson, Peter Jameson and Brendon Jackson. A Vet 40 team of Martin Bluck, Brian Palmer, Tim Wylie and Richard Parker and a Vet 50 team, Nick Speed,

Gerry Huddlestone, James Dickinson and Barry Jameson. Alan, Martin and Nick were the sacrificial lambs going in the mass swim start. There was a strong international presence such as Dan Brook, Will Clarke and Spencer Smith, this meant even Alan was beaten up in the swim and not allowed his usual clear water. As the last swimmers exited the water there was little time between all the One Life teams. Next onto the bike which is a flat, fast course consisting of three 5 km laps of the lake. We have several strong riders who completed the course in exceptional times, averaging over 28 mph. The three One Life teams remained very close until the Vet 50’s had the misfortune of one of their team doing an extra bike lap which dropped them out of contention. The Vet 40’s also had a close shave when Martin’s tribars came adrift almost sending him into the lake. With a bit of skill and luck he stayed upright and managed to cycle the next lap holding onto the offending bar to try and stop it going into his wheel. (Well done Martin). Out onto the run and the race was now between the Vet 40’s and the open team, with Alan running the first and the final leg for an injured Brendon. It was close for a while but the Vet’s proved the stronger on the day. All the team members did extremely well and they did the club proud.

As team captain of the Vet 40’s I must give a special mention to Martin and Brian who are relatively new to the sport but raced as strong as anyone on the day acquitting themselves very well. It was for me the most enjoyable race of the year. Thanks to everyone, especially our support team of Angela Speed, Sophie, Phoebe, Dominic, Milly Dickinson, Judith Jameson and birthday boy Sean Wylie.

Tim