CWTC

Several members competed at the West Wight Triathlon on 19/09/10 on a relatively fine day. This consisted of a 600m swim, 35km bike and 7.5km run.

I set off early catching the 6am car ferry to Fishbourne to be in Freshwater for registration.

I was in the first swimming wave setting off just after 9. I did better than I expected and actually overtook one person in my lane! I came through T1 okay and was out on the bike. Although I hadn’t cycled the route I knew (from IOW randonnee) there was a (little!) hill on the military road out of Freshwater but I managed to get the lead (I mean steel) steed round the course without drama. I didn’t see too many bikes on the route but was slightly disappointed to be overtaken on the run in – I must get some of those aero bars!

Back into T2 I cursed the laces in my ancient trainers but was out onto the flat run along the old railway track to Yarmouth and then back. Again I hardly saw anyone but tried to keep up a steady (with hindsight too slow) pace.

I finished in time to see Graham & Wilf Hill out of the pool and Ray finish. I think everyone enjoyed it and Wilf had an excellent event taking the Junior Male prize. I believe there were also at least two other club competitors and hope they did well too.

Overall the event seemed very friendly especially with the marshals encouraging you shouting your name and well supported at the finish.

Report by Steve Long

CWTC Team

Chichester Westgate Triathlon Club

The New Forest Middle Distance Race Report

(1.9km, 90km, 21km) 19^th September 2010

Three members of the club took on the challenge of this Half Ironman event (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21km run) in the New Forest; Andy Roberson, Mike Pillans and Andrew Brinded. The race format was unusual as the Start, T2 and finish were all at different locations, which made the logistics for the race organisers tough and a critical need for competitors to make sure they had the right kit at the right place. You don’t want to be turning up at T2 to find your running shoes are still at T1!! The registration, bike racking and of course the mandatory race briefing was completed on the Saturday in glorious sunshine at Sandyballs Holiday Park. There was plenty of pre-race banter with the CWTC team sharing and comparing expected split times.

Sunday morning started early for the competitors with coaches laid on by the organisers to ferry them from Sandyballs Holiday Park to the lake at Ellingham, where they would be swimming 1.9Km. The Race started at 7am with the CWTC Team in the first wave. Andy had a good swim arriving at the first buoy with clear water and then backed off the pace to find a pair of feet to latch onto, coming out in just under 29 mins. Mike, in the main pack, battled around the first two buoys before the water cleared and completed the swim in 35mins. Andrew got a perfect start avoiding the melee at the front and coming out of the water in a PB of 37mins.

Distance out of the water to the bike racks was about 75m and then another 100m to the mount line on the main road over a combination of sand, gravel and carpet. Andy opted to run bare footed whilst Mike and Andrew ran out of T2 with shoes and socks on. All faired well in the transition with no incidents to report.

The cycle route was two laps of the New Forest, making the most of the country side with only a few miles on a main road. Andy, first out on the bike tried to consolidate his advantage and pushed hard on the lumpy course to average a 33km/hr. However, the wind picked up during the ride and in the exposed section of the New Forest, making the bike a real quad burner. This was to come back and haunt Andy during the run. Mike, next out on the bike found the wind draining but was just trying to minimise time loss to Andy. Andrew, third out on the bike but by no means last started the ride with determination. However, a recent injury that he had had not fully recovered from meant that he completed the second lap mainly using his left leg.

Andy entered T2 at about 10:20 and after a quick change (socks and running shoes) was off on the run. Mike followed at 10:35 with socks on already, was quickly out on the run and hopeful of reeling in Andy. After a painful second bike lap Andrew came into T2. The marshals had to assist Andrew off the bike as he was struggling to walk. When he got to the transition tent he had decided he couldn’t go on but after a chat to his wife he changed his mind and jogged out of T2.

The first two miles of the run was on undulating road that included a 25% killer hill then 10miles of gravel and sandy tracks across the New Forest finishing with a mile down hill stretch of road back to the finish line at Sandyballs Holiday Park. Total elevation……… very high!! Andy started the run conservatively, trying to avoid the cramp. By the 1 in 4 hill he was suffering and the quads were feeling like rods of steel. With a run walk tactic for the first 4 miles to manage the cramp he got into his stride and kept going on all but the steepest hills finishing in a time of 2hrs 4mins and in an overall time of 5hrs 24mins. Mike, somewhat underestimated the run but managed to run most of the way. He failed to pick the pace up enough to worry Andy and completed the run in a time of 2hrs 3mins with an overall time 5hrs 37min. After Andrew’s problems at T2 he managed to run all 13.1miles overtaking many competitors in the process and even managed to keep going on the steepest of hills including the 25%’er. His actual run time was a commendable 2hr 31mins giving him an overall time of 7hrs 18mins.

CWTC Team

We are currently full on a Tuesday for the Junior swim session so please ring before turning up. Unfortunately we will have to turn those away who just arrive and do not ring in advance.

CWTC Team

As the end of another Triathlon season draws ever closer what better way to celebrate than to take part in the Southwater Relays. With a 400m (more like 500!) lake swim, 18km bike and 3.8km run this race is quite short and very enjoyable. With 30 members making up 10 teams CWTC was one of the most represented clubs at the event.

7:40am in the morning the first of the team members lubed up and got into their wetsuits ready for the mass start at 8am. The lake was fairly shallow and had retained some warmth from the sunny day before. There was some confusion about who would start the stopwatch and this meant our budding swimmers, who were merely a mass of swimming caps, would be waiting in the water for a bit longer than expected. Eventually the claxon went and off they all went. Andy Matthews was first out of the water for CWTC with an impressive time of 7:02. A bike and run later and it was time for the first handover. I was 2nd in my team and waited nervously for Mike Pillans to complete the handover. Once in the handover box, Mike removed the timing chip off his ankle and pass it to me. The nerves and adrenalin made fastening the chip a bit of a fiddle. Then it was into the lake for my own swim.

Approaching the end of the swim I was pleased I had managed to stay on course for the exit ramp. As soon as the water was too shallow to swim I stood up and suddenly there were two hands to haul me out! Slightly disorientated from the swim I struggled to release the Velcro flap from my wetsuit. Luckily, a reasonably long run to T1 meant I could regain my dry land legs and managed to get the suit off as I approached my bike. Some baby oil action before the swim meant the wetsuit came off quickly. On with the helmet, grab the bike and off we go.

The bike was a mixture of fast rolling open roads, narrow twisty roads and short sharp climbs. It wasn’t the most technical route but was enough to keep you on your guard. A little bit of drizzle added to the fun of the route which was over quite quickly. Andy Matthews managed the fastest bike split of CWTC with 29:23 for the 18km course.

The run was mostly on gravel tracks which went around the lake. With some short, sharp climbs and descents the run was quite demanding. The run route left transition and went past the cheering crowds. This was great motivation! With two laps to do we would all be shouted at lots! On the approach to the end of the first lap the smell of bacon and burgers filled the air. Then it was passed the crowds again for another dose of motivational cheering and onto the 2nd, final lap. All I had to do now was pass the chip onto Mark, our last team member, which was a lot easier than putting it on! Levi managed to prevent Andy Matthews making it a hat-trick and put down the fastest run of CWTC with 14:26!

Overall the race was great and the atmosphere was outstanding. It’s a great way to finish the season with a smile. The relay element makes it very interesting to watch as well as take part in.

Report by Gareth

Unfortunately Del’s timing chip came off during the swim. This means there are currently no timings for him at the moment. Tracey, being on the same team as Del, managed to get a new chip before she raced. I’m not sure why her times are not complete.

CWTC Team