8th September 2008

Suzy Shines with European Silver

Suzy Hawkins won the silver medal in the 30-34 age group at the European Long Distance Triathlon Age Group  Championships in Gerardmer, France. In her first season of triathlon with FVS TRI, Suzy has moved up the distances from Sprint to Olympic and finally tried her hand at the Long Course Event at the end of the season after an impressive qualification time at the MK Cowman half IronMan distance at Milton Keynes earlier in the summer. Suzy’s time of 9:01 was impressive given the poor weather conditions and only 4 minutes slower than partner and veteran GB Long Course Age Group regular and multi-IronMan Kevin Smart who achieved his challenge of competing for GB at age group twice in successive weekends having completed at the Worlds last week. Kevin Ash also made his international debut with a time of 9:30

Gavin May sealed his victory in the inaugural FVS TRI Club Championships with a victory in the final event at the Northampton Olympic Triathlon at Grendon Lakes. The event was ravished by bad weather with flood water from a swollen river invading the venue turning the transition into something more like a like a pop festival than a centre of sporting excellence.  Gavin recorded a 2:05:54 for 10^th overall and 2^nd in the 40-44 age group which was good enough for overall victory in the “180 Series” which doubled as the FVS TRI Club Championships. The 180 event represents the combined distance raced in the Sprint, Olympic and Half IronMan events held between May and September. Sam Tophill was victorious in the female 180 Series with Chris Yuill and Lesley Dutton finishing 2^nd and 3^rd overall for the 3 race series which made up the Club Championships.  In the male event Jon Gillham was 2^nd in the Club Championships and 3^rd in the 180 Series overall. Chris Baxter was 3^rd in the Club Championships.

On the day Chris Yuill was first home in the Olympic event in 2:25:55 with Ironman Helen Shulver dropping down a distance to finish 2^nd for FVS TRI in 2:27:36. Sam Tophill was 3^rd in 2:32:40.  Second home for the men on the day was Norseman Rob Wilson who finished in 2:13:21 just ahead of Jon Gillham in 2:14:19.  Many club members made their debut at the event with excellent first time performances from Dil Wetherill, Chris Priestley, Andy Mussett, Drew Lowrie, Simon (Bam)Douglas,  Anna Priestley, Kevin Bradley, and Steve Mussett.  Despite it being their debut Olympic event, both Anna and Chris Priestly won their age groups for female 50-54 and male 55-59.  Not so lucky on the day were Charles Harris who had to retire from the 180 Series and Club champs after a bike spill in the poor conditions. James Bedford was technically disqualified from his first Olympic event as he was sent on the wrong bike course after a delay fixing a puncture at the start of the bike leg.

The FVS TRI club championships was age adjusted to promote competition and each event was a championship in its own right with age graded results from each event combined to provide the overall Club Champion.

The 2008 Sprint Champions are Mike Bridge and Jackie Perry. The Middle Distance winners are Gavin May and Sam Tophill. The Olympic Champions are Gavin May and Helen Shulver.  The overall champions are Gavin May and Sam Tophill.  The whole series of events was sponsored by Letchworth based TRISPORTS. Proprietor and FVS TRI club member Mick Humphris was disappointed that the finale was literally washed out and he will now present the  prizes at a special social evening to mark the formal opening of the FVS TRI Club Base at Hitchin Boys School Sports Centre in October with the start of winter training.

Simon Hall competed at the same venue in the shorter sprint event and was 4^th overall and age group winner in the male 40-44 age group with a time of 1:17:58

Bad weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of those tackling Ironman UK at Sherborne. Chris Suckling was first home with a 12:18:29 with training partner Jeff Ryan finishing in 13:22:36. Bradley Baynham put the demons of a DNF at Switzerland behind him with a super 13:26:21. Ironman Andy McPherson made his one and only appearance at the distance and recorded a 14:07:12. We have permission to shoot him if he enters again!

Kerri Renshaw was 2^nd overall female at the Clacton Olympic Triathlon and age group winner in the female 30-34 category. Pete Ryan was 23^rd in the open male class with a time of 2:23:32. The sea swim was made rather interesting with the heavy swell and many competitors had to be rescued by the safety boats.

In another event affected by the weather, Darren Greene and Tony Shortland travelled to the Lake District for the Helvellyn Triathlon.  Torrential rain during the week caused the swim to be shortened due to low water temperature and the bike continued although the course included several streams and the run had to be reduced to avoid the gales at the summit of Helvellyn.  Despite all of this Darren completed the course in 4:26  with Tony finishing in 4:45.

Jane Chappell made a stunning  debut at the middle distance or half ironman distance at Vitruvian at Rutland water recording a time of 5:14:26 

Steve Harrison competed in the final event of the Corus Elite Series at Strathclyde. Open to only the top elite men in the UK and invited international triathletes, the super sprint format was held over a qualifying round and a final shoot out. Steve qualified for the final and was 15^th overall improving on last years event in Hyde Park. Steve was happy just to be competing as his season was disrupted with an injury sustained in the first Corus Elite event at Reading when knocked off his bike.

Tim Smith completed the 14^th Vercors Drome cyclosportive, covering the 142km with 2500m of climbing with temperatures in the 30s in a time of 5hrs 41.

Helen Shulver and Pete Timmins competed in the North Herts and Middlesex 25mile TT on the A10 on a emergency course used at the last minute due to unexpected road works. Helen was first female home in 1:10:27 and then went on to win the Club Olympic Championships the next day. Pete Timmins recorded 1:12:13 and went on to marshal at the club championships!

Richard and Lynn Allen ran the Garden City 10 and were rewarded with PBs of 1:07:22 and 1:22:59 respectively