New Spins & Old Classics….
Twas the night before August & all round the track, the overriding thought was…Attack, Attack, Attack…
Well it was for some – the Daniel Thompson/Catriona Paterson household left it all on the track & returned home with the Top Step firmly in their pockets…the new Golden Couple?
As for New Spins? We welcomed a new member into club for their first race & they only went & bagged a spot prize!
Sam completed his first multi-sport event & went straight for the full Sprint – no messing! I think he was bitten by the bug & will certainly be up for more!
We also welcomed a newbie to the wonderful world of marshalling – Lou! Positioned at the crucial hairpin turn, kitted out with first aid pack, red flag & the all-important radio, its great to welcome new volunteers, as we all know – without them, this just doesn’t get done.
On the subject of volunteers, whether keeping the athletes fuelled, registering the racers, timing the event, setting up the course, marshalling the track, collecting the tags, checking in bikes (HELMETS ON & FASTENED PLEASE!) or directing the race overall, a big shout out to Trish & Chris for the coordination efforts in getting us all there at the start line!
The Old Classics were well represented too, with 3 of our Team GB Age Groupers in Robert Holloway, Ned Wilkinson & Andrzej Warhaftig (at least for the first lap due to various mechanicals!) putting in strong performances & getting themselves ready for even more glory!
Before the race briefing started, MC Robert Finnigan paid homage to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne with a bit of Paranoid to kick off the best music selection in town!
Onto the klaxon & the summer sound of rubber on tarmac was in the air as the athletes took off for their run – 2 laps of the track.
Things start to heat up on the very first bend when faced with the hill, legs become acclimatised by the home straight & then you give it the beans for the second lap. It’s always a lot harder than you remember, isn’t it?
There were Bears overtaking Badgers, Jaguars chasing Panthers & all that’s in between. I tell thee, there are some fast athletes in this club!
And before you know it, it’s into transition & onto the bike, for 10 hard laps if you are doing the Sprint, 6 hard laps if you have tackled the Super Sprint – all the SL points count regardless of whether you went long or short & the racing just as intense! Remember they are called Sprints not because they are short but because they are FAST!
Andrzej & I were at position Foxtrot on the course & we were both amazed at the improvement in ALL the athletes that took part tonight – honestly, it brings a smile to your face to see how much everyone has improved through the season – I can’t imagine the pride the Club Coaches must feel when they see the fruits of their labour being harvested! Big up the Coaches Collective!
And so you did your bike laps. Hard wasn’t it? A lot harder than you remember! Even harder for those that couldn’t change gear because of some mysterious gear cable malfunction! But Club Captain & Team GB regular Jason Taylor didn’t panic – he pulled over, fixed it & cracked on! New bike, I reckon…..
So, if you were wearing bike shoes, it was time to change them for your runners! But we noticed a trend (for we had time to spot these things…) more & more athletes are opting for trainers on the bike split – for the shorter distance races, this is clearly a time saver. Tactics – who knew?
Last lap of the course for the Sprinters, last 100m for the Super’s - either way, it’s a monumental effort, you should all be proud! You ticked that box.
Onto the awards & a massive thanks to the Time Lords! (Copy write Paul Williams) for being able to apply their sonic screwdrivers to get the results to Rob & Martin into before the sun set! Cybermen indeed!
And a big shout out to Simone Wilson & Martin Wilson for not only sourcing, but storing all the prizes, prizes that can actually be of benefit rather than contributing to plastic waste! And they don’t really need all that space in their loft, garage, various outbuildings & country pile…..
So, well done to all the winners of all the categories – you raced hard & reaped the rewards.
Also, a massive well done to everyone that didn’t make the podium – its you that make these events so worthwhile & such fun to be part of. Part of why the Hillies are the most welcoming club in the UK, with the best members & the coolest kit. I’m biased – shoot me.
There will be some great photo’s on the FB page courtesy of the wonderful Danielle, from Podiums to Reportage, she made sure that the night was recorded for posterity!
And finally, it can’t have escaped anyone’s attention the amount of love & comfort afforded to the welcome back of our beloved Club Secretary, CJ ! We all know how strong she is as an athlete– on the running trail, on a bike & (she won’t mind me saying, this), in the water…not so much! But as a person – they say setbacks lead to comebacks, & I for one reckon there will be no greater comeback than CJ’s. Smashed Avo at H’Artisan’s, anyone?
Remember to sign up for the Aquathlon before Thursday & you can see all the remaining events on the website!
Cracking evening – well done everyone!