It's getting hot in here...
Sun is shining in the sky….
And there definitely wasn’t a cloud in sight!
As the mercury threatened to smash through & escape its confines, the hardy volunteers & set up ninja’s were hard at work, getting the parcours ready for an influx of hard core racers!
It may have been all change at Downing St this week, but it was business as usual for the race directors & event coordinators, none more so than our very own Mr Fantastic, Martin Wilson who was at the track super early (3pm I believe!) to take receipt of all the timing equipment from Mark E, who would himself be sweltering at a concert – the first time in as far as I can remember he has not been at a race!
His most trusted lieutenant & Time Lord supreme, Dan C was at the track before rush hour kicked in to construct the set up of all the chip readers, timing mats, laptops & extra gubbins needed to be able to time you lovely lot! Even if the Jaguars captain did her best to rid herself of the extra weight of a bike number!
Richard, Brian & their band of merry men & women got the track & transition all spic & span, while Jacob, Boo & Phil made sure you & your equipment were all within the rules of engagement. Helmets on & done up, please! I think I heard Jacob mention ‘Bike Police’ once, so whoever the perp was that elicited that reaction would have known to follow the rules or face a spell in chokey!
As always, the Crack Catering team of Sylwia, Natalia & the Family Barber were on hand to keep the volunteers hydrated & on top of their nutrition (donuts) to be able to welcome the first set of competitors.
Simone & Jacqui made sure everyone was issued with a timing chip & bike/bib number while James cajoled the marshals into position – with the addition of a water station for this event only, due to the inferno like conditions! Dante would’ve thought twice about tonight, I tell thee!
Not only that but ice soaked cloths for the athletes as they entered the final run! Can’t say we don’t look after you lot – after all, if you are leaving it all on the track, the least we could do is make sure you are looked after! And with a natty HT buff, no less!
As mentioned, anyone who hasn’t been living on the inside of an air-con unit for the last 3 days will know that the temps peaked at 35 today – insane! With this in mind, the Sprint distance was reduced to 1 lap run, 8 laps bike, 1 lap run – still more than enough to get your heart rate up.
And so to the arrival of the competitors (although some had been on the bike ‘warming up’ for an hour beforehand, mentioning no names Adrian!).
Ministry of silly walks trying to find shade aside, you arrived in your droves to rack your bikes, get registered, get warmed up & back to find more shade & water!
Jacqui, your hostess with the mostess, had the 80’s choonz banging away in the background while everyone caught up with their club mates, exchanging stories from recent races, organising meets for future international championship races & looking forward to a packed summer of club events, starting with our 40th Anniversary Celebration at Denham this Saturday (sold out, I’m afraid), looking forward to the Splash n Dash next week (still places available, its great fun & as a bonus you may see me swim for the first time in a year!, but entries close on Monday!!) & of course the club champs on the 11th July (Entries close on the 30th June!)
I digress, where was I? Ah yes, athletes on the start line, ready to give it the beans!
The Super Sprinters lined up with the Sprinters for a mass start, looking to hit the hill (because it’s a shady section!) & get it over with!
But with the shortened distance came extra speed from the front runners, keen to distance themselves from their rivals & get the bike started!
And boy were the front of the pack quick – Road Runner meets U-turning MP’s!
Before you knew it, the speed merchants were off on their bikes!
Whilst it must be fun & exhilarating to be at the sharp end, our events are open to all abilities, competers & completers, those that do multi sport for the love & camaraderie & it was brilliant to watch everyone put every ounce of effort into a race on a night when it would have been easier to bin it off & sit in a pub garden with a large G&T! (That could come later once you’d earned it!)
Again, the bikes started coming into T2 & it couldn’t have been closer – the lead changed quicker than a UK Prime Minister!
And it wouldn’t be a Hilly race without the Captain Chaos/Tumbling Bembini efforts of the Knight family – the mantle passed from Father to Son in time honoured tradition as Michael came a cropper on the bike mount line, but had sufficient wits (& help from the gorgeous marshals) to steady himself & carry on, riding himself into a superb 3rd position in the Super Sprint! Well done mate!
Another T2 mishap occurred when Kasia got to the mount line after a brilliant run, ran to mount the bike & realised that one of her bikes shoes wasn’t in fact clipped into the pedal but was still at her racking station! But again, recovered brilliantly to put in a wonderful performance – the ‘never say die’ attitude of you wonderful Hillies, makes you proud to wear the Red, White & Black!
The podium spots were decided after no quarter was given & the prize giving attended by all in the luxurious (?), if rather sweaty confines of the club house – its another thing that struck home to us humble onlookers/spectators & volunteers, the fact that everyone stays for the prize giving, supporting their team mates & helping break down the course after the event. What a club….
Make sure you keep entering the events coming up, we can’t do it without you & in our 40th year its great to have a full house for the events we put on!
Oh & btw – whoever thought that watermelon & full time oranges were a good idea – you deserve a pay rise!
Until the next event – keeeeeeep Tri-ing!!