Waterford Triathlon 2008

Report by Peter Munn

What an inspiring bunch of finely tuned athletes!!

This was the 3rd running of our annual trip to Dunmore East and our numbers continue to grow from inaugural 10, then 14 last year to this years 17. The weather for the crossing was looking good and on arriving at Fishguard the sea was looking pretty flat which was a good start. The good start was ended when we saw Val trudging up to the station with back pack and bike but Richard was unable to make it.

So we were down to 16 with the seasoned Irish trippers joined by newbie’s Karine, Celia, Rhiannon, Paul, Simon. Hopes were again high for racing success with the girls past record being impressive and this year the dream team of Ian, Mark and Dave were going to seriously kick some butt with the wet dream team of Karine, Alex and Celia threatening to kick the dream teams ass. It was making for a tense race.

The crossing was good with a long transition to the waiting coach and trailer and before you could say ‘Pint of Guinness please my man’ we were at the B & B. As per last year it was a quick change into bike togs and recce of transition and run route leaving Karen ( have I told you I’ve got a broken collarbone) to suss out a place to eat for the night. Soon we were back and over to registration were we were numbered up in bright red marker. We then set about sampling some of Ireland’s finest beverages, washing down 16 plates of pasta. Apparently we were ‘Carbing up’ whatever that means. A few more ales ensued before retiring for a good night kip.

I awoke at 07.30 hours and on looking out of the window thought I was in Delhi. It was absolutely hammering it down plus more with a torrent of water screaming down the hill outside the B & B. Worse was to follow as all my race number had come of my arm and leg and was all over the sheets. The land lady was not best pleased and I believe the case ‘’Waterford Tri Club v Church Villa’’ is going to court this week.

Anyway brekkie came and went and as setting up time was closing in it was still monsoon stuff outside. I then made an executive decision and joined Elen by donning my wetsuit and cycling over to transition. We did have some funny looks but a lot of other people were doing the same. It was like an S & M convention.

There was a much bigger field this year and transition was chocca. There were a few nutters even blowing horns, hooters and whistles, oh that was Mandy, Karen and Simon warming up for the race, they easily won the ‘best fans’ award again this year.

After a mammoth briefing we all headed over to the start with all open males going off. It was still hammering it down as we all got ready for the start and then we were off. It wasn’t too windy but the further out you got the bigger the swell. It was a big field with lots of jostling but not too bad as exiting the water going steeply up to transition. I must admit near the top I was flagging but then heard the supporters miles before I saw them and it made me go harder up that last climb. The bike was scary with lots of mini rivers running across the road and huge puddles appearing. I actually overtook 3 people by screaming through a puddle as they all slowed down to go around it. The support coming into the village was again awesome and out onto the run it was just head down and plodding for me. The run course was the same with the 1st mile all uphill with the rest being more or less flat.

It was great to run up the finishing straight donning the Welsh flag with hooters, whistles hollering out. As more of us finished we were given a whistle so it wasn’t long before you had 16 of us encouraging the rest of the competitors home, but there was only so much drowned rats could take and someone made a brilliant suggestion of shower and meet at Haven Hotel for presentation.

20 minutes later and the 1st Guinness of the day was rapidly disappearing and we all settled down for presentation. The ‘dream team’ didn’t disappoint and to a cacophony of whistles and cow horns they collected their prize. The girls once again came up trumps with Ellie taking 3rd place and Rhiannon a superb 2nd. Well done indeed. It was then on to the main event of the weekend. Food and copious amounts of alcohol, interspersed with the odd glass of water. Ones got to keep hydrated as someone said. A good night was had by all.

The next day was rather pleasant with most people going for a toodle before we all met at the Strand. The journey back was uneventful other than myself and Elen were violently sick all the way home. I can only assume that the common denominator was that we both work at Chevron. Yes, the thought of going back to work probably set our stomachs off, not to mention my botty! I think I can safely say a good week end was had by all and I guess we will be back.

 

Provisional results for club members:

 

Pos	Name	Swim	T1	Bike	T2	Run	Total
4	Pembrokeshire Porkers (Ian/Mark/Dave)	12:26	-	35.23	0.26	26.20	1.14.35
25	Pembrokeshire Gazelles(Karine/Alex/Celia)	14.04	0.38	36.51	0.26	30.35	1.22.46
35	Rhiannon Ace	14.51	2.00	38.38	1.12	29.40	1.24.24
44	Ellie Jones	11.51	1.05	41.05	0.47	30.47	1.25.35
65	Paul Hughes	15.18	1.09	38.54	0.39	33.08	1.29.08
94	Peter Munn	15.28	1.13	39.55	0.53	35.34	1.33.03
160	Julia Hill	15.10	1.13	41.55	1.09	39.22	1.38.49
167	Elen Jones	17.27	-	45.32	0.49	36.04	1.39.52
209	Val Brown	21.59	-	44.08	1.00	37.23	1.44.30