Teenage kicks all through the night.
So you’ve got the bike, you’ve bought the latest in ’hydro-dynamic eye protection’ (goggles), have a rather fetching outfit that shrink wraps your hard earned racing physique and you’re in possession of a Les Croups Triathletes membership card. So what next? The Pembrokeshire tri? Castle Coombe Duathlon? Walk on part on Baywatch? How about the club championship?
Here’s the score......
1. 4 best results from the championship races below.
2. The same points system will be consistent with the short and long course run championships.
3. Cross over races e.g. SSAFA 5k have been included to allow pursuit of both championships.
4. Where there are short or long distance options, both distances count as separate races.
5. To be eligible for the champs, must have paid the 5 pound membership fee of the triathlon section.
6. At least 2 of the races must be triathlons and/or duathlons.
7. There will be awards to 1st place only in men, ladies and veteran (male or female winner) sections. If the championship develops so will the awards!.
Eligible races.
Sunday 2nd May - Cardiff Try-at-tri
Weds 26th May - SSAFA 5k
Weds 2nd June - Castle Coombe Duathlon - 3.2k run,16k bike, 3.2krun
Sat 26th June - Pembrokeshire Triathlon - 1500m/40k/10k or 400m/12k/5k
Sun 11th July - Bath Triathlon - 1500m/40k/10k or 750m/20k/5k
Tues 13 July - Rose Inn 4 mile
Weds 4th August - Castle Coombe Duathlon - 3.2k run,16k bike, 3.2krun
Sunday 5th Sept - Great Wales Tri - 750m/20k/5k or 1500m/40k/10k
Sunday 3rd October - Swansea bay 10k
So there you have it. A target. Who will rise to the challenge of being in the first crop of Les Croups Triathlon Champs? See Phil for details of the races and good luck!
Posted by Simon at 04:10 PM
Hot on the heels of our fell running weekend, it’s time for another group social run over Caerphilly mountain (after returning from the Lakes, we should rename it ’Caerphilly undulation’). If you’re interested in a nice run in good company over a largely traffic free course, meet at The Deri Inn carpark in Rhiwbina at 10am on Sunday June the 6th. All abilities welcome for the perfect pre-castles warm-up (10 - 12 mile).
Posted by Simon at 03:26 PM
It is no exaggeration to say that Simon’s organisation of the weekend was superb. We arrived later than we’d hoped, and while the fussier members of our group worried about trivial matters like finding accommodation, Dave Headon and I dropped our stuff and legged it to the pub. DH has ambitions to join the Barry Johnson class of drinker and ordered four pints just before the bell. Despite having spent many of my happiest hours over the past ten years with my face in a pint in the company of either Barry or Dave Lloyd, I’m still a lightweight, and I was pretty glad when Simon arrived after the bar had shut and I was able to donate my second drink to a worthy cause.
We had a very good weekend overall. There was some running or something on both days too. For the full skinny (as the Yanks say) on Andy’s dip in Ullswater, or Rachael Jones’ thoughts on mini-Andy (Kit), or why Simon gave away his breakfast on Sunday morning, or John Croft’s animal noises, you’ll have to ask them.
Photo above: me. Photos in the comments, Andy Holden.
Posted by Dave at 07:10 PM
Phew, after all the excitement of Mick’s post, I thought I’d drag us back to the mundane subject of fell running, socialising and general festivities.
After discussing the weekend with the management team at Patterdale, I have ordered 2 sets of breakfasts and 1 packed lunch. Evening meal orders will be taken at breakfast for the Saturday evening. As there are no shops in Patterdale, they have to buy enough food in advance and needed to know! Budget around £25 for food at the YHA/pub, and we’ll settle up whilst in Patterdale.
Other points to note....... There are no cashpoints in Patterdale, so bring some cash with you.......Conditions are currently dry in the Lake district but will change Thursday/Friday, outlook for weekend is good.......Make sure you have trainers with good grip, preferably off road trainers or fell shoes.........Bring some extra food for nibbling on the move.....
Feel free to collar me on Thursday if you need clarification on any issues relating to the weekend, and please remember that we are leaving the club at 5.30pm on Friday evening. Late comers face a very long run!
Posted by Simon at 11:05 AM
Who’s the greatest Castles Relay runner of them all? Quite a tricky question, really. The question only occurred to me earlier today, after I’d run the Ty Hafan 5 km. Phil Cook and I were having an easy warm down run with Darren Hiscox and Gareth Davies, who’d finished first and second in the race.
Darren was talking to me about the forthcoming Castles Relay, and told me that both he and Gareth had an unbeaten record at the event and both had won a total of 10 stages. Well, as it happens, I’ve also won a total of 10 stages, so my thoughts turned to verifying which runner had actually won most stages in the history of the race.
I have to say that before I looked up any of my results files, my instinct told me Steve Brace. However, I first made a short-list of six likely candidates that I knew had run the event lots of times. The short list of possible winners of Greatest Castles Relay Runner of all time therefore became: Darren Hiscox, Gareth Davies, Steve Brace, Martin Rees, Shaun Tobin and myself. The result might surprise you. In the time-honoured tradition, the results in reverse order were:
6th Martin Rees: 5 Stage Wins/ 9 races contested. Career Record (Year / Position / Stage Number):
91/4/15; 92/1/11; 93/1/11; 94/4/11; 95/2/10; 96/1/3; 97/2/20; 98/1/16; 02/1/16.
5th Shaun Tobin: 7 Stage Wins / 15 Stages contested. Career record: 87/4/13; 88/1/5; 89/4/21; 93/1/21; 95/1/3 and 95/1/19; 96/1/10; 97/1/13; 98/1/6 and 98/3/11; 00/2/14; 02/4/3 and 02/3/11; 03/4/10 and 03/3/15.
4th Gareth Davies: 8 Stage Wins / 8 Stages contested. Career record: 93/1/13; 94/1/13; 95/1/11; 96/1/11; 97/1/11; 99/1/11; 02/1/11 and 03/1/14.
3rd Darren Hiscox: 9 Stage Wins / 9 Stages contested. Career record: 94/1/14; 95/1/13; 96/1/7; 97/1/20; 98/1/11; 99/1/7 and 99/1/16; 02/1/6 and 03/1/17.
2nd Steve Brace: 9 Stage Wins / 13 Stages contested. Career record: 84/3/11; 85/1/7; 90/1/15; 93/1/17; 94/1/11; 95/1/10; 96/1/14; 97/1/18; 98/1/10; 99/1/10; 00/14/10; 02/8/11 and 03/20/11.
1st Mick McGeoch: 10 Stage Wins / 20 Stages contested. Career record: 83/1/11; 84/1/11; 85/1/11; 86/1/11; 87/2/11; 88/1/11; 89/1/11; 90/1/11; 91/4/11; 92/4/11; 93/3/11; 94/6/15; 95/1/5; 96/3/3; 97/1/2; 98/3/3; 99/6/10; 00/3/8; 02/2/8; 03/1/12. Only athlete to have contested every race.
Well there you have it. Not a surprise really. I’ve never been a believer in false modesty. Do you really think I’d have taken all this trouble if I’d come to any other conclusion?
Comments are now closed. Sorry
Posted by Mick at 12:14 AM
Just got home from the Ty Hafan 5 km. Phew it was hot! Both the weather and the pace. But then again, this is Barry, centre of the Welsh riviera, so you wouldn’t expect any different.
Setting the pace up front was Darren Hiscox (15:47) and Gareth Davies (16:08).
Valleys boys see. Everyone knows valleys boys come to Barry when the weather gets nice. An isolated third and first Croup to finish was ever-dependable Richie Bullen (16:25). The battle to be first local runner home was won by Phil Cook, who came 4th in 16:57. However, in the final kilometre he developed "Dave Williams Syndrome" i.e. continually looking round for fear of being caught. In fact, he had 9 seconds to spare over Mick McGeoch (5th in 17:06), who in turn narrowly held off Chris Meyler (Pontypridd - 6th in 17:09).
Winner of the Over 50s came Sandy Johnston, who produced another super performance to place 8th in 17:51. Especially impressive when you consider that he’s just three weeks shy of his 55th birthday. Croups runners were hugely in evidence, and occupied the next four positions in the persons of Matt Townsend, Martin Clissold, Scott Howell and Barry Johnston (though maybe not in that order - I’m scribbling this report solely from memory) - making 8 in 12 for the red and greens. Scott Howell’s run was the more remarkable for the fact that he was still in bed at five past nine, having not realised the earlier than usual start time of 9.45 AM. If he had a brain he’d be dangerous!! Good also to see Barry back in competitive action for the first time in a while.
Winner of the Ladies Race was the ever-popular and ever-consistent Ann Evans (Pontypridd) in 18:57, just two seconds slower than last year. Second was Jo Pritchard, following on her fantastically consistent winter season in 19:14, and third was Ceri Grech of Cardiff.
Thanks and congratulations to all (and there were lots of Croups involved) in the organisation and support of this most popular of events. We hope you enjoyed your visit to our town. Barry may have its detractors, but to those of us who were born and raised here, we love it and are proud of it.
Finally, many thanks and congratulations to Race Director Sandie Grindlay. Sandie is a brilliant fundraiser for this most deserving of charities. However, she also listens to and appreciates the needs of athletes, which is greatly appreciated. If only all Race Organisers were so "charitable!"
Posted by Mick at 03:04 PM
Congratulations to Dave Coles, Gary Hyatt and Alan Mann on their selection to represent Wales in the Home Countries 100 Km. International (Anglo-Celtic Plate)which takes place in Bute Park, Cardiff on Sunday 27 June. Mention should also be made of Andy Cleves, winner of the Barry 40 Miles Track Race (selection race for international teams), who naturally would have been selected but declined due to impending professional examinations.
The Bute Park course proved universally popular with athletes and officials when the Anglo-Celtic Plate was last held here in September 2002, so please put a note in your diary to help out in this most arduous of events.
Posted by Mick at 02:27 PM
UK Athletics have this week published the team results from last month’s London Marathon. The delay of four weeks is due to video scrutiny of the athletes finishing, as club vests must be seen to be worn.
It is this rule which cost Tipton Harriers the £700 first prize, and Bingley and Morpeth, two clubs with distinguished histories were others to have been similarly demoted.
I’m glad to say there were no such problems with Les Croupiers, who through the efforts of Julian Baker 2:28:12, Dave Williams 2:31:48 and Mick McGeoch 2:41:56 finished in 9th place. For information, the first three teams were Thames Hare and Hounds, Bedford & County and Leeds City AC.
Our men were the only Welsh team classified in the top 10 teams in either male or female categories. The race also incorporated the individual Welsh Marathon Championships, and by my reckoning Julian finished 2nd and Dave 4th (Richard Gardiner winning and Rodri Jones of Westbury placing third). Well done lads!
Posted by Mick at 01:53 PM
Accommodation sought by Croups member in Cardiff/Barry/Vale area. Terms negotiable. Anything considered.
Contact: 078 378 00946.
Posted by Mick at 10:40 AM
The start.
The start again.
The start yet again.
Martin Rees (2nd).
Julian Baker (3rd).
Gareth Davies. In the style which Colin ’Flash’ Slocombe is justly famous for, I’ve managed to cut off Jackie Brace’s head (spectating).
Richie Bullen.
Graeme Donnan.
Graeme Donnan.
Mike and Jo.
Nick Dukes.
Sandy Johnston.
Someone I don’t know, whose name is Helen.
Finally, two I really screwed up. This is a very impressionistic Peter Kellam, recognisable more by his style than his features.
And an over-zealous close up of Sandy Johnston and Clem ’Clem’ Clement of Penarth and Dinas.
Posted by Dave at 03:03 PM
Graeme Donnan gets on his bike.
Graeme finishes.
Martin Clissold at the finish.
Martin Clissold again.
Clare Johnson in transition. Clare got off her bike ran past a table laden with drinks, went back for her bottle, had a swig and put it down on the table with the other drinks. Greatly enjoyed by Phil Cook and John Plain.
Three guys I don’t know finishing.
Mike Johnson. A fine figure of a man.
Mike on the bike. Mike will be running in the Himalayas later this year, and in Jordan (the country, not the large-breasted celebrity). Next April, he’s doing the Marathon des Sables (as are Terry Caveney and Dick Brewer). It’s a repeat performance for Mike, who first raced across the desert in 2002.
Posted by Dave at 08:25 PM
A big thank you to everyone who helped support me in this year’s London Marathon, raising funds for Macmillan Nurses. I finished in 3hrs 22mins 30secs, 294th lady overall. The winner of the champagne, and runners up were: Alan Bladen (3hrs 22mins 50secs) Chris Callow (3hrs 22mins 5secs); Carolyn Llewellyn (3hrs 22mins 5secs); Linda East (3hrs 22mins 5secs) John Crofts and Maria (3hrs 21mins 58secs); Poms Vodden (3hrs 21mins 40secs). Sorry to those who didn’t win but thanks to everyone’s generous contributions, I have raised over £1,000 towards palliative care.
Julie
Posted by Dave at 06:38 PM
Terry Caveney.
Clare Johnson emerges from the swim.
Martin Clissold.
Ruth in transition.
Posted by Dave at 06:30 PM
Last updated 22 September 2006
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