Race Report - Eton Super Sprints 20th May 2007
Wordsmith:Paul Young
It being my first attempt at an open water event I elected to get to Dorney early, so that I could be certain that I got through the administrative requirements and observe the routines from inside the "transition pen".
From the outset the organisation was slick, and above all, extremely helpful and courteous. Again all was well ordered and logical and the roaming staffs could not be faulted and watching routines from within the pen helped calm nerves and offered useful tips and I would suggest to any 1st timer to adopt a similar approach.
As an antidote to this it also highlighted the reverse attitudes, again useful for a beginner to see: athletes laying their kit out in other people's spaces[belting argument between two "ladies" resulted]; being completely impervious to competitors transitioning through the pen and happy to leave garbage lying around for others to run on or pick up. I also watched a number of swimmers exit and take the straight line approach from the water to their bikes; I might suggest for those that use this tactic that the amount of energy expended in tackling an assault course of people racking up and getting prepared whilst ducking under bike racks versus the time saved in going from the water to your bike via your lane is one that you would want to consider.
So having observed, learned and got dressed I took to the water for my 1st mass start. On the basis that I am keen for the learning curve to be as gentle as possible given my age I set off firmly at the back hanging around with the rest of the orange hatted black hyperventilating amphibians. However, despite being toad-like in appearance and speed, the competitive spirit was alive in most, as observed between two who on the last leg on the swim became verbally engaged as one decided to swim over the other. The dunked was justifiably miffed because by that time there was enough open water available to conduct a boat race, another lesson learned by this beginner!
The ride was enjoyable, however, although I was struck by the geographical anomaly that appeared to have us riding into the wind on both the outward, Northerly, and Southerly inward stretches. In terms of the run the only bugbear that I had with it was, and is, beyond the control of the organisers and it is towards parents that I aim this: kids, little doggies, footballs and runners in competition tend not to make easy bedfellows. I suppose that I would be breaking some European Convention on Human Rights if I were to suggest that a cage containing children, dogs and smokers could be positioned away from and downwind of those there to compete!
In terms of results, Sunday was a busy club day and being a newcomer I cannot profess to know individuals or if what they achieved met with their approval but am happy to be respectful towards all of the named below;
Lee Wigzell posted 56:38 and 2nd in the M37-39 category;Fantastic result - ed
Simon Bowler recorded a time of 1:02:31 in the M40-41 group finishing 5th ;
Elaina Franklin was 7th in her FU35 category in a time of 1:05 dead;
Graeme Muirhead, in a time of 1:05:18 was 15th in his M37-39 category;
Dalis Davies came home in 1:07:40 finishing 20th in the M45+ group;
Luke Robbins in the MU30 category recorded 1:08:o4 and 41st slot;
Anna Lovelock recorded a podium 3rd place in the F40+ category in a time of 1:07:49
Ian Prince in 1:08:17 was 27th in his M42-44 group;
Ian Gilham, in the M45+ category and in 39th position completed the course in 1:11:29
Paul Young appeared, thankfully not in a Eton suit, and went home having reached 68th in his M45+ group in a time of 1:18:27 and desperate to discover that there are other Eton Tri members who competed without declaring their membership and who finished below him!
posted by Paul on 22nd May, 2007