We at Wrecsam Tri hope you all enjoyed your weekend at the Bala Middle – a lot of club members, family and friends gave up their weekend to make this happen.
It was a weekend of two halves. Those who were there on Saturday witnessed the edge of the bad weather that hit the West Coast of Wales resulting in several costal villages flooded and a number of rescues including a lifeboat crew.
Those who did the Charity Swims (I did both) had the opportunity to swim in a particularly choppy lake, on a dull and windy day – great practise and confidence booster for the Sunday race. Thanks to those who competed and raised sponsorship – the total raised as I write this is currently £2176 including gift aid – see here:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundrai ... sTeam=true
Anyone wanting to contribute can still use the link so get on there and donate – if you think you gave a lot in the race, then think what those whom these charities support have given, you cannot give much more that giving your life.
We will be holding the next charity swims in September on the day before our Standard Distance race – 8th September 2012. Our website will be updated with details during the coming week. Consider entering both the swims and the triathlon race.
The weather for the Middle distance race on Sunday had changed to a typical sunny summers day (as we expect at Bala ) and a flat calm lake greeted the competitors. The race passed with few incidents, the most serious being when a female truck driver continued through the traffic control stop signs nearly hitting the marshals and one cyclist. The North Wales police did a brilliant job of chasing her down and stopping her pre turnaround point – hopefully she will get her recompense for the reckless action which could have resulted in a serious accident.
As the race progressed, the results were updated on our website as the competitors where crossing the line. Unfortunately the online feed to the web was lost towards the end of the race resulting in a number of the final finishers INITIALLY being shown as DNF. As the professional he is, Stu Web (Stuart Steele) connected on his return home (23:00hrs) and uploaded all the missing times. A few worried people were relieved to check the results again on Monday and find they had not DNF’d after all
Results for all races the are here:
http://www.wrecsamtri.org.uk/index.php? ... 2&Itemid=1
Photos of the Middle distance event can be found here (there are also some on the results pages which include the charity swim)
http://www.sportsunday.co.uk/gallery.html
We did have some lost property:
1) A female watch
2) 2 pairs of running shoes – 1 size 12 – the other green not sure of the size
3) 1 pare of specialised cycling shoes (past their best)
4) 1 bunch of keys
5) 1 Mavic cycling shoe found in the bag of competitor 295 on his return home – hence it is likely to be one of his neighbours
If anyone wants to claim any of this please let me know ASAP or they will be destroyed
Finally we would welcome any feedback you may have – either directly on our forum or via e-mail to myself
Julian Hunter
Hi Julian,
I was the rider who was nearly run over. I am writing to thank the marshall who ran in front of the lorry to try and wave her down. If not for that marshall, I might not have been able to get out of the way of the lorry in time. The time and effort of marshalls is what allows these events to happen and running in front of 20 tonne waggons is not part of the usual job description so I am hugely grateful for the bravery of the person who did. I have no idea what the waggon driver was thinking as it was heading straight for me with marshalls waving stop signs frantically. I can obviously provide a statement if that helps at all. My only reason for this email though to to convey my graitude to the brave marshall.
Thank you as always for a great event. This is my 4th or 5th time at this race and my favourite race and one I hope to do every year for some time.
Best wishes and thanks again,
Paul Bromley (race number 182)
Julian
Just wanted to say thanks for the worst and best race I have ever done.
Worst because I'd not trained since September last year's Ironman Wales (apart from the occasional run and cycle to work) and that showed in the swim and run. Having said that, even had I trained running off the bike, I still think the run would have been a shocker with the endless uphill first half!!
Best race as it was superbly organised, perfect conditions and obviously the amazing surroundings.
My mother in law has a farm just outside Dol, so I expect I'll be back next year, hopefully a little better prepared.
Thanks again
John Dryden
Hi Julian. Just a quick email of thanks to you and all helpers at Wrexham Tri for a well organised and enjoyable event. This was first Middle Distance, and even though I was a broken man at the end I really enjoyed the experience. Thanks again. Gareth Harrison Jones
Hello Julian
Thanks for organising yesterdays event, our team finished with 3 men in the top ten so we were pleased
I do have a couple of recommendations of next year. I came out of the water first in wave 1 and the lead canoe was too far ahead to provide any real purpose if canoes are going to lead they should stay within 25m to 50m of the lead swimmers. If it’s not possible then more buoys would help with signing.
Also there was ****************** acting as a helper or race official. I couple of guys from the team and other racers commented on ***** being a little too regimented in ***** approach. Helper/volunteers and BTA officials are there to make the event run smoothly, be of assistance to the racers and help not march around like a like drill sargeant! The last thing you want coming into the T2 is someone telling you which end of your saddle to use when racking your bike. I must have wasted 20sec explaining that the ITM saddle has hook at the rear for this purpose
Richard Howarth
Organiser’s response
Richard
Glad you all enjoyed the event.
I have taken your comments on board regarding the canoe and will pass it on to the water safety people.
The orange buoys cost £500 each and we have 10 of them plus a large orange gantry at the water exit.
As a race referee myself I get pretty frustrated with some of the BTF rules and the way they enforce them. I try to take a realistic approach and I think most referees do. However I share your sympathies when you find referees pick on particular rules and enforce them over zealously EG: 2 minutes penalty for a poorly visible race number which may be on a cold and disoriented athlete.
The referees are more often than not appointed by the BTF rather than the race organiser and their role is to enforce the rules. I would suggest you forward these complaints to the BTF with your explanations of how they adversely affected your race. If more people did that then the BTF may take them on board and update their guidelines. I think part of the problem is that race referees and draftbusters feel they are under pressure to hand out penalties and make harsh decisions in order to justify their role.
Hope to see you in September.
Julian Hunter
Julian,
thanks to you and all who helped for a fantastic race yday. Lovely swim, beautiful bike course (brilliantly marshalled!), great (but tough!) run and very decent prizes. I'll be singing your praises at tri London, hopefully you'll have a few more of us next year.
Naomi Shinkins
Julian
Great day yesterday ~ Super support from all the race marshals and volunteers
Many Thanks
Gary Charlton
Hello Julian,
firstly, may I thank all at Wrecsam Tri Club and all the organisers and marshals for an absolutely brilliant race on Sunday. I know I'm one of the slower competitors but we guys at the back enjoy it just as much as the guys at the front and I had a great day on Sunday, thanks very much.
I didn't realise until I got home today, that I had won my prize category. I don't get many prizes so they are all the more valuable when I do.
Hope to see you again next year
Peter Gillott
Can you please explain why I have been classified as DNF or disqualified. Your on the day info clearly states that the run finish will be dismantled at approximately 1630 and that timing will remain open for as long as possible.
I came in at around 1600 and you had already started dismantling. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement.
This is a very poor show and has put a dampener on what was a very enjoyable race.
I was looking forward to racing again next year, and participating in the standard distance event later this year. I am now considering whether or not I am prepared to give Wrecsam Tri my money.
I look forward to your response.
Best regards
Liam Connor
Organiser’s response
Liam
This is one for Stu the timing guy to answer.
I guess it is something to do with switching over the timing when the other mats were disconnected. I suspect it is easily resolved.
For your information – we didn’t dissemble the finish until the last athlete crossed the line. Our marshalls stayed out on the course and followed the last runner in.
We did however start to dissemble the transition as there are many hours work to do after you have finished the race. Many of us did not get home until after 9:00pm and these volunteers do that so you can race.
I have just checked the results list and you are down as a finisher, even with a photo of you crossing the finish line.
Regards
Julian Hunter
Thanks Julian
Please accept my apologies. When I checked the results, all finishers after around 6 hours were not included.
It was a fantastic day, a little tougher than I expected, but I will be entering next time.
Best regards
Liam Connor
Hi Julian,
Just a quick note to say 'Thank You' for a great event, really enjoyed the day. Of course the weather helped, such a change overnight from the Saturday, and believe it or not I actually got sunburnt across my shoulders.
Thanks again,
Tim Ansell
Great event over the weekend – thanks for all the effort going into organising it. Everyone from reception to the finish line was cheerful and helpful and you even managed to book the right weather.
A slim chance I know but did a pair of sunglasses get handed in – I remember them falling out of my transition bag as I was packing up but then got distracted and forgot to pick them up?
If they were found any chance you could stick them in the post please?
Thanks and see you next year
Kieran Dempsey
No 255
A quality event - well done and thank you.
Jon Sheehy
Dear Julian
No comments other than to say thanks – brilliantly organized, well (and cheerily), marshaled.
A great event
Many thanks
Trevor Harvey
Tuff Fitty Tri Club
Hi Julian,
I would like to thank you and everyone involved on Sundays race, it was a pleasure to race such a professionally run event, and after racing one or two races this year which left me disappointed by the lack of organization etc , you have restored my faith in my sport thank you all !
Who ever was on the microphone kept all the family and friends watching, giggling and smiling all day with his fun banter, well done!
Kind regards
Graham Lewis competitor 188
Thank you for putting on another brilliant event - third time I've raced this course and I really enjoy it
)Paul Cassels
Nothing to add Julian, other than another excellent day. Great organisation, great marshals and great weather this year! It's a fabulous race.
Ena Mason
Hi
Race feedback : thank you to yourself and every other person who gave up there Saturday/Sunday to create an amazing race. I got talked into this race -my usual idea of a long bike ride being 30 miles - and despite some very dark miles during my run when I promised myself to never underestimate a long race again this was the most fantastic race!
Everyone was lovely (me and my friend especially enjoyed the commentating ripping into everyone who finished ) and the support at feed stations and marshals were brilliant. Turns out that the bwlch and valleys of south Wales make me a cyclist who prefers going up hill.
I will definitely be coming up for the Olympic in September (my usual distance of choice) and certainly will consider making a move to longer distance races on the back of this one.
I honestly can't fault anything - even the dog chilling out in transition was cool
So thank you and wrecsam Tri club again for a race which has totally changed my choice of favourite distances - as well as earned me a day of rest yesterday. Looking forward to September!
Carys Griffiths ... With the pink sunnys who got into a bit of a flap in transition 2
Hello,
Just a quick thank you for once again putting on a superb event and congratulations on the charity money raised. I can only get down to the race on the Sunday so can't make the charity swims unfortunately (or fortunately this year!!!!). The weather this year meant that even my wife enjoyed coming along and spending a few hours in the lovely surroundings. I am nowhere near the front, but the professionalism and shouts of encouragement from your team make me feel like I am, so please pass my thanks on to them as well.
See you in September with a view to going under 2.40. By the way, my dad, who is also a spectator seems to particularly enjoy your pre-race briefings for some reason, so keep up the good work there as well.
Kind regards
Matthew Halliwell
Hi Julian,
Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the race on Sunday and as per the first time I raced it in 2010 thought the marshalling of the event was particularly good, especially on the cycle section with the crews controlling the traffic at the major junctions.
Regards,
Rich Sykes
Hi Julian
Just a quick note to thank you and your colleagues for a brilliant day on Sunday. The organisation was faultless and all marshals helpful, friendly and supportive. I DNF’d last year so finishing the race meant a lot to me.
I’ll be making a donation on the fundraising page.
Cheers
Mark Joyce
Hi Julian, thanks for a fantastic event which is right up there with the best. Your organisation and the marshalls out on the course were brilliant. Just one small thing I'd like to mention, particularly for skinny 56 year olds like me, was the delayed starting of the second wave after swimmers had been called and allowed into the water. This left me, and about half of the wave, in the water for over 20 minutes. If the water had been warmer then this would not be a problem but as it was I started chilled and finished frozen.
Thanks again for a great day.
Haydn Whitmore
Hi Julian,
Sunday was my first middle distance tri.
The lads at Knutsford Tri Club had told me it was a good event to enter but I was bowled over by just how great it was.
I had an awesome day and would like to thank the organisers and marshals.
I will defo be back next year.
Pete Price
Good Morning Julian,
Once again thank you for organising an excellent event. This was my third time of taking on the middle distance challenge at Bala and as always the marshals were organised and helpful and shouted plenty of encouragement.
I came up with my family this time and we stayed 2 nights in a lovely cottage and we took time to visit the area. My 2 children enjoyed the visit to the slate mines in Blaenau Festiniog and the wife enjoyed the cream tea in Dolgellau.
It is a beautiful area and we will all come back again.
Thank you to all the team involved in organising this event.
Kindest regards,
James Davies - Celtic Tri
Hi Julian,
Thank you to you and all the team for Sunday, excellent event.
Couldn't believe the weather given what it had been like on Friday and Saturday!
Cheers,
Anthony Lansdowne
Hi julian thanks again for organising the charity swim today we haven't stopped smiling all the way home. Hope tomorro goes well Ang & Rach xx
Dear Julian,
Just had to write to say a big thank you for giving three Whitchurch Whippets the opportunity to test their nerve in the charity swim yesterday ! What an experience it was and one which has to repeated for sure. Everyone was so friendly and encouraging, the weather took second place to the enthusiasm shown by your team and all of the swimmers.
Hoping that you can put your feet up for a few days after such a busy weekend
Many thanks again
Jackie
Dear Julian
I competed last Sunday in the Bala Middle Distance Triathlon, along with a number of others from ATC (Pirbright). When looking down the results list, you will see that we were all firmly towards the bottom! However, as a group of novices not just to this distance but to triathlon as a whole, we hugely enjoyed the event. While weather conditions transpired in our favour, the marshalling, organisation and overall spirit of the day were absolutely first class. I have competed in many long distance running events in the past and none have matched the deeply intimate atmosphere that we felt on Sunday. Many thanks indeed to you and your team for such a wonderful day.
Warmest regards
Ed Hassard