Now that we have got the season opener out of the way it is time to start thinking about the September event.
This requires a little more commitment because of the open water swim where a wetsuit will be required.
The Mooragh lake is ideal for the first timer because it is warmer than the sea and shallow. For those that have tried the sprint distance already you may be ready to move up to the standard distance.
Once the weather does eventually warm up we will be doing some training in the lake. Keep your eye on the forum to see if anyone is going in.


Standard and Sprint Entry form here.
Team entry form here.
Course maps are available from the Event Calendar tab.

Make sure you study these closely and recce the course before the event. 

Just a reminder, this weekend 19th May at 7.00am no fewer than four local athletes will be tackling IronMan Lanzarote. As reported previously first timers Graeme Saunders, Allan Thompson (AJ) and Jonathan McNeil will be taking on  probably the hardest IronMan event in the world. They will be joined under the radar, until now, by  Rob Parker.

Front page news on the Lanzarote IronMan website is "Manx Tri Team raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis".
Link

Good luck everyone!

Liz Buffini, our newest recruit to the Manx Tri Club, has her sights firmly set on Liverpool on July 1st, a fitting date for her first sprint triathlon.  Certainly, our recent Ramsey Sprint newcomers will understand her mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation but seeing them cross the finish line last weekend, they will surely have inspired Liz to achieve her goal.

What is most remarkable about Liz is the fact that whilst any sportsperson concerns themselves about injuries and health, this is a woman (in her own words "an aged rookie"), embracing surviving cancer and given that she is still undergoing treatment, her courage is to be admired.

Training is going well; swim technique, tick, mastery of drop handle-bars, tick, belief in herself to do it - absolutely.

There will be quite a group of Manx Triathletes competing in Liverpool so there should be no shortage of supporters on the big day.

If you feel inspired by Liz's personal challenge please follow the link: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/lizziesbigcsurvivalchallenge and we are sure she would be grateful for any donations however small, towards her chosen cancer charity.

All that remains to say is Good Luck!

The Isle of Man Marathon and Half Marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday 22^nd July starting at 9:00am.

For anyone considering the longer distances, this is a well organised event with such perks as : electronic timing, T shirt , goody bag and medal for all finishers.

Closing date for entries is 9^th July.

Further information here 

Well done to everyone who competed in the first of this years Microgaming sponsored Tri events this morning,
although it was sunny I think most would agree it was a little on the chilly side! Many thanks to all the Marshals who braved the chill to ensure a safe event for everyone. The ratified results are shown below.
 
May Tri Results Excel or PDF

 


Check Photo Gallery for more photos. Thanks to Diane Parker and Tony Evans for pictures.

Any Triathletes not doing Liverpool may be interested to know that entries are now open for the 'Mezeron Manx Mile' Open Water Swim.

 

It's on Saturday 30th June 2012, 12 midday registration for 1pm race start, at Chapel Beach, Port St Mary, Isle of Man.

Click for online entries and further information  

Distances are Junior (12-u16) 800m; Novice (16+) 800m; Senior (16+) 1600m (2 laps of the junior course), run under BLDSA rules, with categories for wetsuit and costume swims. Entries close 25 June. Electronic timing chips will be used this year, so entries are limited at present although they may add extra waves if there is enough demand.

See swim course here

There is a lot on this day because it is also the date of the British Gas Great Manchester Swim. It you are considering doing this one This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   would be pleased to hear from you.

Good luck to all competing in the local Sprint Tri this Saturday.

The Sprint Triathlon is fast approaching and we are in need of marshals. So if anyone is able to marshal or act as a lane counter we would be very grateful.
 Please contact Gill Crennell  at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or 490498.

The event is taking place on Saturday 5th April  with a start time of 08:00 am

We have had to change the date of the Sprint Triathlon to Saturday 5th May (instead of Sunday 6th) as the Youth Cycling Tour are going to be using Ramsey Promenade on the Sunday.  We apologise for the change and hope that by keeping the event on the same weekend most competitors will still be able to take part.  If however you aren't able to make the Saturday please let us know as soon as possible, so that the place can be re-allocated as the event is near capacity.   A refund will of course be issued to anyone who can't make the new date.

The Start time is also earlier with the 1st Wave at 8 am and the 2nd Wave at 8.30 am.  Registration will be open from 7am. 

Course maps and entry forms are available for download from the  Event Calendar tab.

Three locals will be competing in the Lanzarote Ironman in May. Graeme Saunders, Allan Thompson (AJ), and Jonathan Mc Neill.
Lanzarote is probably the hardest Ironman there is. It has the heat and winds of Hawaii but also has hills. Good luck to you all!

Jonathan has a family member who suffers with Cystic Fibrosis and it is his intenton to raise awarness and sponsorship while doing the race.
On Saturday 31 March he will be kicking off his campaign by cycling a lap of the TT course. He would be delighted if any club members could join him.
Further details here
Entries for IM Lanzarote are still available at this late stage  through Sports Tours U.K

Preparations should now be well underway for the start of the 2012 triathlon season and an important aspect of that is making sure you're a paid-up member of Manx Tri.

Gill has sent an email out to most members but just in case anyone has been missed or changed email address then follow the link below for the correct form;

2012 Tri Club Membership Form

Also an important reminder to those of us who utilise the Mooragh Lake for swim training, it's part of the agreement to use it that we are insured so it's another great reason to become a member of Triathlon England as well as reduced entry fees so follow this link;

Triathlon England Membership

After what will be a four year absence, the sport of triathlon will again feature as part of the NatWest Island Games to be held in Bermuda in July, 2013. Although the Games are still many months off, The Manx Tri Club Committee would like to take this opportunity to gauge interest from all triathletes who may consider participating at the Games. It is anticipated that if sufficient interest is shown, then a team of 10, comprising both male and female athletes, will make the trip. It should also be known at this early stage, that the cost of travel to and accommodation at the Games in Bermuda is likely to be very expensive, potentially in excess of £1200 and all interested parties should consider this when stating their interest. As with all previous Island Games there will be a qualification criteria which will be set by the Manx Tri Club Committee and made available to all interested parties in the near future. If you are considering representing The Isle of Man at the 2013 Natwest Island Games in Bermuda, can you please contact me via e-mail at the below address in order that we can gauge interest and report back to the Island Games Committee.

Paul Cubbon

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With the season almost at an end for the normal people (Really cheerful and really pale Ironmen aside) What better time to get all those little niggles, aches and pains sorted out. Apart from the lovely Sarah and Sophie from the PSM Rehab Clinic  www.psmrehabclinic.com  who continue to provide much appreciated support to the Club, one of our former Tri brethren, and part-time Burtons model, Gareth Watt has recently returned to the Island a fully qualified Osteopath! His flyer can be downloaded here Gareth Watt Osteopathy 

Well well well...The Island's premier Tri events took place on Sunday and pretty much went like clockwork....Great weather...check! (thank you Lord!), Great organisation...check! (thanks June!), Great facilities...check! (thanks Ramsey RFC!), Great routes...? Great, accurate routes...? NO!! (Thank you Stiggy!) It seems that once again there is irrefutable proof that old men can't use technology. With the wonders of GPS at his disposal Stig thought that he wouldn't bother with them and just sit at his desk, ignoring the warning lights and sirens on the nuclear reactor he's supposed to be watching, drawing lines on google maps and guestimating the frickin run distance!!! No worries though, after all he wasn't actually going to be running it!

Anyway, enough of Stiggy's blatant selfishness - The races were tremendous, even for those who felt the pace a little more than others. The lake looked amazing, seemed a shame to spoil the glass-like surface, but spoil it we did! 1500 whole metres for the Olympic, 750 little metres for the Sprint - pretty straightforward then...

Although the Olympic athletes started further up the lake it was the Sprinters that exited first after 1 lap...led by endurance legend turned bullying jibber, Jon King and followed very shortly after by the ever-improving John Martin. For the ladies event Super Silla exited first and the battle was really on once all the athletes were on their bikes. The cycle route consisted of 1 lap for the Sprint and 2 for the Olympic. The wind was a little strange and never seemed to help whichever direction you were travelling in. Laura Wasley, making her Tri debut showed just how strong a biker she is but was chased hard by the other debutants, Jenna McGregor, Jo Clarke together with sensational Silla.

Once the run started it was a fairly straightforward affair in both genders, Jon K holding off Dave Maddrell for the win and Laura pipping debutant Jo for the ladies. Great podium performances from Jon Martin and Silla too, the former taking third despite a dead heat with the Grandad of Manx Tri, Neil MacGreggor. You'd think that, having completed over 5000 triathlons in his 50 year career, Neil would remember to wear his race number! Race Ref Parky, in a foul and unforgiving mood after not getting his Honey Nut Loops for breakfast, imposed a time penalty on the elder statesman. It actually turned out to be quite a busy day for the beleagured Personal Trainer...

Great to see Parky pushing yet another family member into multisport whilst doing the square-root of nish himself, wife Diane doing the Parker dynasty proud by completing the Sprint event. Parky's usual victim, son Rob (aka Nivea for Kids finest team member), was away doing grown-up things.

The Olympic event proved far more eventful, with most of the cycling action occurring at the Vollan Junction, expertly marshalled by the lovely Mrs Bibby and her coward of a husband, Tri jibbing Jed. Firstly new resident Gaynor Evans, so impressed by the scenic beauty of Ramsey's North promenade, headed down for an extra look at the end of the first lap before returning to Bride road for her second lap! Then later on, as Honks approached the junction for the last time, followed (apparently not drafting?) by Nige Quaye, a mystery female assassin in a blue Subaru tried to knock him off! Thankfully, Honks was only managing about 10mph at the time and just veered out of her way at the last minute. Little Jed was heard to say that he'd have got the number but apparently it was too high for him to see!!

As already discussed, the run was an unnecessarily long, brutal affair in scorching heat. Juan led the way, with Alpe d'huez conquering Nasher following, Ant was striding easily around too, unlike poor Andy Issac, who succumbed to the tough conditions again leaving the door open for hot weather-meister, Russ, to claim a deserved 4th place. Great swimming set Swinners up for a great result, vying for a top 10 placing with debutant Tom Cringle, and Manx Tri's own Brad Kahlfeldt, Nigel Quaye (trust me, just check out his chicken legs!). A superb run too by Brian Moyer to propel him into the top 10 after a strong bike leg. Left alone to compete in the Olympic Race after Gill's early exit from the water, Gaynor showed great spirit to complete a tough day.

The Team event showed some terrific individual times, with Chrissy Radon pushing Juan hard on the bike and Ben Scott nailing the run in the team of the day's toughest competitor, Jo Hawkins, who completed the swim in only her Tri suit!!!

Big thanks to all who marshalled and to the lovely ladies who helped out in the kitchen, tea, juice and cakes were very much appreciated. Last but not least, a big shout to all at Microgaming for continuing to support all the Club's events, especially Ben Wood who did the company proud!

Official Race Report by June - referred to, in detail, by Watty in the Indy!

It's been brought to my attention that crazy Shane Martin also competed at London Tri and debuted at Olympic distance in a very respectable 2.37 while ol' Chicken Legs, Nige Quaye had a fantastic result at the Lakeland Tri, posting 2.24 on a tough course. Well done to you both.

Once again Manx Tri travelled well to the UK, this time to the London Tri. Rich George, Godfrey Clayton and John Williams headed to the 'really big smoke' and posted excellent times. Rich and Godfrey completed the Olympic distance in 2.31 and 2.41 respectively. John did the Sprint in 1.31.

Top effort of the night on Wednesday has to go to Elliot Moore who, fresh from a terrific performance in his 1st Ironman at the weekend, clocked a mid 25! The Lady Queen of Spin had another great ride, dipping under 24 again while it was great to see Russ back racing after his tumble at Llandudno. I'm pretty sure Andy Issac got a PB with a low 24, standing him in good stead for the forthcoming Olympic Tri.

Good luck to everyone who's riding the Sportive on Sunday, weather not looking the best but fingers crossed!!

10 League Event #15

Tonight's 13th event in the 10 League proved unlucky for some at Jurby...but not all!

Messrs Hall, Caley, and Moore recorded seasons bests and Juan, Rob Q and Steve S all rode strongly despite last night's efforts.

Honks however, was pretty poor, clearly suffering from, not only a faster than normal run in the Du, but also from the absence of his arch rival - Dr Evil Spin...come back Chris, Honks says he'll even let you win one...

10 League Event #13

A sorry day indeed! In the absence of the Evil Spinster Honks thought he could relax on Wednesday night but what a heavy price he paid in the form of a double ‘chicking’ – as well as the regularly quick Radon woman he was also beaten by the lovely Laura Wasley! OMG! Anyway, enough of the doom and gloom, Juan was his usual rapid self but only just held off former triathlete and perennial Tri Club helper, Rob Cormode. Russ popped in under the 24 minute mark and soon-to-be super Duathlete Rob Quine dipped under 25 mins.

10 League Event #12