‘ My name is Becky Essex, I work in Chiswick as Head of a Centre for Children with Autism at Strand on the Green school. I played rugby for England for 8 years and recently retired after winning the World Cup. I decided to join the club as wanted to take up a new sport and a new challenge. I’ve never cycled before so am very inexperienced but enjoying it so far!’ Becky

‘Hi everyone . I am the second Viceroys Richard Jones to join the club, the older, balder slower version !!!

My family and I moved to Weybridge 9 years ago and in that time I have realised how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful area.I joined Elmbridge Runners when I decided to prepare for my first marathon and stuck to just running until I became incapacitated during a charity football match. My physio suggested I got a bike to help with rehabilitation and most of my cycling has been commuting home from the City. A triathlon seemed like the next natural step but seeing that I couldn’t swim one length at the Xcel without been completely out of breath I decided to take some swimming lessons…

I hope joining Viceroys will enable me to improve sufficiently to achieve my goal of completing my first triathlon this year and to meet and make some new friends along the way.’ Richard

Tim Gray opened his season on Sunday at the English National Standard Distance Championships/ITU World Championship Qualification event held at Grafham Water. It had been planned to take place at nearby St Neots but due to a water logged running course, the race venue was changed – in Tim’s view though, the Grafham race course was actually better.

 ‘As a season opener, the stakes couldn’t really have been higher with both National honours and World Championship selection up for grabs. Preparation had been good over the winter so along with the inevitable pre-race butterflies, I was super keen to see how fast I could go! 

On a beautiful spring morning we slipped into the icy waters of Grafham and paddled out to the start line (it was proper cold!). I started in the second wave and after the usual ‘washing machine’ got into some clear water and started catching the stragglers from the earlier start. The course was a simple square layout but with the bright sunshine and splashing water, it was actually quite tough to sight the large red buoys. However, managed to catch a few fast feet and drafted my way around in a reasonable 23.37. It was a welcome relief to get out of the water and into T1 and see a lot of bikes still there! Grabbed the bike and was on my way – warming up all the time. Continue reading →

The highlight of this race for me was the weather condition which meant we had choppy waters, some wind, heavy rain throughout, jellyfish and very wet course. Temperature was not cold so no need for extra layers on the bike.

The swim went relatively well given the conditions, my lack of swimming abilities and that it was my first OW swim of the year. Apart from a kick in the teeth and getting stung on my face, hand and foot, I was pleased to get out of the water in 36mn. They did a new style rolling start based on predicted time and only 6/8 people starting at the same time every 5 seconds. That made it less chaotic and more friendly.

Transition is slow with a ‘long’ run from the beach and more running through the 3000+ bikes racked. The bike course is fantastic, even in the rain and wind. I’m a fair weather cyclist and still loved the bike leg and particularly the technical downhill. I just felt good, climbed well and managed to gain 720 places. Legs were starting to be soar but no cramps yet! Continue reading →

Viceroys Andrew Moody and Yann Unmbricht travelled to Mallorca this weekend for the Ironman 70.3, Andrew reports: ‘A journey man’s report. While Yann was holding the fort at the front I was bringing up the rear learning lessons all the way!

The irony was that I booked this thinking I would have fine weather and a good first race to develop the rest of the season as one of the journey men of the club…I aspire to AG leader board…however like most enjoy other aspects of life and family which prevents me from total dedication!

The race can be summed up: Swim. Moist with Jelly fish stings and a little swell (Shepperton ain’t no ocean!!) Bike…more moisture rather more a monsoon and wind….more wind…needed more watts….slow up hill…fast down (thanks Kevin Argent and Mr Yeoman for the switch back tips most useful) …training would help on hills…..Run…damp and a little moist…pace well off cold sapped energy…crossed line a happy chappy even so! Learning: weather plays a crucial part in any journey…but completed in 7.30….way off my best but a good kick up the back side for the next 2! Placed a glorious 367 in AG….I like to think of Yann and I as book ends!!!

However, NEVER SHOWED WEAKNESS and the new tri suit looked awesome (photos to follow) Best MOODSTER (Viceroys Journey Man Triathlete)’

‘It was nice to finally get a triathlon under my belt for the first time in 9 months. The swim was a total disaster (no change there). Training in the pool had been going really well with some excellent coaching, but as soon as the words ‘race’ and ‘swim’ are put together, I lose all ability at forward, efficient, fast (or even not too slow) momentum. Anyway, I got out of the pool without drowning or killing anyone else with my flailing arms. With a T1 of 42secs I was running out onto the road for my usual flying mount… Bump went my bum on the saddle and bump went my saddle, pointing straight towards the road! Ah well, nothing to do but get on with it. Still not as bad as Andy Holgate using a picnic blanket when his seat post snapped mid race – Can’t swim, Can’t bike Can’t run – (well worth a read).

21.5km and 37 painful minutes riding in a semi tuck semi standing position later and it was back via the deadzone and into T2 with a tight back and hamstring. 45 seconds switching footwear etc and it was out onto the run. I knew it wasn’t going to be fast with the pain in my back but I loosened up as the run progressed ending up with a 21.14, well short of the time I had hoped for and seen in training.

I finished in 1.09.22 and 8^th in AG which is really pleasing all things considered. It was also great to catch up with fellow Viceroys Matt and Suzi Storr and Pam Winstanleyfisher and well done to Moira winning her AG!’

As raced and reported by Mick Tumilty

I can honestly say that this morning was the coldest races that I have EVER done.

The Pitsford Sprint Triathlon was situated outside Northampton in a stunning park. However, that was where the beauty stopped. After scraping the frost of my car, I knew it was going to tough day. The transition was packed with GB athletes looking to get ready for the next few races (British Championships & Worlds qualifiers).

The water temperature was taken… did they really say 10 degrees! OMG that’s cold! So the swim was cut to around 400m. With that in mind, I suited up in my new Huub Amphibian 2 for its first outing. I hopped in the water to go with 30second before the start and swam straight to the front just as the horn went off. It was impossible to get any rhythm or feel for the water. Every part of me was screaming because of the cold.  All I could of think of was that it will be over soon. I exited in first place & stumbled out (zero feeling to my feet). Continue reading →