Husband and wife team Alastair and Jane Bloore  used to do ‘quite a bit of racing’ and have achieved the accolade of getting into the GB age group team and racing in the European Championships in Lisbon and the Worlds in Australia: ‘That was certainly the most expensive race we’ve done. Since then we switched to some long course races and for the last two years have just been enjoying our favourite sports which for Jane is open water swimming and for myself, marathon running where I’m still trying to nibble time of the PB before advancing years start to slow me down. Originally from Birmingham, we now live out in Ashtead and Jane works over in Walton on Thames which is how we have got to know about the Viceroys. Your pink hats are also quite evident at Shepperton lake which we use quite a lot. There is a nice friendly and relaxed feel there.
Although I used to do lots of cycling as I grew up, my regular exercise stopped in my early 20s when someone stole my bike and I replaced it with a moped! 20 years of motorcycling followed until as I turned 40 my belly started to expand and I realised I better get active again. Having picked up a few injuries through running I turned to triathlon which at least spreads the stress on your body across the three disciplines. I love swimming outdoors although regardless of effort or training my pace remains decidedly ‘steady’. Running is perhaps my best sport and I am happy cycling all day long.’

Jane Bloore has always been a keen swimmer but took a break from swimming over my teenage years and rekindled my love of the sport in my mid twenties and completed a fair few swimathons. ‘When I stopped getting faster doing that I decided I would try running and entered the ballot for the London Marathon getting a place first time! This lead to a number of marathons and then onto triathlons where Alastair and I have competed in all distances from sprint to Ironman. Now I am slowing down at running and cycling things have gone full circle and this year I am focusing on swimming. This year’s main aim is the 14km Bridge to Bridge swim from Henley to Marlow in August so you will probably see me most at the weekends in Shepperton lake.’

Welcome to Viceroys  Jane and Alastair.

Happy Easter Viceroys – and what a lovely surprise Easter present Viceroy Carl brought for his lovely wife – VTC membership:

My slight ‘surprise’ Viceroy membership was thanks to my darling Husband, Carl (already a Viceroy), who’s been on at me for sometime to join, emphasising the benefits I could get from it.  First I knew was when I received a lovely email from Kate welcoming me!!

Lisa Price (among other new Viceroys) joins us from another local based tri club where she’s done a few sprint triathlons:   ‘I recently bought a house in Walton with my boyfriend (just ran his 15th marathon!!) and being a member of a local club really appeals; less distance to travel for training, getting to know the local area and everyone at Viceroys seems so friendly.

Until December I was doing what we all do and fitting training around family, friends and a busy job as a primary school teacher.  Then, just before Christmas, I had a painful back injury.  It set me back a bit and I’m now very cautious and still not running again yet.  I have no triathlons planned this year but, to my amazement, I got a place in Ride London so need to step up my cycling!

I would like to have a bit more structure to my training, a bit of motivation and lots of fun! Injury free of course!’

Welcome to Viceroys Lisa, we look forward to supporting you in your recovery and return to triathlon… and socialising too of course!

Toni Riding joins Viceroys as she is just getting back into cycling after over a year off the bike due to a minor accident, ‘and since I am due to complete the Ride 100 in August I thought I ought to get my backside as well as my bike into gear and join a club, as it’s not too much fun training alone.  It has shocked me how much fitness I’ve lost in that time! I used to cycle between 200-250 miles a week (most of it was my daily commute into London)…..now I’m finding it tough to cycle a 30 mile route!!

I joined Viceroys because they are local and I get a good feel about them. I used to run with my previous club (a few half Marathons and 10ks) but my knees are not holding out too well anymore (old age!), so I’m sticking to slow jogs and the bike for now. As for swimming…well let’s just say I can just about swim a length of front crawl without needing to be resuscitated. Hence why I’ve never tackled a triathlon…I was signed up once but chickened out.

I’ve always been driven towards sport and competition, and was a keen athlete all through school. My main sports were Athletics (Hurdles, Relay, Javelin, High Jump) and Netball back then…..but once boys came onto the scene I found other things to do with my time  😉 Current sporting interests when time allows are Ice Skating, Water-skiing, Netball (Level 1 coach).

Outside of sports my interests include Camping (love it!), Nature/outdoors, Photography, Eastern Philosophy, Lumosity (I’m a bit of a geek really), The Universe (yep…proper geek).

Looking forward to meeting all of you over the coming months!’

Welcome to Viceroys Toni, we’re definitely the right club to provide a packed training programme for you.

In welcoming Andrew Hedges to the club, we see a further increase in our Chertsey based Viceroys:  ‘I’ve enjoyed cycling all my life but it was only in the last five years that I got into road cycling, completing LEJOG in 2009 and Vatternrundan in 2011. Entry to the latter was a present from my brother in law, who followed it up with Stockholm Marathon entry in 2012. His present-buying has improved since.
I’ve always enjoyed running and discovered the enjoyment of open water swimming in 2012. Triathlon was the next logical step; I got the bug watching the Brownlees on TV at London 2012 and then entering the Thorpe sprints. Having never really been disciplined enough to follow a training plan, I want to take things a bit more seriously in 2014 in terms of diet, training and racing, as I’ve entered a few sprints, two Olympic distance and one half iron distance tri this year. Must learn to love the pool swimming.
My friend and fellow Chertseyite Ian Talbot recommended Viceroys as a great motivator – membership was a no-brainer. I’m looking forward to meeting some like minded people and sharing tips, training and tri chat in general. ‘

You’ve joined the right club Andrew, but definitely time to swap that yellow for some pink.