Prince Bishops Report 2003

by Yvonne Walker

A millpond greeted the competitors in this years Prince Bishops Triathlon, at least compared with the previous year, this year hosted by our club and on a day on which the club was presented with the Sport for England Club Mark Award for coaching.

 

The event is an Olympic Distance event of 1500m open water swim in the Derwent reservoir near Consett, a fairly hilly 40km cycle following two loops of the reservoir and a hard 10km run on a 'there and back' course off the main road through Cronkley. Altogether a demanding course albeit a very scenic one.

 

Of over 100 entrants 12 were from Ryton Tri of which 10 managed to finish the course, the two who didn't, Paul Watts and John Swinbank, no doubt having good reason being two normally strong performers. Of the rest there were some impressive performances, Rob Bee finishing in his usual club first place and 8th overall hampered by a relatively poor swim (relative to his standards not ours I hasten to add... how I wish...).

 

Next home was Barry Shaw in a splendid time of 2:29 closely followed by Col Gardener in a great time, a minute faster than the previous year which was slightly shorter course, especially considering the war wound.

 

Next behind him was Ian Maddison in what (hope I'm not mistaken) must be a best time? Four minutes behind them was a group of three Ryton triathletes led home by Colin Chapman in another improved time incorporating faster bike and run legs.

 

The clubs leading junior Gary Blakie came a minute behind him in yet another impressive outing. Sandwiched between these two came a very powerful performance from Jaci Fergusson, knocking off 8 mins from the previous year finishing 3rd female and managing to see off a challenge from Claire Caddle who finished 5th also greatly improving on last years effort and being the fastest female swimmer on the day, just eclipsing Jaci.

 

The contest between the two received wordy mention in a considerable write up in the Evening Chronicle, which detailed how they were neck and neck until Jaci's running nearly took her 'romping home'.

 

But the success of the Ryton Tri women didn't end there because following them home as 5th female was Denise Parkin with a great bike split of 1:26. Last, but definitely not least, of our lot home was Clive Blakie adhering to Bob's perfect triathlete principles (The slowest are the best) and completing a fantastic club showing on a difficult course.