BATTALION SPRINT TRIATHLON (with 120+ images)

Triathlon’s sort out the men from the boys (and women from the girls) – simple!   

The event can apparently trace it’s origins to the early 70’s and was created by a group of swimmers, bikers and runners in order to compete against one another to see who was the ‘best of best’.  Because all three events are of different disciplines and endurance sports, nearly all of triathlon training is cardiovascular exercise so it will push the average man way beyond their limitations! 


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"...it was suggested that the event be delayed as Mark had fallen off his bike a few days prior whilst trying to protect some ducks from crossing Queens Avenue..."

WOII (Company Sergeant Major) Steve Taylor (CSM of number 1 Company) devised the idea of the Battalion Triathlon whilst munching on a McChicken Sandwich a few weeks ago.  As the Company’s were already head first in Afghanistan Training it was an ideal way for all to test their fitness and also have a little competitive sport between the Company’s (including a team from Brigade).  After a quick con-flab with the resident fitness guru (SSgt Mark Allen – Bn PTI Prawn) it was suggested that the event be delayed as Mark had fallen off his bike a few days prior whilst trying to protect some ducks from crossing Queens Avenue (the hero that he is).  It would take a few days for the pain in his buttocks (mainly coccyx) to disperse but then he should be ready.  As days passed Mark decided that he would take on an Administration Role and not compete as the pain “kept coming back just thinking about them ducks!”. 

The Battalion Sprint Triathlon took place on September the 15^th and all teams were to parade at the Swimming Pool at 05:45am.  I had been manipulated (thanks Steve) into taking photos for the event a few days prior, and knew that I would be performing my own Triathlon (3 events, get up, get showered & get dressed – including bad back and laces) if I was to get down to the pool for such an early hour!  The Group photo was quickly postponed as we realised that even ‘Mr Sunshine’ had a sick-chit and wasn’t up for at least another hour! 

All teams were in fresh form and ready to take on the gruelling events that would follow to determine the best individual for each event and best Triathlon Team overall.  The events were; 

1. 800m Swim (8 lengths) of the Aldershot Pool.
2. 20Km Bike Ride around Aldershot and Fleet.
3. 5Km Run around Aldershot.

For those that are unaware of how Triathlons work (and my only recall is of Daley Thompson – sorry he’s Decathlon, but you know what I mean!), anyway – an individual begins with the swim and the clock starts, on completion, they would then jump out of the pool and onto the bike then onto final run – the clock is stopped when they cross the finish line.   

Mark Allen (amiably assisted by Sgt Steve Hambley – the Dunbar Demon) had planned and covered all aspects of the event, allowing 4 teams to start at each given time – this would allow all to be competing at the same time but under different stop watches.  This meant that the winner wouldn’t necessarily be the first one over the finish line as the last one that started could have a quicker time (if you get my drift).  All entrants were numbered on their upper and lower body with a permanent marker, this number would identify them for individual times for each event and also ensure that no one could ‘cheat’ and pretend they were someone else (after all it would be unfair to change a team member half way through the event wouldn’t it!). 

"...the winner wouldn’t necessarily be the first one over the finish line as the last one that started could have a quicker time..."

I was positioned in the pool, well to the side of it as I had forgotten my gortex and my camera isn’t waterproof, and got a few snaps of the 4 teams that started the event.  Whilst looking on at the swimmers there were some that were ideally suited to water and they slipped through the water like seals in springtime, would they be strong on the bikes and on foot though ??? 

I had remembered a conversation a few days earlier that I had overheard with The Ginger Prince himself (Sgt Ben Price – Sgts Mess Manager) who had said that they were putting in a squad with full intentions of sabotaging other teams to win.  Apparently due to some pictures that needed framing, and one of his team stapling his thumb they had to withdraw from the event. 

The first teams that had started were coming to the bike transition and some had started to leave the pool and jump onto their bikes for the second phase of the event.  As I am always the kind of person that tries to show support from the front I noticed a few competitors that had forgotten their shoes in the heat of the moment and knowing how painful their 20km ride could be I shouted to them to “not forget their shoes”, most looked at me with little amusement as I saw that they would be mounting their vehicles with shoes mounted on pedals – my, how things have moved on since my BMX days! 

I moved onto Queens Avenue and tried to snap some of the teams as they completed laps whilst others joined the circuits.  The Battalion had taken advantage of the event and placed a ‘wristband seller’ near the traffic lights for passers by, and the markers were doing a fantastic job, although not taken too well by others, by informing some of the bikers that were coming into the sprint finish that they had ‘one more lap to do!’. 

I must also take this opportunity to congratulate some of the ‘younger’ members of the teams that had taken part in the event.  Whilst most had purchased or borrowed high-tech road bikes that would give them the advantage on the bike run, others had signed out some of the Battalion bikes from the Gym that although ideal to pop down to the local shop for a loaf of bread, would prove to be hard work on the 20Km bike ride.   

"...shock, dismay and horror came all at once as his feet touched the floor and he shouted that he “couldn’t feel his – man parts!” 

After realising that my skin was not as thick as a rhino’s and feeling the cold a little (it’s my age) I decided to have a drive back to camp (come on, I’m not competing) and tried to get a quick snap shot of some of the transition changes from the bike to run stage.  This proved to be the highlight of my morning as I arrived just in time as WOII (CSM HQ Coy) Gaz Gales came into the stage and jumped off his bike in preparation of the 5Km run.  The look of shock, dismay and horror came all at once as his feet touched the floor and he shouted that he “couldn’t feel his – man parts!” 

I moved onto the finish line where the competitors would be met by the PTI’s stopwatches, a fantastic medal of appreciation, some quick refreshment and hopefully a snapshot of them crossing the finish line – providing they came the right way and followed the tunnel of cones that would filter them through to the finish line. 

All in all, a fantastic event that was very well organised and (I am sure) extremely enjoyed by all that took part.  The Battalion formed on the square after the event where the individual winners were announced in reverse order.  The winner would be announced last and all were briefed that only the winner would march out to receive their commendation – this however, didn’t stop Sgt George Pal (2^nd place) from marching out for a quick hand shake and cheer from the Battalion. 

Congratulations must go to all the individuals (below) for competing in the triathlon.  

Special congratulations to Capt J Whiteman (1 Coy - Royal Marines attached to the Bn) for winning with an outstanding a total time of 1hr 7mins, Sgt Pal (SP Coy) came second with 1hr 8mins, and Lt N Wills (2 Coy) came third in the individual competition with a time of 1hr 9 mins.


Congratulations to Capt S Green’s team (2 Coy) for winning the overall event. 



MORE IMAGES??
Images taken during the Triathlon are shown below the results:



Team Timings are below (individuals are further below):

HEADQUARTER COMPANY TEAM

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 5:30:49

1 COMPANY TEAM

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 4:54:18                                     

1 COMPANY TEAM

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 5:52:58                                 

1 COMPANY TEAM

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 5:08:00                                 

1 COMPANY TEAM

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 5:50:33                                 

2 COMPANY TEAM - Winners of team race

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 4:52:41 

2 COMPANY TEAM

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 4:10:20                                 

3 COMPANY TEAM

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 5:02:10                                 

3 COMPANY TEAM

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 4:29:20  

                               

3 COMPANY TEAM

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 5:33:15                                 

4 DIV TEAM

OVERALL TEAM TIME: 4:45:11 

INDIVIDUAL RUNNERS

INDIVIDUAL TIMINGS ARE BELOW:

Place	Rank	Name	Coy	Time
1	Capt	Whiteman	1	01:07:26
2	Sgt	Pal	2	01:08:24
3	Lt	Wills	2	01:09:00
4	Sgt	Fairbrother	1	01:09:13
5	WO2	James	4 Div	01:09:31
6	WO1	Duck	4 Div	01:09:59
7	LSgt	Fallows	3	01:10:12
8	Capt	Green	2	01:10:36
9	Lt	Dalzell	1	01:11:03
10	Maj	Till	1	01:11:11
11	Lt Col	Edmunds	4 Div	01:12:11
12	LCpl	Read	3	01:12:36
13	LCpl	Kerridge	3	01:13:21
14	Maj	Mcewan	4 Div	01:13:30
15	LCpl	Barnes	1	01:14:13
16	2Lt	Rutt	2	01:14:46
17	Dmr	Mcpherson	3	01:14:50
18	CSgt	Blair	1	01:15:51
19	WO2	Pote	HQ	01:16:16
20	LSgt	Mayho	3	01:17:22
21	Gdsm	Crane	3	01:18:11
22	Capt	Russell	2	01:18:19
23	WO1	Sheard	HQ	01:19:50
24	WO2	Taylor	1	01:19:50
25	Gdsm	Gouldsbo	2	01:21:09
26	LSgt	Bagot-Moore	3	01:22:00
27	2Lt	Greenly	1	01:22:07
28	Gdsm	Cooper	1	01:22:27
29	Sgt	Swift	1	01:23:45
30	LSgt	Girdlestone	HQ	01:24:04
31	Gdsm	Blythe	2	01:24:21
32	Gdsm	Thompson	2	01:24:50
33	Dmr	Chamberlain	3	01:28:44
34	LSgt	Hughes	1	01:28:56 *
35	Gdsm	Thomas	1	01:28:56 *
36	Gdsm	Wesley	1	01:28:56 *
37	WO2	Gayles	HQ	01:30:39
38	Dmr	Mawson	1	01:31:23
39	Gdsm	Davison	1	01:34:32
40	Gdsm	Anderson	3	01:35:29
41	Gdsm	Hudson	3	01:35:40
42	Gdsm	Abdilla	1	01:36:00
43	LCpl	Blakelock	3	01:36:20

*Did not complete all stages of the Triathlon

Thanks go to CSM Steve Taylor and SSgt Mark Allan for organising such a successful event, can’t wait for the ‘Iron-Man Triathlon’ event – I might even enter …………….. not!
 

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