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The Fifteenth Yorkshire Dales Triathlon
It's Tough at the Top
by John Pitt
Reproduced by kind permission of 220 Magazine - for all that you need to know
Well, at least the swim was flat. But not much else. Maybe, the race being in Yorkshire (England's equivalent of Texas), the organisers should at least have included a waterfall and some white water rapids in the swim. Even the field where the prize-giving took place had a slope.
The field of 96 starters was significantly up on last year's 59 - presumably the result of the publicity the event has had and the desire of many triathletes to accept a different challenge - and Britain's oldest and toughest triathlon poses a formidable challenge.
The triathlon swim start included the quadrathlon start. The quadrathletes were obviously concerned that the triathletes weren't getting enough exercise, as they had a canoe section after the swim. First out of the swim was Andrew Jackson in 14.38. Out of the water, wetsuit off and onto the bike. No fancy luxuries like transition areas and bike racking at Semer Water - just leave your bike up against a hedge, a dead sheep, or a car.
The short (3/4 mile) swim was followed by about 50 metres on the bike and then the first 1 in 4 climb. Still, at the top you had the consolation of knowing there was only another comparable 42 miles (and 4,000 ft. of climbing) to go. The next thigh burning climb was quaintly called 'Buttertubs', culminating in a peak called 'Lovely Seat'.
The descents were hazardous, with sheep standing in the middle of the road with that 'bollocks to bicyclists' expression on their faces. I overshot the turn before the climb to Garsdale Head (saw the sign but going too fast to make the turn), pulled alongside another rider who beckoned up the hill and said "You wouldn't want to miss that would you?" Onwards and upwards, stopped to change bike shoes for crampons, past an Abominable Snowman, ducked to avoid Concorde (okay, so I am exaggerating, but it was getting very high), got to the top and gasped to one of the spectators - "Haven't you got any flat bits round here?" "Aye lad, you're on it" he replied to general laughter. On past the wonderful Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle to Carlisle railway to, eventually, the finish of the bike section.
Fastest individual bike section was by Quentin Jones in 2.26.07. The bike rider of the winning team (Padfield, Naylor & Stephenson of Dearne Valley) arrived back (having blasted round the bike course in 2.16.50) to find the runner still sat on the toilet. He voiced his displeasure clearly - but the runner compensated with the fastest run split of the day - 1.10.30. Uncomfortable ride of the day award went to the competitor who broke his saddle post during the bike section and rode the last part of the course without a saddle.
Bike to run transition was not at Semer Water but some miles away at Helwith Bridge, so your 'team' had to get your wet suit, running gear etc. from Semer Water to Helwith Bridge and make sure you set out on the run with a waterproof and at least 500ml water bottle (compulsory).
The run (11 miles and 1,500 ft. of climbing) in part follows the Pennine Way then climbs Pen-Y-Ghent - a brief gasp at the top, partly because of the view, partly because of the state of your lungs, a word of encouragement from the marshal (a military medic) and then back down. The leading competitors had mastered the fell runner's art of downhill running - short strides, sure footed and no nerves. A couple of miles from Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Helwith Bridge to end the run and that was that. A great day.
Fastest individual run section was by Stephen Stretch in 1.22.26. Individual winner was Garrie Prosser of Rossendale Tn Club in 4.09.39, followed by Andrew Swales (up from 4th place last year) of Durham Tri Club in 4.11.09, and Gareth Hammill of Bolton Metro in 4.14.46. Last year's vet winner, Richard Makin of Mercury Tri Club punctured and had to settle for second place this year behind Bob Smith of Loughborough who won in 4.21.49. First woman was Julie Harrison of that potentially great Tri Club (Unattached) in 5.19.15, followed by Ali Taylor in 5.35.54.
Marc Laithwaite won the quadrathlon, as he did last year, in a time of 5.08.55, followed by Chris McSweeney in 5.21.12. The duathlon, a new feature (3 mile run, 42 mile bike, 11 mile run) was won by Duncan Park in 4.32.50 followed by Paul Blackshaw in 5.21.17. Stephen Butler was first vet in 5.35.38. (Unfortunately no women featured in the finishers of duathlon or quadrathlon).
A welcome shower followed in the adjacent building of the Yorkshire Subterranean Society (yes, really), though even the showers required a climb up some steps to get in. One competitor was sat on the floor of the showers - I assumed he was looking for the soap, but it was just that his legs had had enough standing up for one day. Local competitors seemed to feel this year's race had been a bit 'soft'. Meaning that the weather had been good and, presumably, that there had been only a limited number of crashes on the bike section, and falls on the run.
Some general conclusions about the Yorkshire Dales Triathlon:
* The race was organised with a mixture of formidable efficiency and dry humour by Harry Waugh, and deserves its reputation as Britain's toughest triathlon. (Harry's 'Competitor's Instructions' included such gems as 'sheep will not give way' ... and ... 'marshals are volunteers and may stay in bed' ... and ... 'the cattle may eat the signs'.)
* John Schofield got the results sorted and ready rapidly and appeared undeterred by the last competitor finishing during prize giving, collapsing exhausted and nearly flattening the trophy table. [Thank you - JS]
* The scenery and views are quite staggering - assuming you are not too knackered to look at them.
* A recommended 'improvement' to make the swim/bike/run part more even, would be to lengthen the swim from 1 to 2 laps of Semer Water. Compared with the rest of the race the swim was a bit 'soft'.
* Great camaraderie amongst competitors - all encouraging each other with comments about fitness and sanity. Probably Britain's friendliest, as well as toughest, triathlon.
* An experience well worth trying - but make sure you've got the gears for all those 1 in 4 climbs.
* Black Sheep Ale, brewed in nearby Masham, is a highly recommended post-race reviver.
So there we are. Races, like life, fall into four categories - small, medium, large and extra large:
* small low key races that are good training
* medium races where you get a T shirt
* large races with status (e.g. qualifying/series races)
* extra large races that are an experience
The Yorkshire Dales Triathlon is unique and doesn't really fit into any of these categories but, believe me, it is an experience.
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