Hi, I'm guessing most of you already know a little about me; either you heard me rambling on at the awards dinner, you've read Tauny's introduction that's up on the web-site or you’ve bumped into me (or more likely I've bumped into you) at a training session.
For those of you who have had the fortune of not hearing me drivel on already, here's your chance. I became involved with triathlon around a year ago after hearing about Project Viper, a group of visually impaired athletes who were getting together to participate in the London triathlon. At that point I knew very little of triathlon, I had been trying to get a little fitter by swimming and running, and; when one of Viper's relay teams needed those disciplines filled I thought 'why not give it a go?'
I was eligible to participate in Project Viper as I have been visually impaired since birth. I have the genetic condition albinism which affects around 1 in 17-20,000 people in the UK. It means that due to my body being unable to produce melanin (or pigmentation) my eyes didn't develop properly and I have about 10% vision, worse when in bright sunlight (I don't wear the shades to look "cool").
Whilst training for the London triathlon last year BRAT were good enough to point me in all the right directions, mainly through Geoff Moyes, who went on to act as my swim guide last season. Geoff has now opted out of racing with me (the accidental violence that occurred when open water swimming side by side was too great) and now has the arguably harder job of being my coach.
I have to have a guide throughout the whole triathlon to act as my eyes. This season I have the fabulous Kylee Goode as my guide: It's a tough job, not only does she have to complete the race herself but she also has to ensure my safety throughout the whole thing too!
We have had to learn to communicate really well, especially when on the tandem as when I am pedalling away on the back seat I have no idea what's coming next be it turns, hills or speed bumps! At present we are borrowing a racing tandem from an athlete who has had to take this season off. Unfortunately, it has to go back to him in September, which means at the end of this season I am tandemless. This is why I am so grateful for all the support BRAT members are giving me through fundraising throughout this year. Hopefully it will mean I can afford my own racing tandem which will help me maintain my place on the GB Paratriathlon squad in years to come, and who knows maybe I can hang in there till 2012!
And the old message from the old Chairman:
Sara Butler is a BRAT who has been invited to become part of the National Development Squad for Paratriathletes. This is great news for her and a testament to her talent, fitness, enthusiasm and dedication. It also reflects well on the BRAT Club as a whole.
Sara is partially sighted and is a regular at the Wednesday evening run sessions and Sunday Tivi swim sessions. Her participation in the club is largely thanks to Geoff Moyes, who has special coaching qualifications for partially sighted paratriathletes.
The BRAT Club are going to raise funds to help Sara buy a tandem racing bike. We raised several hundred pounds so far: at the Annual Awards Dinner by auctioning the table flower arrangements (thanks Julie Washbourne and House of Flowers!), at the London Marathon (thanks Paul T) and at the 1st BRAT Aquathlon on 14th May.
There will be further fund raising events for Sara throughout the year. If anyone wishes to make a donation, please make a cheque out to "The Triathlete Development Fund" and give it to either Mark or Chris Hirsch, or Tauny or Debbie Southwood, for banking. Thank you.
2010
1) Masters National Road Relays.
We entered M35, M40 and M50 teams. Rather ambitious, but thats the problem with age brackets.
M35, M40 and M50 diced all the way to the line on the first leg. Youthful legs overcame age by a couple of seconds on the final sprint, with middle age man only dropping off the trio over the last 800m. I could have referred to youth, age and beauty, but the latter would have been a lie.
This close first leg trio looked good in the new vests, Selfriges should have paid our entry for the free advertisement. After this this the close competition ended as our M35 and M50 team consisted of one each team !
M40 pressed on, but having lost quite a few of the initial team, we dropped nearer the back of the field. No disgrace, this is a quality race with the best vets all there. The last leg saw us challenge Halesowen, catching them very fast, just failing by 3 seconds to overhaul our rivals. I was in two minds sprinting up the finsihing straight becuase we had cheated !
Its nice to finish a team, except Halesowen know me. Oh well, all is well that ends well. We don't normally cheat; well not while anyone is looking.
Welcome to Owen running a good time in his first ever relay. A good run for ever youthful "English John" Llewellyn.
I hope you all enjoyed the sunny day
This course is the same distance as the 12 stage, but runs a little bit faster.
M35 Winners Ronhill Cambuslang 1h2m10s Fastest time 15m9s
Mark Ince 16m16s (33rd)
M40 Winners Hearne Hill Harriers 2h2m22s Fastest time 14m11s
BRATS 28th (31 complete finishers) 2h35m31s. 3.00miles
Andy Kenchington 16m29s (41st)
Mark Hirsch 17m4s (35th)
Owen 18m48s (48th (Results as Paul Hurcombe. Nice one Paul)
Richard Carney 19m52s (57th)
John LLewellyn 20m1s (44th)
Martin Ludford 21m16s (50th)
Rob Andrews 24m14s (30th)
Richard Gray 17m47s (28th) (Results as Mark Edwards. Should be happy Mark)
M50 Winers Ronhill Cambuslang 1h50m56s. 6 legs. Fastest time 15m40s
Richard Gray 16m18s (7th)
Midland Masters Road Relays 5K
After the Midland 12 stage the day before, we understandably struggled to get teams together and ended up running half the team in younger age groups. I hope everyone enjoyed their run. A good time by Paul Robertshaw.
M35
Rob Ryan 19.47
Toby Gosnall 19.15
David Herbert 23.37
Paul Robertshaw 19.27
M50
Paul Archer 22.33
Martin Ludford 22.25
Rob Andrews 26.45
Relays are over until Autumn. Look out for Masters T&F E-mails today and through the Summer
Richard Gray |
