Air Ambulance Turbo Session

The second of our Air Ambulance Turbo Session fundraisers took place over the Bank Holiday Weekend, and it has to be said that the support again was amazing, both from club members and also from members of the public. The weather this time was also very kind to us.

And in a build up to the main fundraiser (see report in next week’s paper), it gave us all a chance to get a few extra miles in the legs. With the main ride from North to South Wales taking place on June 18, it was great for most of us to take our turns in the Square and also to chat to visitors to Tenby about why we have made this our charity of the year.

Also it was great to try out our Anti Chaff Moo Cream, which has been very kindly sponsored for our charity ride by Oliver from Udderly Smooth UK. I know there were only short stints on the turbo session, but it certainly helped, and will be very welcome when the main event takes place.

If anybody would like to help out on June 18, then please contact a member of the club, or for donations please see our just giving page. www.justgiving.com/Tenby-Aces1

Welsh Wild West Sportive

Aber Cycle Fest created the Welsh Wild West Sportive with three routes of different distances for riders to choose from. The routes are well sign-posted and marshalled at key points. Riders were able to use feeding stations positioned at intervals along the routes to replenish their food and drink supplies, and mechanical and medical support was also provided.

The spirit of Welsh Wild West Sportive is to enjoy the freedom of the cycling challenge in Wales in a safe and supported environment. Great care is taken when planning routes to make maximum use of the quiet lanes which cross the countryside. They have also tried to take riders through well-known and lesser known beauty-spots.

Recognising that not everyone always wants huge mountains on their cycling routes, they balanced this with a range of four distances to choose from. Y Corrach (26 miles), Y Diafol (41 miles), Y Monk (70 miles) or Y Cawr (114 miles).

Colin Barrett elected to take on the Y Cawr and attack the longest distance, which he completed in a time of 6:50:19, before heading back to take his turn on the turbo.

Saundersfoot Swim

In preparation for events later in the year, with both the Henley Swim and Isoman Triathlon, Nicola Coates decided that it would be good to start increasing the length of the swims, and so with that in mind, a group of hardened swimmers, along with John Hubbard providing kayak support, swam from Tenby round to Saundersfoot, in what must be described as wonderful conditions. Watch this space for longer swims planned.

Tour Of Cambridge

The Tour of Cambridge Gran Fondo is a mass participation cycle sport event. It was also the 2016 UK qualifier for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. It is held on fully closed roads over 80.2 miles (129.07km). With riders competing to qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, to qualify for this you must compete over the long route. However, there is an option for the more leisurely riders to participate over a shorter route of 58.2miles (93.66km).

Aces member Shaun Griffiths was competing over the full distance and finished the event in 4:06:35, a great time and one that meant that Shaun has qualified to represent Team GB at the UCI Road Race World Championships in Perth, Australia, in October. Well done, Shaun, an excellent achievement.

Tenby Go Tri

After a year away with the work going on at Tenby’s Leisure Centre, it was great to have the Pembrokeshire Go Tri Series back on home turf; the support from members helping out was great and also for the members taking part.

The race was set over the following distances, with a pool swim of 400 meters, bike leg of 11 miles and then a three-mile run.

Among those taking part were Jake Jenkins, Lewis Merrony, Fin Bowie, Peter Armytage, Gemma Burton, Joanna Balkwill and Donna Bradley. Some of these were seasoned competitors, but for some this was their first experience of triathlon, and all enjoyed, and I am sure will be back for more.

Special mention to Jake, who came in second place overall, and also to Donna Bradley, who managed to get a piece of silverware in her first triathlon, as winner of her age group. Well done Donna and bring on the Cotswolds.

Swansea Triathlon

The new Swansea Triathlon was 12 months in the making and Activity Wales have organised the first City Centre Triathlon, with the finish line right in the heart of the city in Castle Square. The course took place on fully closed roads, which is always a bonus. The distances were an open water swim of 750m swim, then the bike leg of 20km, followed by a 5km run, right in the heart of the city.

It gave new and seasoned triathletes the chance to test themselves, with Oliver Simon, Hayden Johns, Adz John, Erika Malein, David Kent, David Griffiths, Emil and Wendy Chwistek, Paul Luger, Steph Waring, Ceire Merrison and Julian Boo Rossiter being among them.

Olly finished in first place with times of Swim 9:05, Bike 29:34, Run 17:45 and total 59:06. Emil Chwistek with Swim 12:57, Bike 33:13, Run 20:11 so total 1:10:17, Hayden with Swim 10:57, Bike 34:30, Run 22:52 so total 1:12:43, Steph with times of Swim 12:20, Bike 33:49, 22:02 so total 1:13:42, Adz with Swim 11:35, Bike 34:07, Run 27:11 so total 1:16:22, David with times of Swim 12:23, Bike 36:17, Run 23:54 so total 1:16:45, Ceire with times of Swim 12:38, Bike 38:47, Run 29:36 so total 1:27:39, David Griffiths with times of Swim 13:59, Bike 38:26, Run 25:06 so total 1:23:3, Erika in Swim 11:38, Bike 43:23, Run 24:29 so total 1:24:25, Julian in times of Swim 14:19, Bike 38:48, Run 32:02 so total 1:33:17. Special congratulations to Steph as she finished first female in her age group.

Ironman 70.3 Kraichgau

The Kraichgau region in south-west Germany is popular as a triathlon hotspot. Known as the land of the 1,000 hills, the region offers everything: beautiful scenery, a demanding race course, and a culture representative of our sport. Thousands of spectators along the course make the race the ideal experience for every athlete.

The big triathlon-weekend started on Friday evening with the first Iron Girl on German ground. Saturday afternoon saw the youngsters compete in the Ironkids, before some of the fastest short course athletes raced in the Triathlon Bundesliga over the sprint distance in the evening.

On Sunday, besides the Ironman 70.3, there was also the Sparkasse 5i50 Kraichgau powered by KraichgauEnergie over the Olympic distance.

Gerald Brace and partner Karen Davies headed over, with Gerald taking on the 70.3 and Karen the Olympic distance. Gerald completed the course in the following times, Swim 0:40:38, Bike 3:05:47 and Run 1:38:04, with a total time of 05:33:59, while Karen completed her event in Bike 1:46:11, Run 1:02:07 and a total of 02:55:51.

Activities for the coming week

Friday, June 10 - Slacky’s Pool Swim Session, Tenby Leisure Centre, 7 - 8 pm.

Saturday, June 11 - Colby Parkrun, a great local event and well worth supporting, lots of members taking part on a regular basis.

Sunday, June 12 - Cotswold and Stafford 70.3 Half Ironman Events. Good luck to all taking part.

Sunday, June 12 – Club Ride, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 8 am.

Tuesday, June 14 - Club Ride, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm. Route detailed below.

Wednesday, June 15 - Aces Run Session, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm.

Thursday, June 16 - Club Ride, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm. Route detailed below

Route for Tuesday, June 14: Route 13 (Castlemartin) - Penally, Lydstep, Jameston, Lamphey, Pembroke, Monkton, Hundleton, Castlemartin, Merrion, St. Petrox, Pembroke, Lamphey, Jameston, Lydstep, Penally, Tenby. (approx 33 miles). Sweepers - Aled Smith and Sion Jenkins

Route for Thursday, June 16: Route 2 (up Milton hill) - New Hedges, Devonshire Drive, Redberth, Sageston, Carew, Milton Hill, The Ridgeway, Lamphey, Jameston, Lydstep, Tenby (approx 22 miles). Sweepers - Gareth Rees and Nicola Coates.

Rides leave Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm and helmets must be worn on all club rides.