Waveney2 Triathlon

9th September 2007

And so to my last tri of the season, and where better than the inaugural "Waveney 2, The Sequel"! (If an inaugural sequel can possibly make sense). The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed as appears to be the case at all Tri-Anglia events, and the organisation, led by Clare Cole, smooth, competent and cheerful. I guess Waveney Tri is now a well established formula but I know Clare was short of officials and plagued by last minute withdrawals, so it's all the more impressive that the race management gave all the appearance of being professional and relaxed.

A minor change in the rules from previous Waveney's was the restriction on cars coming in and out of the main pool car park during the event. I've no doubt this will enhance safety for cyclists and runners leaving transition but it had the visible benefit that many more participants stayed on to encourage the later starters - a good crowd were still there to applaud as Clare handed out the prizes and, unusually, most of the winners were still there as well. A significant improvement.

A good day for Tri-Anglia all round then. Oliver Milk took overall victory in the mens event with a blistering 30:17 bike leg, KateScotter took 3rd overall in the ladies. Matthew Baker stepped up to Group B and duly won it in 56:02, taking over 2 minutes off his May time. Sara Greenwood produced the fastest ladies swim time - 5:32 at the door - went on to win Group D, and will no-doubt get amongst the top ladies once her bike and run legs become half as impressive as the swim. Our new Norwegian star Baard Grindberg produced a good swim, backed up by solid bike and run legs, to win Group G in his very first sprint triathlon. In all, the thirty-or-so Tri-Anglia athletes picked up no less than six age-group wins. Our little group of six from Stradbroke SwimFit (rapidly becoming a North Suffolk branch of Tri-Anglia) managed
three age group wins and celebrated with a very good lunch. Perhaps more important than her age-group win, Stradbroke's Julia Green beat husband Adrian to reverse May's result and no-doubt mark the beginning of a harmonious week in the Green household.

I believe the aim of Waveney 2 was to give a chance to those who couldn't get into the May edition which was rapidly oversubscribed. I'm a relative newcomer to the event myself but there appeared to be a healthy mixture of 'pros' (Messrs Milk and Giggins), other familiar faces from previous Waveney and Norwich Tri's, and a good number of new faces, many of them presumably having a first go at triathlon. Of the first-timers I spoke to, all claimed to have enjoyed the event (either lying, or weren't trying hard enough), had a great day, and I'm sure will be training hard for the next one.

Thanks to Clare, Kerry and all their helpers, willing and unwilling. Special mention to the Vitruvian Iron-men who did a "proper" triathlon the day before and still managed to peel themselves out of bed to marshall on Sunday (you know who you are ... we're not worthy ...)

Can it be 8 months 'til Waveney 2008? What am I going to do?

Article by Mark Nowell
Page created: 13th September 2007.