Mounts Bay Harriers

9th October 2008

So here’s the starting point. Three weeks into our tour - France, Spain and Morocco - and we have meandered through France  to arrive at Laruns in the Vallee d’Ossau, altitude 525m (remember that figure) in the Pyrenees. It’s 2 in the afternoon and we’re dossing around at our campsite after another sumptuous lunch and several cups of tea. I’m enjoying my book but also feeling a little restless. I recall something from our guide book: “the Col d’Aubisque itself . . . usually sees the Tour de France come through, making the pass an irresistible challenge to any French cyclist worth his salt”. Mmmmm. Now I have done a little exercise over the past three weeks: one morning I cycled the kilometre into town to pick up fresh bread . . . and I went for a run in Brittany. Or was that in Charante? Anyway, I know there are hardy souls at MBH who would have knocked off this sort of thing before breakfast and been eyeing up the Atlas mountains for the afternoon. Surely I should make the effort. I’ll have a few biscuits and think it over. The kids start to argue and my mind is made up. “I’m off for a short ride - I’ll be back to take them swimming.” Now one benefit of travel is not having to faff around over what to wear: if you’re lucky there’s something you’ve been wearing less than a week. I rootle around in my bag and bingo, find my MBH cycling top. Why did I pack that? Never mind, it’s a bonus. Only three false starts (each time to take more layers) and I’m off. A short km out of Laruns and I’m feeling good. Hang on, what’s that roadside sign, the one with a cyclist?

Oh Lordy (or words to that effect)! Surely someone has been messing with the sign. What sort of person writes “Mesurez votre effort et bon courage”? Thoughts of a quick dash in the opposite direction down the (flat) valley floor pass before me and I hesitate. And then I remember those brave club members who nipped over to Brittany and covered hundreds of miles each and every day, only stopping to fuel up on chips and beer. They were always smiling. It’s all France, just different bits. Pull yourself together. Onwards and upwards. Hey, this is OK. A heady speed of 7 mph and I’m eating up the ground. Around a corner a strange sight awaits. Should I consider upgrading to a larger frame?

2 miles. 3 miles. I’m smiling. Then I’m concerned. There’s a sort of flat bit, maybe 200m. It’s like when you know that all good things come to an end. And they do! Round the corner is a sign showing an inviting 13% - and the climb starts. There are several signs advertising ski hire. Could that be significant? Right now I am very glad I have a bike with a “granny ring”, despite what anyone else says! 6 miles. 7 miles. There’s a ski resort in sight. I notice large birds of prey circling overhead. I recognise them as vultures and wonder why they are following me. 8 miles. There’s an interesting phenomenon at play here. I am very warm - OK ***** gasping - and the air temperature is dropping dramatically. Is this making balance? I hope so - otherwise I will either explode or freeze to death. The way ahead starts to disappear in mist. But still it’s upwards and onwards. I’ve climbed mountains with a rope quicker than this! 9 miles. 10 miles. I’m going to get there. And there it is. At least it would be if this mist would let up. It is not warm up here. I manage a quick photo with the timer

before throwing on every layer I have and turning back. Oh, and I feel pretty chuffed. The col is 1709 m, so I’ve gained a bit of height. Certainly not as quick as Lance and his mates - or many others - , but hey, how long to the Tour? And the descent was not pretty. My hands were frozen, so I needed to stop regularly to warm them in intimate regions. And there are not many places near the top without a corner approaching (note to self: check brake blocks). I arrive back to find a short missive “Gone swimming.” Fair enough, I did say it would be a short ride. Now where did I put my book?

NB Our guide book, which recommended this ride, also has these words of wisdom. If confronted by a brown bear rearing up on its hind legs, do not be alarmed. It is showing it is curious. Oh really.

Paul H

Sunday 12 October saw 10 Mounts Bay Harriers head up the A30 for the final Cornish Triathlon of the season - The Wadebridge Triathlon. Glorious weather and ideal conditions were experienced by the 128 competitors as the race got under way, involving a 400 metre pool swim, 15 mile bike and 5 mile run.

The weather was absolutely brilliant although a strong wind blew up as the day went on, which meant you went out on the cycle into a strong head wind and came back, being blown up the hills, by a very strong tail wind. This was fine until you had to cross the bridge high over the river where the wind did its upmost to try and blow you over the edge! The run took you along the Camel Trail with the sting in the tail being the run up the hill back to the Leisure Centre.

First off for the Harriers was Chris Trewhella who was out to improve on last years time, closely followed by Liz Prady, Ian Ragget, Sam Hill (who was competing in his very first triathlon) and Yvonne Turner – the faster your swim time the later your swim wave starts! Sam Lawley, Phil Sanger, Dave Prady, Ian Matthews and Shay Bowen all went off in the latter waves. Fastest swim time of the day was Natasha Diment in 5.30, this includes time taken to also run to transition, Shay Bowen from MBH with third fastest on the day with 6.16

The cycle portion of the race appeared to go smoothly considering how busy the roads around the area had become and there were some very fast times posted – fastest cycle on the day was Laurence Pidcock, the eventual winner, in 39 minutes, Ian Matthews from Mounts Bay Harriers managing a credible 4^th fastest in 41.44.

Onto the run and things really start to hot up, fastest time posted by Rich Brady 29.18, special mention must go to Sam Hill on his very first triathlon (even though he has no sense of direction) in posting a 30.45 run, a very impressive 7^th fastest run of the day.

The eventual winner of the race was Laurence Pidcock, Tri Force, 1.16.08, 2^nd Rich Brady, Tri Monkey, 1.16.18 and 3^rd Matt Boon, Tri Team Glos, 1.21.54

Female podium places went to Natasha Diment, Driven2tri 1.28.49, 2^nd Jacqueline Rice, Okehampton Cycle club 1.31.22 and 3^rd Kathryn Burgess, Camel Valley 1.34.12 – Sam Lawley, MBH missed out by only 13 seconds and finished 4^th female but took 1^st in her age group female vet 35

Other MBH results – Ian Matthews 6^th overall (1,22.29) and 1^st vet 40, Shay Bowen 2^nd vet 45, Yvonne Turner 3rd vet 45, Liz Prady 1^st female vet 50 – The Mounts Bay Harriers mens team also took the team title – Ian Matthews, Phil Sanger and Shay Bowen.

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After a few weeks of waiting here are the results of this years Fowey River Tri - great race, great atmosphere, just a shame it takes soooooo long to see any results! Next years race is set for 13 September 2009

results are HERE