The opening of the racing season is in full swing now, characterised by a distinct acceleration in the Skilton family’s holiday schedule, with TriPurbeck athletes competing all over the place. Fran is in Duathlon mode, first winning the Newbury duathlon before clinically avoiding the £100 cash first prize in the Ashton Duathlon by finishing second, citing a heavy weeks training – typical! 6 race wins in a row and she chooses this one…… oh well. John joined Fran in Newbury and raced well showing some good early season fitness although I think if he smiled less during the race he could go faster – all be it in a less jolly way.
Justin followed up his Sika race with 1hr22min in the Bournemouth Half with Neil posting a 1hr24min- both looking very strong. John’s 1hr48min time, whilst solid, was more notable as there was no issue with the achilles injury that he has been struggling with. Carl made a massive 12 minute improvement at Sika and ran 41min17sec in his first ever 10k in Bournemouth. Mandy, Mark and Derek (hold on weren’t they famous in the 60s?), looking for something different(?!?), entered the sportive around Wareham on Sunday. Now I don’t understand sportive riding at the best of times. It’s not a race but you wear a chip timer and pay money to ride around with lots of middle aged people in licra. Anyway, despite it not being a race, apparently (or so she tells me) Mandy beat Mark, although rumour has it there was a chaffing incident – I’m sorry I’m a bit hazy on the detail.
But – performances of the week definitely go to the juniors again. Unperturbed by the GB suit, Jed beat the World Biathle bronze medallist in his age group racing in Taunton. Don’t even ask what Biathle is – I refer you to previous reports on Biathlon except I understand the parental waiting period is adjusted to different times of the day presumably to account for day light saving. And Jack McD posted a great time (just over 20 minutes we think) for the 5k in Bournemouth.
Leave a Reply