By Graham Ball – Team Manager

 Stafford Tri had a new tactic for this year’s event! Stay on the campsite along with hundreds of other athletes, but make sure they get no sleep by partying all the night before the event. Rumour has it that this may well have worked but unfortunately, looking at the state of our so called dedicated triathletes, they forgot that it was the other teams who were supposed to miss out on their sleep. Mr Tubby was looking particularly awake as he rode his bike up to our vantage point! Stu and Pedro had done their best impression of German holiday makers (apologies to any one of Germanic background) by getting up ultra early and laying out our towels, well gazebo, over the best spot round the lake. An early start was required as all the teams needed to register by 8 am. In typically relaxed manner Stafford Tri managed to register by 8:25am and so began the rush to be ready and the ‘friendly rivalry’ that was to feature for the rest of the day. We will need to have a word with Mrs TH as she seemed to have forgotten that this was in fact a battle between the teams and walked off with her usual smile wishing everybody good luck! And so it began…… ‘Pedro, Sian, Stu and Jen were all first into the water for their respective teams in what proved to be more of a rugby scrum than a triathlon as 194 people fought for their position. Pedro led the swim out for the Stafford Tri teams but the water had played havoc with his body as he appeared to have put on a few pounds and lost most of his hair. Still with out much time to question the Trotters team tactics the race continued. We knew that things were going to be close and with the first three Staffs teams out within 2 minutes of each other the bike was going to prove decisive. Positions changed hands throughout the bike stage, with Pedro now looking more like his old self, gaining the lead for the Trotters on the first leg. However, with their ‘ringer’ in place it was inevitably the Bodgers who were to come of the bike in first. ( Rumours were abound on the day that Scott had been in contact with me for the previous fortnight , keeping me updated with his form . I would like to stop these immediately and have asked BT to remove his number from any records they have for my number!!!!!!!!) The bike splits proved to be very close and this time all four teams managed to be within 2 minutes of each other. The run proved to be the main factor in the results for the day and the Bodgers pulled away, averaging an excellent 21:30 mins for the slightly long 5km run. However things were really starting to hot up behind and Tubby’s Triers were putting time into the other two teams, gaining four minutes over the run leg. As the teams went out onto the final lap, Skippie was living out one of his fantasies and was actually going to be chased by a girl!!! Unfortunately for him, Lucy meant business and she set about chasing him down. Not wanting a repeat performance from Germany, Nick glanced behind on the finishing straight to see Lucy virtually on his shoulder. Fortunately for the Trotters he had enough left to drive his highly muscular frame across the line just 5 seconds ahead. After chasing hard the Triers had closed the gap to within 1:40 mins. So began the friendships again, well with the usual excuses and banter that always happens post race. A cracking morning was had by all ‘athletes’ made even more enjoyable by the support of family members and the encouragement of team mates. In typical Stafford Tri Club style once the racing was over the partying began. A quick shower and change and it was beers all round as we sat in the Stafford Tri hippie commune and watched Mark put up his moth eaten 1940’s , Ex- army canvas tent. Once niceties were exchanged it was off to the bar to watch the ‘TALENT’ on show in the afternoon races. With varying degrees of alcohol poisoning the athletes retired at varying times to mull over their tactics for ‘ THE TEAM RELAYS PART 3’. The only thing left for me to do is to thank everyone for their support and as so many others have mentioned to reiterate their sentiments and say

STAFFORD TRI IS THE BEST CLUB IN THE COUNTRY!!!!!