INTER-REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2007
The sixth running of the British Inter Regional Championship for our junior triathletes took place once again at Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park last Saturday 1st September. The Yorkshire and Humberside team of six girls and seven boys started the day in damp conditions with high levels of commitment and determined to prove their worth against the best juniors in the country. It did not stay damp for long (unlike last year) but although quite warm and sunny there was a blustery wind.
Off first were the TS2 girls where both Amy Royston and Natalie Brown gave a good account of themselves as did the TS2 boys Ben Barber and Euan Hockey. Then things became more difficult because of last minute changes to our team caused by injury and other commitments. Rowena France had a fantastic race in TS3 and was supported by Isobel Dewar-Fowler drafted in to compete at this level rather than as a first year TS2 . Oliver Dixon gained the highest position of the day with a fourth place finish narrowly missing out on third place. Tom Warren had another excellent race.
Then it was time for the Youth boys with all three of them performing admirably. The threesome were Tim Robinson, Alex Gibb and Isobel’s elder brother Angus who still has another year to compete as aTS3. The final race saw a depleted team of two girls, Victoria Dewar-Fowler and Clare Mack who again is a first year TS3 give a good account of themselves.
The team understandably finished in last position (full results on the BTF website) but were full of high spirits knowing they were not outclassed and with the initiatives now in place are looking forward to a lot higher finish next year.
Tim Robinson now leaves the team after two consecutive appearances but so does our most experienced IRC triathlete in Victoria Dewar-Fowler who bows out after five consecutive appearances. She is convinced she missed out on a clean sweep of all six due to completing two extra swim lengths at the Dearne Valley Triathlon back in 2002. I do know that Morgan Williams has plans for her future!!! We thank both of them for their efforts and wish them well for their futures.
Many other people are due our thanks. They include Janet Royston who was made our “official” photographer for the event. From the photos I’ve seen she will be invited to next year’s event whether daughter Amy qualifies for the team or not. Hopefully some of these photos will be published on the web site soon. A number of coaches assisted in preparing the team with Louise Hanley and Rachael Mellor leading a bike session at Richard Dunn and Liz and Vic Burrows leading a swim session at Stocksbridge Leisure Centre. Special thanks go to David Wright, Chief Coach at Stocksbridge Swim Club who not only gave over some of his pool time to our triathletes but assisted in the coaching, was very warm in his welcome and was most encouraging to our team members.
As last year a number of bike shops assisted our team by preparing some bikes. We are very appreciative of their support. They included Boneshakers of Harrogate, V.S.Cycles of Brighouse and Bike Shed of Huddersfield.
Most of all our thanks are due to the junior triathletes themselves with every single one of them making their parents proud with their effort, determination and bravery. They all thought the long trip to Glasgow was well worth it and are desperate to keep their places in the team for next year. There will however be a lot of stiff competition.
