Backing up at Bala and going up in France

Kate wanted to finish off her season with an Olympic distance time and get the triple of sprint, Olympic and Half Ironman in the same year. So a week after Monaco she backed up with a great result at Bala, 5th overall in the womes race after the bike and sub 2.30 in her first full season...great job.

Pete and I were at the last of our french grand prix races where we needed to win the team race and the other teams to mess up if we were going to get promoted. The three counters for our team were 4th 8th and 13th which gave us the win, but we thought the other teams had raced well enough for us to stay down. Lots of long faces until a maths man somewhere worked it out and we were up by a point. French very happy and fingers crossed a contract for next year...phew!

Not a whole lot of racing left now, a few Driven to tri stalwarts in action next weekend followed by some World Duathlon action, then its a couple of jetsetters with warm weather races, Julie dominating world 70.3s and xterra then time for turkey (the bird not the place).

Driven to Tri's Big Weekend

Lots going on this weekend, Julie decided not to take the trip to Monaco, but we still had plenty of athletes out spreading the Driven to Tri word.

First Up were Joyce and Jane at the Lost Sheep half Ironman in Kenmare. Joyce finsihed 2nd overall in the womens race whilst Jane took 10 minutes off last years bike time despite some horrendous weather conditions, full results once they are publised.

At the Cotswolds Tri Mike was really unlucky to puncture on the bike, so unfortunatly a Driven To Tri DNF, but he did have a really strong swim. I finished second after being given a lesson in how to ride a time trial by James Gillfillan. I have to say he was very impressive on his bike.

Out in Monaco Nathan, Kate, Brett and Kevin were all in action. Again i'll update with full results once I have them. Kate was 14th in her age group on her 1/2 iroman debut. Brett took a tumble coming down off one of the cols and is going to have a soar collar bone for a few weeks. Kevin and Natan both had solid races.

Lorne was our only Olympic distance racer this weekend, getting inside 2.10 with a 21minute swim and a 37 minute run. After a tough season with some big weeks lifeguarding down at Bournemouth i'm really glad that Lorne has managed to nail a result, as he says "bring on next season!"

That just leaves Pete who was supersprinting in Strathclyde. 14th overall after missing a wheel as the break went on the bike. Not the result he was looking for, but getting back to form after his crash and should be ready to dominate in France next weekend.

Probably one of our biggest weekends racing so far, well done everyone amazing to see everyone giving it beans and making the new kit look so good. "One Step Closer to World Domination!"

Julie Wins Xterra Austria

6 minutes clear of the second women and 33rd overall! Go on, you can say it...Dom..in..ate!!

Whilst Julie was in Austria Joyce and Fiona were in Dublin taking 5th and 6th overall in the womens race. Both Joyce and Fiona are coached by Pete and on this occasion Joyce came out on top, showing that her IM Australia preperation is going well.

Driven to Tri Kids tops....tres cool

Ben Says if we sell any I have to give him £50!
He also did the photograpy for the bike kit. If anyone wants any more kit drop us a mail.

Kate takes on the little woody

For her debut half Ironman distance race and in preperation for her head to head with Dibens at the Monaco 70.3 Kate took on the little woody. Despite taking a 6km detour on the bike Kate had a solid race and learnt alot about how pace the longer distance...bring on Monaco!!

Thank goodness for Jack, Julie and Philip!

First result of the weekend was Philip picking up the black T.Shirt finishing the Norseman in 16 hours and 20 minutes. He was first U.S.A home. This was an incredible achievement especially as it was Philips first attempt at long distance racing and he had to fit training around a very hectic work schedule.

Result two of the weekend was Jacks first win in the Swanage Sprint Triathlon. At London Julie led home the team winning the Womens race. Daz finished 7th in the womens sub 2.30 race. In the junior girls race Natasha lead out the swim but was unfortunatly involved in a bike crash whilst Nicola ran her way up through the field to finish 5th. Kevin raced for experience with a strong swim and bike but did not run due to an achillies injury. Nathan was unlucky to be involved in a bike crash. Patrick had a solid if not spectaucular race in the sub 2.30 catagory. Despite leading out onto the bike Pete and I were both very dissapointed with our runs and finished 17th and 18th in the mens race after the whole field came together. A few more weeks to get over our crash damage and I promise the running legs will be back and we will keep up our part of the Driven To Tri World Domination plan.

After the Race I headed up to Loughborough to help run the national talent camp. It was great to spend 3 days working with a small group of athletes who have been identified as the most talented in the country. I ran sessions on Open water swim technique bike racing skills and media training. It was alot of fun spending some time with a really motivated but layed back group of young athletes and great to be able to help them aquire some new skills.

Driven to Tri are going to London

Just a quick update, as not much racing has gone on this weekend. Kyle had a good hit out at Hayle to follow up a solid race at Plymouth. Everyone else seems to be in preperation mode. Philip is off to the Norseman (the toughest ironman in the world) this weekend whilst Pete Julie and I are all be up at London this weekend.

As theres not alot of news i thought i'd get around to adding a picture of pete's road rash and a shot of Barry's bike after his crash at the start of the season. Be careful out on your bikes folks!