I was asked in February 2003 if I’d like to be part of a Triad team (that’s the Triathlon but done by 3 people) for my company, BUPA. Kevin was to do the 700m swim, I was to do the 20k bike part, and Alex was going to do the 5k run.
So, on Friday, 20th June, off we popped from sunny Salford up to the North East. In all, BUPA had 129 competitors, taking part in a variety of events from Archery to Volleyball. (I have to admit our Ladies Netball Team were rubbish, but all darlings!) We were all staying in the Premier Lodge, right underneath the Tyne Bridge, which, incidentally, has nest upon nest of protected seabirds, whose constant squawking kept me awake till about 11.30 on the Friday! They are also good shots, as my mate found out!
Anyway, our event was on the seafront at South Shields, so we did a “recce” on Friday night, and I could tell my course was not that easy. We had to register at 6 am on the Saturday morning, and the event started at 7. We got our instructions, and left for the beach to wave the swimmers off. There were 61 ready to enter the North Sea, which was about 11 degrees, so I was told. 52 were doing the full event, 6 were part of a male Triad team (like me), and 3 were part of a composite Triad team (mixed sex). The beach, and the sea, looked very appealing.
South Shields has a Blue Flag, so there was no danger of hidden gems floating about, only jellyfish. Kevin, who apparently swims in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and sewage drains for fun, came out of the water 16th, but third in the team section. He was about 10 seconds behind the other guy, and 19 seconds behind the leader. So, Kevin stripped out of his wetsuit, handed me the wristband, I placed my helmet on, unhooked my bike and ran to the track.
The cyclists had to encircle the disused hard track at Gypsy’s Green Stadium, and then hit the A183 (the Sunderland Road). This ran parallel with the coast. This was a drag for about a quarter of a mile (like the hard bit on the Club 10), then levelled out for another half mile. I then hit the traffic island for the first of 4 visits. I turned right here, and immediately went up a ramp! This was the start of three circuits. I left it in 52-19 up there, just managing to grind up. This was about 250m long, and at the top I turned left onto the road that runs parallel, but above, the A183. This was dead straight, and you could see the next climb coming up. This climb took you to the Golf Course, and we had been warned that players will cross the road due to the Midsummer’s Day comp, whereby there are people playing from sunrise till sunset!
For once, I avoided any calamity. Past the Golf Course, you sped downhill to a tight lefthander. The first time here I saw a competitor who had obviously taken the corner too fast, and had lost it. He was OK, but holding his left arm. (I later found out his rear tub had rolled off).
From this corner, it was down again for about 200m to the A183, turn left there, and back to the traffic island, but into a bloody headwind, and again, up a drag! Three times we did that circuit, and I had caught the second placed guy on the first one (he eventually did 50.03!!!). At the last entry to the island, I went straight across, still on the A183, down to the stadium. Here, I nearly cocked it up, as I was ready to turn right into the stadium, when a Marshall bawled at me to carry on down the front, encircle the next island, and then back to the stadium. (Thanks for letting us know in advance!).
At the gates to the stadium, I had to dismount, run round the back of the bike racks, hook up my bike, remove my helmet, and hand the wristband over to Alex. My bit was done, in 36 minutes dead, 3rd apparently (I told you it was “sporting”). I had put us into second place, in front of the guys from BP. We were well behind the eventual team winners, who were local lads. Their cyclist did the 20k in 34.58.
Unfortunately, Alex was overtaken with about 1k to go, but we were more than happy with bronze. A very fruitful, and fantastic experience. I was majorly chuffed with this, as I had no idea what to expect, or what level I was competing against. We then had to sit in the lovely morning sun, waiting for the officials to sort everything out for the medal ceremony. Another colleague, Phil, did the whole event, finishing in 58 minutes, which was pretty amazing considering he’d broken his collarbone in March. What was even more amazing was the fact that he did the 20k ride on one of my machines, which has a single 52 chain ring. And Harry hasn’t been near that one.
I rode back the 11 miles to Newcastle, in heavier traffic than at 5 am! We showered, had some grub and Schnapps, and hit the hotel bar about 1pm. In the evening, we went to the Ball, at St. James Park. What a stadium. Mind you, after being at the City Of Manchester one recently, the awe and wonder soon diminished.
Phil and I went in fancy dress; Phil as Elvis (black suit and wig), I went as Zao, the bald Korean villain from James Bond’s last movie, Die Another Day. I woke up on Sunday morning still covered in the white face paint.
In total, BUPA topped the medals table, winning 36 medals (3 gold’s, 31 silver and 2 bronze).
The results show that Kevin did the swim in 17 minutes, 16th fastest. I did the 20k in 36 minutes (3rd fastest), and Alex ran the 5k in 22.53 (36th). Kevin and I are hoping to reprise this event at the World Corporate Games, in Thessaloniki, Greece, in November. It looks like Phil will do the running instead of Alex. I was asked to take part in the recent ITC Triathlon at Salford, but it was the day after the M&D 50, and I wanted to wrap the Short Distance Handicap up. It was put to me recently that Kevin would like to make this a regular thing, and did I fancy going round the country doing them? I wonder what Wendy will think?
All in all, it was a great weekend. You can’t beat that feeling of team spirit and camaraderie that is everywhere you go. I watched my first hockey match that weekend, my first Dragon Boat race, and Ladies 5-a-side. If you ever get chance, have a go. You can even get in as a“ringer”, as long as you have a mate who is part of an organisation.
If I go to Greece, I’ll drop a line on that one. Next year, Cardiff?

Brendan