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This is turning out to be quite a fixture for Ryton Tri. This year, saw a few new faces enter: Jaci Swinbank (aka the pocket rocket), Denise Parkin, Mr & Mrs Hodgson and Fred Smith. The regulars were Gareth Huxley, Eric Blakie, Mr & Mrs Addyman and Ian Maddison.

The weather didn't look too promising on the morning of the race - quite windy with heavy dark clouds shrouding the hills. Gareth's pre-race preparations had followed his normal preparations: Deeta (their cocker-poo had decided to regurgitate the tennis ball that she'd thought was rather tasty earlier on Saturday in the tent that she was sharing with Gareth and Sarah. Sarah and Deeta were promptly evicted from the tent and spent the remaining part of the night in the family car. Apparently dog sick doesn't smell as bad as human sick says Gareth! And then it was too windy to make his porridge!

The supporting team (Sue and Jenny) arrived just before the start when most of the Ryton lot were in their rubber.

start

Big E decided to try out his newly researched relaxation technique...... Clearly, Ian is a bit dubious about its worthiness.

But Denise is prepared to give it a go herself.....

And let's see what the result is for Denise: This is a picture of her before -

And this is a picture of her afterwards......

And this picture reminds me of that well known saying "Friends that pee together, stay together...."

There were 2 waves - everyone bar Denise was in the first wave. First Ryton Tri out the water was Gareth Huxley, second lady out the water was Jane Mooney. Sue and Jenny then retired to the nearest cafe to stock up on nutrients for a very long day of supporting.....

After refueling, we then headed off for our vantage point at the top of Shap fell. Now, supporting, as I've said previously, is a very arduous, onerous and taxing past-time. Sometimes we have to put up with supporting in very boring vantage points - here is one in point:

Anyway, enough of the life of a supporter...... First Ryton-tri to come past our point was Gareth, followed in quick pursuit by Philip gaining a minute on him since his swim exit. Next came Big E, followed by Ian, then came Ryton's "pocket rocket" - Jaci - first lady past on the bike - and she was laughing when she past us! The lovely Laura was next to be spotted followed by Denise. We missed Jane, Fred and Andrew as they weren't in club colours (note to their respective partners - 2011 Christmas presents.....?)
Back in the car to meet them coming in to T2. We spotted several females come in from their bike and then go off out on their run. Then Jane appeared on her bike and set off on her run in her usual impressive style. It was therefore, astonishing for the next time to see Jane storming in as second lady overall - an absolute phenomenal run! It must have been fantastic to have picked out every single (bar one) female ahead of her. And what an achievement for Jane: never having done this distance before - to choose probably the hardest half ironman race in the country - to come first senior! WOW! Which Ironman are you going to do next year then Jane??

The usual gallery photos of this race can be found here.