Round Up 11th – 24th August 2025
It is our more mature members who win the prize for being the best at reporting in for this edition of the round up. Read on for some inspirational stories and a reminder that age is just a number! Also featured is the Arundel 10k, which is always a top event and one that in recent years has formed part of our summer run series.
Blithfield Standard Aquabike – Sunday 17th August 2025
Many thanks to Jenny Oliver who has been competing again, this time at the Blithfield Standard Aquabike, and sent in the following report:
Having qualified for 2025 Age Group Aquabike World Champs in Wollongong, Australia, and bought an expensive GB tri suit, I figured it would be rude not to try and get further use out of it by attempting to qualify for 2026 in Pontevedra.
Sue Simpson and I attempted to qualify at Dorney Lake Arctic One Para Tri Festival on Saturday 12th July. That was a most enjoyable race, lovely weather and a flat bike route that suited my breathing. Despite averaging 29 km/h for the bike, we failed to qualify on that occasion. A lady of fine pedigree having previously won at World Triathlon, put us outside the 20% limit.
So we decided to try again at Blithfield, the last Aquabike qualifier of the year. Having arranged to travel alone and stay at an AirBnB, it was a big relief that Adrian managed to take some time out from his current on-site work, to accompany me. Credit to Adrian, he got back from Wiston at around 9:30pm Friday, was up there again early Saturday, got home at 1pm. We set off north at 1:30pm, arriving in time to register and recce the race HQ and bike course. Then to the Air BnB for an early night.
Early start Sunday and glad I had registered to avoid the long queue. Bit of a faff and rush to set up and attend compulsory briefing.
The swim was lovely in the beautiful setting of Blithfield Reservoir. Nice big buoys aided sighting. Managed to swim reasonably straight, but not as straight as Sue. She swam 1501m, I swam 1579 – 3 extra lengths! At one point, the safety boat went zooming past causing an unexpected swell which was unsettling for some! Sue was out of the water before me!
After transition, a long uphill drag to the bike mount line. Some gasping involved and a reminder me why I switched to Aquabike from Triathlon!
The 2-lap bike course was quite lumpy and hard work, but I was pleased to be able to take advantage of the aero bars again.
At the finish I was surprised and pleased to learn that I was the fastest in my age category for qualification, and that Sue, with a close time, had also qualified.
Thoroughly enjoyed another outing with the Simpsons. Thanks to Sue for encouraging and sharing all her toiletries with me at the freezing cold showers. And thanks to Colin and Adrian for supporting and taking photos.
Finally, Adrian gallantly drove home before heading off again to for a few more hours work, while Colin treated Sue and I to a celebratory Italian meal!
Next up, Sue Simpson’s thoughts on the event:
After just missing out at Eton Dorney to qualify, I had 1 last chance at Blithfield.
My final prep for Sunday was to do the 10-mile TT at Goodwood … umm, was that a good idea?… Time will tell.
Luckily, the weather on Sunday was cool, and it made it perfect racing conditions.
My partner in crime, Jenny (she was competing too), along with Colin and Adrian as our comfort blanket, gave much needed support.
I was a little rusty on race prep, so the customary faff started. Bike racked wrong way. Doh…
Bag put to side after setting up… I forgot to get hat and goggles out. Panic as transition was closing imminently. Col shouting: Where you going? Race briefing is starting….
Goggles and hat retrieved. I found Jenny and wished her good luck before entering a lovely cool water reservoir.
A 2-lap swim (1500 meters) following lovely big yellow Huub cubes made it perfect for sighting. I was not too disappointed with my swim time: kept it strong and steady with Jon Cassell’s advice in my head while swimming.
Exiting was followed by an uphill run to transition. Then a bit of a run with bike on grass. Adrian took pics on swim out and Col did pics on bike out.
Did a car recce of the bike course the day before, found it is undulating. And 2 laps… The Goodwood TT I did on Wednesday was still in the legs when hitting the uphill sections.
Col came out on the course and encouraged us while Adrian’s stomach wanted a coffee and a bacon butty!
The bike was not as quick as I expected, but the end result was still a qualifying place for next year.
Barry Island Triathlon – Sunday 24th August 2025
It was Colin Simpson’s turn to be in action the following weekend and he was kind enough to send in this report:
After supporting Sue and Jenny in their successful qualification last week at Blithfield, it was my turn to try and qualify in the sprint tri at Barry Island in South Wales. I have history with this event as 5 years ago I raced there and with such a choppy sea vowed to never do a sea swim event again. Time heals and here I was shaking on the start line. As you can guess I don’t enjoy the sea…Sue has to drag me in if it is more than a millpond. The race briefing highlighted the very strong current and swell…about 10 times… and watching the first wave heading towards the last buoy instead of the first didn’t help my nerves. Us oldies were in the last wave and when the hooter went nobody moved! So not just me worried! I took the initiative and raced across the sand into the waves. Over the first few minutes I was going nowhere with waves bashing me. I couldn’t catch my breath and kept stopping with the canoeist near me tempting me to give up. I battled on for what seemed an eternity to the first buoy after which I relaxed a bit and did make it back to the beach. Struggling up 4 flights of steps like a zombie with Sue encouraging me I managed a jog for the 400m to transition. I later found out that everyone had struggled in the swim with times more akin to 1500m not 750m. Onto the bike and less drama with a fairly flat 3 lap drafting course. Unfortunately, being the last wave most other competitors were already on later laps and formed into fast groups which I couldn’t tag onto. On the last lap another oldie and I worked together on an empty course. Onto the run, normally my happy place, I struggled after that swim on what was an increasingly lonely undulating course. I had fantastic support from Sue for the whole event. It really helps to keep seeing a friendly face popping up on all disciplines taking pics and forcing me to smile. Checking the results afterwards I was surprised to see I came 2nd in my age group and 3rd qualifier for the worlds in Spain next year. Almost 1/3rd of the field either didn’t start or dropped out, so I am really glad I didn’t give up in the swim. Remind me I DON’T DO SEA SWIM EVENTS…. a couple of lake swim events left for me in Sept and then off to Wollongong for this year’s worlds….mmm…what’s the sea like in the Pacific!?!
Arundel Castle 10k – Sunday 24th August 2025
Always a popular Tuff event, this year saw 13 Tuffs take on the undulating course. Well done to Marc Flinders, Abi Clark, Stu Harvey, Stephen Fryer, Simon Thistlethwaite, Katie Young, Hazel Tuppen, Kev Pearson, Callum Kalbfell, Will King, Jessica Coombes, Samuel Mahé and Janet Shepherd. 8 Tuffs made it into the top 10 for their age category. Mark Flinders placed 9th overall and Abi Clark was 2nd lady home. Stephen Fryer and Simon Thistlethwaite battled it out for pride and summer run series points! Tuff Fitty also took home the team prize. Great running everyone!
Both Clare Worgan and Stu Harvey sent in reports: thank you both! First up, Clare:
I’d planned to skip Arundel this year. I’ve taken part every year since joining Tuff Fitty and thought it might be time for a break, but by Thursday I changed my mind, inspired when I saw Kev has raced it every year since the 80’s.
Arundel never disappoints. It’s a stunning course, full of hills, a nice challenge whether you’re speedy at the front or walking further back. I took it steady this year and enjoyed it. Great to be part of team Tuff, taking on the challenge in the sunshine!
Next, the ever-reliable reporter, Stu:
The Arundel Park 10k is one of my favourite races, mostly because running with the Tuffs on Saturday mornings in Arundel Park all those years ago is when I really started to fall in love with running, so it’s always great to compete there whenever the chance comes.
This year, it was great to take part with so many Tuffs on the start line, and it’s always fun to revel in a bit of healthy competition banter before the start to get in the mood, especially so with the team prize at stake.
Starting from Hiorne Tower, as we headed out on the long drag up the London Road climb Marc Flinders and Simon Thistlethwaite were streaking off into the distance whilst I had Abi Clark and Stephen Fryer on either shoulder for the first 5k (talk about pressure!)
Heading down target valley, Abi and Stephen came flying past before I managed to reel Stephen back in again up the climb by Swanbourne lake. From then on, it was a case of digging in and trying to keep the pace up.
Heading into the castle, I managed to catch Simon, but heading back into the park to the finish, despite pushing hard, I couldn’t quite catch Abi, who was having a great race and finished 2nd female overall.
As for me, I crossed the finish line in 44:51, which is my best Arundel 10k time, so I was pleased with that, given my target was to break the 45-minute barrier. It was also great to be part of the 4 that claimed the team prize for Tuff Fitty, which is a nice pat on the back.
All in all, it was a fun way to spend a late summer Sunday morning, racing on a great course in great weather. A big thanks to Abi and Stephen for keeping me honest all the way around. It was great racing with you both!
parkrun Round Up
Saturday 16th August 2025
Tuffs were out in speedy force at Worthing parkrun with Danny Cunnett, Dave March, Jay McCardle, Stephen Feest and Paul Fielder all coming in under 24 minutes. Les Pearce and Nina Tully made up the Tuff contingent. Fraser Kidd and Steve Fryer were in a rush along the coast at Littlehampton. Emma Hinton, Colin Simpson and Oliver Thomas were also in action with Hope Newcomer and Chris Evans picking up volunteering credits. Katie Young and Will King were at Bognor, while Debbie Birch and Murray Hodge were lone Tuffs at Tilgate and Lancing Beach Green respectively.
Saturday 23rd August 2025
There was no parkrun in Worthing on 23rd August, so some Tuffs had to run further from home. Lancing Beach Green was the main beneficiary with Richard Hobbs, Clive Harvey, Tiff Orton, Les Pearce, Murray Hodge and Jay McCardle all taking part there. Steve and Benita Fryer were at Littlehampton, along with Stephen Feest, Kayleigh Hudson and Chris Evans. Chris was as usual on volunteering duty along with new Tuff Tracey Goult. Tuffs on tour were Fraser and Amy Kidd at Moors Valley in Dorset, Danny Cunnett at Enniskillen in Northern Ireland and Paul Fielder at Wynyard Woodland parkrun in Stockton-on-Tees.
