Round Up 1st – 30th June 2026
There is a real range of events for you to read about in this edition of the round up. As we know, Tuffs are always pushing themselves outside their comfort zone. Thank you to all contributors for sharing your experiences. Fraser was the only man reporting in this month, so this edition really celebrates our female members!
Goodwood Team Time Trial – Tuesday 2nd June 2026
We have 2 reports from this event. First this report from Chrisine Griffin:
Tuesday evening saw me take part in the Goodwood Team Time Trial alongside Sue Simpson, Jodi Barter and Hazel Sheward.
When we first entered, we thought the event was going to be four laps, but a few days beforehand we discovered it was actually ten! It certainly sounded a bit more daunting, but out of my comfort zone I went!!!
As a team, we’d never ridden together before, so the event was always going to be a learning experience. It took a little while to find our rhythm, but before long we were working well together, riding in a line and taking turns on the front. Everyone put in a great effort and we soon got the hang of it.
Anyone who has ridden at Goodwood knows that the wind is almost always a factor, and this evening was no exception. About half of each lap felt incredibly hard work as we battled into the wind, but thankfully the sheltered backside of the circuit allowed us to recover slightly and build some good speed.
We were also lucky to have fantastic support. Colin Simpson was there cheering us on every time we passed the pits, which gave us a real boost. Mark Sole’s booming voice could be heard from a long way off, and Vicki Hedger was also there encouraging us, despite her team sadly not getting a space in the event.
It was certainly an experience to remember. I was absolutely delighted when we finally crossed the finish line, only to discover that I still had to complete another lap as a cool-down just to get back to the pits!
One of the best things about the evening was the support and encouragement from everyone at Tuff Fitty Tri Club. They always make you feel welcome and capable, even if, like me, I’m an older gal who was never sporty in my youth. Their encouragement gives you the confidence to try new challenges, and I’m very grateful to be part of such a supportive club.
A memorable evening, plenty of laughs, and another challenge ticked off!
Next, a report from Verity-Jane Lacey:
Whilst I wasn’t riding as part of a Tuff team it was absolutely amazing to see so many Tuffs come along and give this event a go. Everyone was riding around with beaming smiles and cheering other riders on.
Sadly, there was an accident for one team caused by a more experienced team muscling their way through a gap that wasn’t really there, but luckily no one was too seriously hurt and hopefully not put off from entering again.
My team finished the ten laps in just under the hour and when looking at the results we seemed to be fairly consistent across each lap. I was their weak link so to speak so they all had to ride at my pace and listen to my prompts to ease up or push on. We worked really well as a team and will definitely return next year to see if we can improve our times.
South Downs Way Relay – Saturday 6th June 20206
Next up a report from your editor, Kate Cooper:
On Saturday 6th June I was part of a mixed team (3 men and 3 women) tackling the South Downs Way Relay, which is an annual event where each of the 6 runners run 3 non-consecutive legs to collectively run the South Downs Way from Beachy Head to Winchester. I have to say that it was an amazing experience, albeit a very wet and windy one!
Early triathlon starts stood me in good stead for a 4.30am get up and we made it to Beachy Head in plenty of time for the team briefing. While a runner is completing their leg, the rest of the team must drive to the changeover location ready for the next handover. Given the ups and downs and narrow roads involved, this is not necessarily an easy feat! My first leg started at Bo Peep car park near Firle and I had the benefit of starting dry. This did not last! It took me quite a while to realise that the strange noise I was hearing was the sound of wind whistling over my baton! It is a straightforward leg which I had recced in beautiful conditions, but as I battled through it in the wind and rain, the amazing views from the recce were a distance memory! After the handover, I jumped in the car windblown and soaking wet and on we went!
My second leg started at Springhead Hill near Storrington and by this time the conditions were even worse. I could barely stand up in the wind! There was nothing to be done but to endure (and think of appropriate quotations from King Lear which I studied for A-level) until I handed over the baton near Amberley: it was so crazy to be running in the conditions that it was strangely invigorating. Cue a repeat of getting into a car soaking wet!
Thankfully, by my 3rd leg up to Old Winchester Hill conditions had improved to a mere drizzle. The leg finishes with an evil climb, but the support at the top was fantastic. At the next hand over I even got to change into dry clothes and shoes!
We were all at Chilcomb Sports Ground to cheer in our final runner and celebrate with prosecco and snacks. I was absolutely delighted when they announced that we were the 3rd mixed team! I was very much the weakest link in a group of extremely fast and talented runners, but the camaraderie was amazing in the most ridiculous conditions. If anyone ever offers you the opportunity to join a South Downs Relay team, do say ‘yes’!
Worthing 10k – Sunday 7th June 2026
Congratulations to Fraser Kidd on a great performance at Worthing 10k and many thanks to him for sending in the following report:
The first of five Tuff Summer Series Runs (STRUN) took place on Sunday 7th June. This marked my second 10km in Worthing within five weeks, with a slightly different route this time. The course was a straightforward out-and-back along Worthing promenade, heading out to Goring and passing the Sea Lane Café.
Conditions were an improvement on the previous day, although a steady 15–20mph headwind made the opening half more challenging than ideal. It certainly required some patience early on before the turn provided a welcome boost.
I was really pleased to finish in 37:53. With the large timing board coming into view, I pushed hard over the final kilometre to dip under 38 minutes, which gave the finish a real sense of purpose.
A solid start to the series — I’m looking forward to the next of the summer runs.
Goodwood Time Trials – Wednesday 27th May & 10th June 2026
Next, Verity-Jane Lacey reports in on the recent individual time trials at Goodwood:
The 2nd TT of the series was on 27th May and it was my new triathlon bike debut in near perfect conditions. I finished in a time of 25:13 which gave me second place female. There was a really good turnout from the Tuffs and also the two more local cycling clubs, Angmering and Worthing.
The 3rd TT of the series was on 10th June and I wasn’t sure I had the legs for it as I was warming up. When I went to sign on, I was given an envelope with my number. I opened it and was surprised to see prize money for my efforts in the previous event!
The organisers rather kindly started me sandwiched between two pros which we had a joke about on the start line. I was surprised to finish in a time of 24:36 which was a decent PB for me and placed me 3rd female (behind the two pros).
SwimRun – Studland – Saturday 13th June 2026
Verity continues about a rather different event:
About 6 months ago a friend found this event and suggested we could use it as an excuse for a girls’ weekend away. Obviously, we all agreed and 4 of us booked in to the middle-distance race: me, Ness Green and two non-Tuff members. We headed to Dorset with Carey in tow as chief photo taker.
The event couldn’t be set in a more picturesque location and to be so lucky with such beautiful weather really topped it off. We were staying in Swanage which was a short 15-minute drive from the race start and as the start time was 9:30, we could have a pretty decent lie in!
We registered on the Saturday morning and proceeded to get our kit on. None of us used pull buoys as we found in practice runs our feet floated quite nicely. Our game plan was to plod around together with no pressure to race as none of us had done a swim/run event before and we just wanted to have an enjoyable day.
I annoyingly woke up with a raging sore throat and no voice (I hear cheering), so the game plan suited me down to the ground as I’m not sure I had much else to offer.
There were four runs and three swims. The runs were short under 1km each apart from the third one being a longer 6.5km. Each of the swims were fairly similar at just under 1km each.
The event was really well-organised, relaxed and great fun. We are already looking to sign up again next year with maybe a view to race it.
Mid-Sussex Triathlon – Burgess Hill – Sunday 14th June 2026
A 2nd big thank you to Christine Griffin for sending in a 2 reports this month. Here are the thoughts of the smiliest competitor in the Mid-Sussex Tri:
Another wonderful event and a special one for me, as this is where my triathlon journey began in 2023 when I completed the Try-a-Tri for my 60th birthday.
As always, the marshals and fellow competitors were incredibly friendly and supportive, creating a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish. The swim consisted of 16 lengths of the pool in the familiar zig-zag format, followed by a 25km bike ride and a 5km run.
It was lovely to see so many of the Tuff Fitty crew there, and their encouragement throughout the race was greatly appreciated.
To top off a fantastic day, I was delighted to receive the award for Smiliest Competitor—a lovely surprise and a reflection of just how much I enjoyed the event!
Another superbly organised event and a great day of triathlon. Highly recommended.
parkrun Round Up
Saturday 6th June 2026
| NAME OF PARKRUN | TUFF PARTICIPANTS | THINGS OF NOTE |
| Littlehampton | Fraser Kidd Simon Grundy Steve Fryer Stephen Evans Andy Rossiter Benita Fryer Al Evans | Congratulations to Andy Rossiter on a PB! |
| Worthing | Danny Cunnett Les Pearce Edward Lay | |
| Havant | Sheila Bailey | Touring |
| Gibraltar Botanical Gardens | Sue Neilson | Touring |
| Hazelwood | Trevor Harvey | Touring |
| Greenham Common | Dan Barnett | Touring |
| Clair | Paul Fielder | Touring |
Saturday 13th June 2026
| NAME OF PARKRUN | TUFF PARTICIPANTS | THINGS OF NOTE |
| Littlehampton | Fraser Kidd Jon Roo Dominique Noiret Steve Bridgeman Stephen Evans Al Evans Volunteering: Chris Evans | |
| Worthing | Oliver Thomas Daniel Barnett Nina Tully | |
| Bognor Regis | Colin Simpson Sue Simpson | |
| Downs Link | Stephen Feest Murray Hodge | |
| Horsham | Glenn Parisi Tiff Roper | |
| Bideford | Juliette Reader | 3rd woman |
| Great Salterns | Katie Young Will King | 3rd woman Touring |
| Portsmouth Lakeside | Paul Fielder | Touring |
Saturday 20th June 2026
| NAME OF PARKRUN | TUFF PARTICIPANTS | THINGS OF NOTE |
| Littlehampton | Steve Fryer Steve Bridgeman Dominique Noiret Colin Simpson Benita Fryer Chris Evans | |
| Worthing | Oliver Thomas Paul Barnard Ed Lay Les Pearce Elaine Rousseau | |
| Bognor Regis | Glenn Parisi Clive Harvey Trevor Harvey | |
| Abbot’s Wood, Polegate | Daniel Barnett | |
| Bushy | Al Evans | |
| Uckfield | Stephen Feest | Touring |
| Wakehurst | Paul Fielder | Touring |
| Bevendean Down | Simon Grundy | Touring |
Saturday 27th June 2026
| NAME OF PARKRUN | TUFF PARTICIPANTS | THINGS OF NOTE |
| Littlehampton | Simon Grundy Steve Fryer Oliver Thomas Stephen Feest Adrian Oliver Emma Hinton Colin Simpson Catharine Western Chris Evans Al Evans | |
| Lancing Beach Green | Ed Lay | |
| Downs Link | Daniel Barnett Les Pearce | |
| Havant | Sheila Bailey | |
| Tamar Lakes | Trevor Harvey Clive Harvey | |
| Sandhurst Memorial | Fraser Kidd | Touring |
| Birkenhead | Paul Fielder | Touring |
