Lots to catch up on this week, with the events streaming in and Aces competing all over Europe. Starting with the European Middle Distance Championships, then, still on an international stage, the Leeds Olympic Distance Triathlon, then to the unusual with the Man versus Horse, 50-mile time trials in Bynea, the London Nightrider and finishing off with the Cardiff Junior Triathlon. A real mixture of events, I think you will agree.

Also, last weekend saw Carlton Coates, Chris Lloyd and Billy Connor meeting with representatives from the Withybush Hospital Cancer Unit at their Charity Shop in Haverfordwest, to hand over a cheque for £515 from the Aces take on ‘Mr & Mrs’ which they held last year, and also £1,350 from Chris and Carlton’s 100-mile run ultra-marathon.

Garmin Challenge European 70.3 Championships

Last weekend saw the European Middle Distance Championships descend on Herning in Denmark, and as the club has progressed, so has the number of members who have qualified to represent and hold the honour of competing in their country’s colours.

Last year saw Paul Slack and Ian Vickery heading over to Austria to compete. We had more members taking part this year, with Paul and Ian again chosen to represent Team GB, but we also had Richie Gardiner and Vicky Jones representing GB and our own little Irish charm Anto O’Hara, who qualified to represent Team Ireland.

Also competing in the championships were fellow competitors from Pembrokeshire, Dave Francis and John and Debbie Phillips.

As with last year, there is also the opportunity to race in an open event on the same course, but starting just slightly later and this year following Paul, Julie Slack took on the open race, along with Dave Hawkins, also from Pembrokeshire.

The event is run over the standard 70.3 distances, with the swim being in a lake and over 1.9km (1.2 miles), the bike course being a one lap course over 90km (56 miles), and the run being 21km (13.1 miles). The elite athletes go off first, followed by the age groups for the European Championships.

The times are a little confusing as all were in different age groups and so the actual finishing positions in the various age groups don’t fall into the same order, although in pure time first was Richie with a finish time of 4:26:15, this being a swim of 30:16, a bike of 2:31:01 and a run of 1:19:20. Next was Paul in 4:56:00, with a fantastic swim time of 25:23, which placed him 15th overall but first in his age group, a bike time of 2:40:59 and a run of 1:42:59.

Next was Ian in 4:58:04, with a swim time of 33:32, a bike time of 2:32:40 and a run time of 1:45:15; next was Vicky in 5:20:52, with a swim time of 30:24 (fourth in her age), a bike time of 2:52:48 and a run time of 1:51:12; next was Anto in 6:16:12, with a swim time of 50:52, a bike time of 2:55:35 and a run time of 2:22:29.

The others from Pembrokeshire came in with the following times, Dave Francis in 4:30:40, Jon Phillips in 5:35:50 and Debbie Phillips in 5:39:34.

In the open event, Julie did great with an overall time of 7:08:35, with her swim time of 43:40 (10th in her age), a bike time of 3:33:06 and her run time of 2:40:32.

Well done to all who competed, and some have qualified with their times to represent again next year, which is being held in Ibiza, should be a fun trip. What an honour to run in your country’s colours.

Leeds Olympic Distance Triathlon

Simon Stanford (pictured) took the opportunity to take to the international stage competing up at Leeds on the course of the ITU World Triathlon Series. Except before the main event, which robbed us of the chance to see him competing directly against the Brownlee brothers, although that turned into a very familiar story.

Back to Simon, he took on the course over the following distances 1500m swim, followed by a 40km bike leg and then finishing off with a 10km run. Simon has said that the course was very well supported, all except the finishing chute, as this was being reserved for the main races later in the day, which made for a quiet finishing line.

Simon did very well and completed the course in a time of 2:40:33, this being made up of a swim time of 29:58, a bike leg of 1:13:35 and a run leg of 47:31 - well done Simon.

Man versus

Horse Race

A very unusual event next, but one that has a history and has been held since 1980, with the first one being held after two men were chatting in the Neuadd Arms Hotel about who would be quicker, a man or a horse, running over mountainous terrain. The landlord, looking to promote his hotel and also the town of Llanwrtyd Wells, put it to the test and the rest is history.

The race is run over a slightly shorter than normal marathon distance of just short of 24 miles, but with a very unforgiving terrain. In all the years that the race has been held, only two people have ever beaten the horse on the day, once in 2004 and then again in 2007, but the horse has not been beaten since.

Dave Lewis and his wife took part, with Dave running and his wife on the horse. A tough event, I think you will all agree - well done to both.

Time Trials

Some good performances coming through with time trials this year, with a few members taking on the Thursday events, but this was something different changing up to a 50-mile course.

Shaun and Rhian Griffiths were taking part at a very emotional time for them both after just losing Shaun’s wife and Rhian’s mother, Lisa, and also fellow Aces Gareth Rees and Colin Barrett taking on the Bynea 50-mile TT.

Shaun and Rhian are now quite seasoned time trialists and take on this distance on a regular basis, with both completing the course in very good times. However, it was only Gareth’s second 50-mile TT and he was hoping for better this time after his crank fell off the last time he tried.

It felt as though it was going to also be a bad day, as Colin had to pull out after 15 miles in a lot of pain, and with Gareth struggling with his hip and knee, but, determined not to be beaten again, he carried on until the finish. Well done and a mark in the sand to try to better next time.

London

Nightrider

Wayne Diggy Duignan took part in the London Nightrider last weekend, a new experience and a great way to discover a city by bike whilst raising funds for charity.

Due to the nature of the event, you get full support, which includes medical and mechanical back-up, as well as regular break stops throughout the night.

At the stops there are snacks, water and toilets and as a bonus there’s tea and cake at the halfway point.

And at the finish you can expect a cheer and a well-earned breakfast and medal. The route is all on road and is fully sign-posted.

Nightrider is designed as a fundraising cycle ride; it is not a sportive and so it is not timed. The course takes them over 60 miles in and around London, taking in some of the following sights: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Victoria Park, Abbey Road Studios, Maida Vale and Little Venice, Museum Road, Knightsbridge, Embankment, Westminster and Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, St Paul’s Cathedral, Greenwich and Tower Bridge.

Surely a better way to see London than an open top bus - well done on a new experience.

Cardiff Junior Triathlon

Well done to Megan Williams, who recently took part in the Cardiff Junior Triathlon. The event distances were a 300m swim, a 6000m cycle leg and then a 2400m run. Well done Megan.

Activities for the coming week

Friday, June 16 - Sea Swim, North Beach, ready to go in for 6 pm.

Friday, June 16 - Slacky’s Swim Session, for those booked in, 7 pm at the leisure centre.

Saturday, June 17 - Colby Parkrun, a great local event and well worth supporting.

Sunday, June 18 - Club Ride, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 9 am.

Sunday, June 18 - Tenby Go-Tri for those taking part or to help out, meeting at the leisure centre for 8 am.

Monday, June 19 - Sea Swim, meet at North Beach at 5.30 pm and into water for 6 pm.

Tuesday, June 20 - Club Ride, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm. Route detailed below.

Wednesday, June 21 - Aces Run Session, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm.

Thursday, June 22 - Club Ride, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm. Route detailed below.

Route for Tuesday: Route 1: (Pembroke loop) - Lydstep, Hodgeston, Lamphey, Lower Lamphey Road, Pembroke Castle, Upper Lamphey Road, Lamphey, Hodgeston, Jameston, Lydstep, Tenby (approx 21.5 miles). Sweepers - Huw Bridges and Anto O’Hara

Route for Thursday: Route 64 (Coal Land and Petrox) - TLC, Gumfreston, Heatherton, turn left for St Florence, Dingle lane, turn left onto Coal Lane, rt on Ridgeway to Lamphey, up to Fresh East, turn right down Fresh East Hill, Stackpole, Cowpoo Hill, Petrox, rt at bottom of St Daniels Hill, Pembroke East end, upper Lamphey road and Coast road back to TLC. (approx. 27 miles). Sweepers - Jo Brace and Nicola Coates.

• Note that rides will start at 6.30pm from Tenby Leisure Centre car park. Helmets to be worn on all club rides. We ride in three speed groups, with the aim that no-one gets left behind.