The last week has truly been an international affair with members away in the Netherlands and in France, it makes the two events besides, sound a little less glamorus, but then one of them is the Tenby 10k and we get to run around our beautiful town, then maybe not.

ALPE d’HUEZ TRIATHLON

The Tenby Observer’s own Andy Adamson is certainly pushing boundaries this year, and after his success in Ironman Wales last year, he has taken on some exceptionally hard triathlons with the Isoman recently and now taking on the famous Alpe d’Huez. Now some of you will ask what is it. Well it is a traithlon set in the standard format, just like any over. What is different is the location. It is set in, around and over one of the serious climbs from the Tour de France. The swim is set in the crystal clear waters of Lac du Verney, this is where the magic starts as swimmers are only allowed into the water during the triathlon. Then once out of the water it is onto the bike of which the course is legendary, with 3 mountain passes on the programme – the Alpe du Grand Serre (1375 m) and the Col d’Ornon (1371 m) – as well as the climb has 21 switching bends on the way up to Alpe d’Huez, with the views that go along with the climb, which you can’t but admire. Then it is onto the run, which takes place in the resort of Alpe d’Huez and is held over a mixture of tarmac roads and mountain paths, this they have to complete three times. The distances that this is over is swim 2.2 km, bike 11 km and the the run over 22 km. Andy completed the swim in a time of 36:02, the bike leg in 7:08:55 and then following up with the run in 2:49:39, giving him an overall finish time of 10:44:13, an excellent performance on a very tough course. And I must say Andy you need to learn to take a break after seeing him run the Tenby 10k on Sunday.

IRONMAN MAASTRICHT, HOLLAND

Adam John decided to head over to the Netherlands and take on a different Ironman, and Maastricht seemed like a great course to attack. Unfortunately the trip did not get off to the best start when his van was broken into. Thankfully nothing was taken, but still enough to put you off your preparations. Back to the race, and one with some significance at the moment having just gone through the recent Brexit decision in the country as Maastricht was were the treaty was signed to bring in the Euro. The swim was a 1 loop in the Maas River, going around the provincial government building, and then similar to Tenby there is an Australian exit, where athletes have to exit and re-enter the water, and then swim back. The bike course is over two loops of 90k and is based around Maastricht and the Limburg region and Belgium. There is approximately 1400 metres of elevation on the course. And then the run course is again similar to Tenby as it is over four loops, each of approx. 10.5k, and it is run through Maastricht. Adam completed the course with the following times, swim in 59:33, bike leg in 5:52:35, run leg in 4:45:05, giving him an overall time of 11:47:48, very well done and hope that you will remember the weekend for the race and not for the bad luck before it.

TOWY VALLEY GRAN FONDO

Gareth Rees and Colin Barrett who are keen to keep the focus on the cycling at the moment, especially for Colin who is leaving triathlon to really concentrate on the two wheeled element, signed up and entered the Towy Valley Gran Fondo last weekend, which had been organised by Cranc Cyclesport. It is a challenging 75 mile course cycling through the beautiful and picturesque Towy Valley. There are some challenging climbs on the route. The course was down to be well sign posted, although Colin still managed to take a wrong turn and go a little further than needed, which is becoming a bit of a pattern for Colin as he was part of the group that went the wrong way on the 200 mile charity ride, there is talk of whether Colin was at the front when the wrong turn was taken that day also. Both completed the course, so well done even if there were a number of extra miles Colin.

Tenby 10k

Last Sunday saw the now annual running of the Tenby 10k, which has become a great event and very well supported by locals, members and competitors from away, with this year being no exception, and the new entry system this year caught a few people out, myself included, but worked very well and we will have to be better prepared next year. The weather on the day was kind to the competitors and it was great to see so many aces running, either in club kit or for other good causes, indeed there were quite a number running under different names I believe. The race has become a great event with some excellent athletes taking part but also some there just for fun, or doing that distance for the first time. The support again on the day was great from the locals for all concerned and showed off how great it is in our little town.

Tenby Aces activities for the coming week are as follows:

Friday 5th August – Sea Swim Session, meet at Top of North Beach Steps at 5.30 pm to swim at 6.00 pm.

Friday 5th August – Slacky’s Swim Session for those booked in. Tenby Leisure Centre at 7 p.m.

Sunday 7th August – Club Ride meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 8.00 am.

Monday 8th August – Sea Swim Session, meet at Top of North Beach Steps at 5.30 pm to swim at 6.00 pm.

Monday 8th August – Ironman Wales Talk for members at the Dennis Cafe (Mikes) at 7.30 pm, Please let Nicola know if you want to attend.

Tuesday 9th August – Club Ride meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 p.m. Route detailed below.

Wednesday 10th August – Aces Run Session meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 p.m.

Thursday 11th August – Club Ride, meet at Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 p.m. Route detailed below.

Route for Tuesday 9th August

Sweepers Mel Morgan and Donna Bradley

Route 1 : (Pembroke loop) Lydstep, Hodgeston, Lamphey, Lower Lamphey Road, Pembroke Castle, Upper Lamphey Road, Lamphey, Hodgeston, Jameston, Lydstep, Tenby (approx 21.5 miles).

Route for Thursday 11th August

Sweepers John Hubbard and Julie Andrasko

Route 16 : (Manorbier Castle) Tenby, Lydstep, Manorbier continuing past the Castle up the coast road hill, rejoin A4139 then turn left into into Jason Road heading towards Freshwater East, Lamphey, Lower Lamphey Road, Pembroke Castle, Turn left onto Bush Hill, Right into Woodbine Terrace, Golden Lane, Deer Park Lane, turn left down Stephens Green, right at the bottom then left towards Carew, turn right at Carew Inn, Sageston, Old Redberth Road, East Williamston, Templebar Road, New Hedges, Broadwell Hayes, Tenby Leisure Centre. (approx 28 miles) .

Rides leave Tenby Leisure Centre at 6.30 p.m. and helmets must be worn on all club rides.