Newsletter - February 2000

This is an extract from the Newsletter of the Tri-Buchan Triathlon Club

Editorial
My last promise to start training has fallen to pieces. Well my Graham Weigh winter bike fell to pieces actually. On the Mintlaw Sunday cycle, the frame failed at one of the welds, as did my ribs and back, when I bounced off the tarmac.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the group who managed to assist me and keep straight faces during my moment of acute embarrassment.

Paul's Duathlon
Paul's Duathlon, held at New Pitsligo, was arranged at very short notice. Even though, there was still a reasonable turnout, especially as there was a very high wind which made the return cycle to New Pitsligo challenging to say the least. Five contestants braved the elements to start the run, while several participated in the cycle. Eck Whyte was the first to complete the whole course and left the rest of the field well behind. The numbers however swelled when Paul produced soup and sandwiches for all those present.

Peterhead Athletics Club
At a recent T-B meeting it was decided that the Triathlon club will assist the Peterhead Athletics Club by taking over some of their administration duties. Ann Smith was appointed as the liaison officer to act between both clubs.

Forthcoming Attractions
Maud Duathlon 13th Feb. Contact Bill Dallas. Home 01771-613435. Work 01224-884990. Bill.j.dallas@is.shell.com

Round the Castles. Crathes. 6th Feb. Drum Castle. 20th Feb. Contact. Willie Russell. 01330-822076.

Sunday Cycle Peterhead. The Sunday run still departs from Balmoor Cemetery, Peterhead at 0930 am. The pace is still quite fast with the distance around 30-40 miles and an average speed of about 18/19 mph, Interested? then contact Brian Duncan on 01779-476716.

Sunday Cycle Mintlaw. The Mintlaw cycle meets at the Mintlaw Academy huts at 0930 on Sunday mornings. The group is still in Its infancy but the pace will be slower than that of the Peterhead group, with distances generally less. There may be the opportunity later, for both groups to join up, and form two groups of similar abilities. Contact Malcolm Hogg on 01771-624595 .

Friday Swimming Sessions
Peterhead Canoe club have generously allocated a swimming lane to Tri-Buchan members at Peterhead Swimming Pool. For the sad people amongst us, the session is available on Friday nights, between 2100-2200 hours, at a cost of £2 per head. There is generally an open invitation to a local hostelry, after the session, for a swift consumption of liquid beverages.

Mail Order
If you aren't in an immediate hurry for cycle goods, pop in past Duncan's Cycles in Erroll St and ask Gary if he can match, or beat advertised magazine prices. He can often come up with a better deal, or if the item is straight off the shelf, don't forget to ask for cyclists discounts. If you present a receipt for TRI-BUCHAN membership you will be entitled to 10% off spares and accessories. E mail Addresses. If you can think of anybody out there, that would like this drivel sent to them, send me their address and I will include them in the circulation list.

Disclaimer
The object of this circulation is to try to have a light hearted look the Triathlon scene and Its associated sports. All the victims are personally known to me, and will be generally be known to each other. You will have to, on occasion, bear with my sense of humour. Any comments, please send them on to me, alternatively, any complaints, please E mail them to Brian Duncan jnr. malcolm@mintlaw7.freeserve.co.uk

The latest note I have from Paul Winter is : "How's the winter training going? I've been out on my rusty steed 4 times since the TTs stopped. Anyway, enuff of my drivel. The duathalon I was organising at the start of January never got off the ground, for which I blame the local constabulary, as they were warning people not to travel except in case of dire emergency, on account of the inclement weather. As a result no one turned up, so Carol and I ate the soup and sandwiches over the following two weeks! We ran a consolation event, that was organised at about 0.5 nanoseconds notice a couple of weekends ago - the only definite winner was Malcomb, who finished his soup in half the time of the next nearest competitor (Eck - who you may not know - allegedly won both the run and cycle sections, but the timekeeping was decidedly casual). Bill Dallas is organising another one on the 13th of feb, in which, rumor has it, there is an unarmed combat section (he was away last year doing his TA SAS selection course!) Running training takes place with Peterhead AAC at the Peterhead track on Tuesdays (and Thursdays if you don't want to swim) at 7-8pm and swimming takes place on Thursdays at Peterhead pool at 7-8pm and also on fridays from 9-10pm (the canoe club, of which I am a member, have let the tri-club, of which I am a member, have a lane and a half for their exclusive use - isn't networking a wonderful process). Malcomb turns out a regular newsletter, which I'm sure he won't mind mailing to you, and Bill probably has it in hand to let YCC members know about his duathalon (which for official purposes is a club training event to which we're inviting a few pals along to). The complete lack of paragraphs in this script has nothing to do with e-mail etiquette, its just a reflection of my frenetic brain processes.

Cheers,
Paul"