Super Troupers – Stratford upon Avon Athletics Club

Paula Williams and Emma Bexson both excelling in Gothenburg at the same time

It seems appropriate to have an Abba song title as the title of this week’s newsletter considering the remarkable coincidence that two of our club’s hardest working and most talented members, Emma Bexson and Paula Williams, were competing in world class events barely a few miles apart in Sweden last weekend.

Not only were they competing, they were excelling.

Emma finished in 2nd place in her age category, despite being in the final year of this category. How on earth you throw in a 3:44 marathon after swimming 2.4 miles in the sea and then cycling 112 miles is absolutely and utterly beyond me.

Paula then added a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay, having a few days earlier won gold in the shot put, while at the same time obliterating her one British record.

To add to these achievements Paula finished 2nd in her 80m hurdles heat to qualify for Friday’s final. Good luck Paula

The words “I’m in awe” don’t really do their achievements justice.

Huge thanks to Hannah Osbourne for her Ironman report.

A small, young and perfectly formed team did us proud at the latest Midland League fixture at Yate near Bristol. Promoted to the lofty heights of Division 2 this year, the team are more than holding their own.

The Summer Six saw some 281 competitors complete the course, including 14 club members in an event that raised much needed funds for the club.

Finally, Wednesday night saw 41 intrepid club members face the daunting challenge of running up Larkstoke in the latest Shakespeare Race with Jamie Hall winning his 4th successive Shakespeare Race.

Take care.

David Jones

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Paula qualifies for 80m hurdles final.

Paula finished comfortably in 2nd place in her heat to qualify for Friday afternoon’s final.

Paula qualified as 5th fastest for Friday’s 80m hurdle final

Crossing the finish line in her heat, comfortably in 2nd place.

Emma Bexson on the podium (far left) having finished in 2nd place.

Paula Williams on the podium – again!

Chillin’

Emma Bexson

IRONMAN Kalmar

The Main Event

Report – Hannah Osborne

Last week Emma Bexson and I set off for Sweden for what would be her anniversary Ironman. Kalmar Ironman was her very 1st one 10 years ago and on 17th August, 10 years later this would be her 10th race at this distance.

Ironman Kalmar is said to be the best Ironman race in the World and Emma herself agrees, having raced in many destinations within the UK, Europe and as far as the World Championships in Kona.

Bexson, 49, said she was going into the race to give it her all and felt good, this would be her last year in this age category.

Race day saw good weather conditions. The 2.4 mile sea swim was a rolling start and Emma got into her race day focus early on.

The sea cold at points threatened cramp to kick in but she was out of the water and into transition in good time. Next up was the 112 miles on the bike, the course weaves briefly through the city before heading out to the island of Öland known for its stunning natural beauty and then leads back to the mainland as the athletes cross the famous Öland bridge a second time, usually it’s a no-go for bikes!

With the route now back near the city, Emily Adams (who had joined us) and I were able to get to a number of points to be our usual noisy selves to cheer Emma on, complete with PomPoms, balloons and flags.

Out and back with a strong headwind on the mainland, Emma had the fastest bike in her Age Group averaging 34.72 km/hr. Next came the marathon run (26.2 miles). The 3 lap run course takes on woodland trails and the footpaths of Kalmar with lots of local support, plus the two noisy Brits.

Into the mid afternoon, the sun had come out and temperatures had risen. Emma, now suffering with back pain, knew she had to dig deep and on the 3rd lap got cheered on by another runner who admired how strong she was running. Working together to give their best, Emma completed the marathon run in 3:44:44 and finished the whole Ironman in 10:15:47, placing her 2nd in her age category out of 59 competitors. 1st place went to Emanuela Venturelli of Italy in 10:10:03.

Emma showed once again her strength, hard work and focus to achieve an awesome result. We were pleased no medical tents were involved this time and we could go back out to support others still finishing and Emma’s achievement.

Emma and Hannah in wetsuits and ready for the mini-Ironman

Maybe not the ideal bike for a mini-ironman but needs must I guess.

IRONMAN Kalmar

The Warm Up Event !

Report – Hannah Osborne

2 weeks before she was due to race Emma sent me a link to a mini triathlon Ironman was holding a few days before the main event, she encouraged me to sign up, so I did! It meant getting my bike out for a few rides and doing a few swims…training done!

Emma also signed up, as this would be an easy test a few days out and great to get the transition practice in and bike moving. She assured me I would be able to hire a bike over there. Having done research in the days leading up to it, it appeared my bike hire options were limited to a kids bike or a basket bike!

Wednesday came and we both hired basket bikes and had a little ride around, quickly learning that you can’t pedal backwards otherwise the bike brakes and you had a maximum of 3 dodgy gears.

Emma opted to race on her TT bike and I felt obliged to spruce up my bike with athletics vest and GB flag. We then spent the afternoon awaiting Emma’s new wetsuit to be delivered and an hour getting her in it and another hour of her wearing it around our “shack” to get it moving better. Quite a sight.

The evening came and we headed off, racked our bikes (mine looked quite a spectacle next to those worth a lot of money!) and walked to the start of the swim. Emma was off in the 1st wave,and I was left to get nervous.

It was a great mini event, which saw a 520m sea swim, into a 18km bike ride and then a 4km run around the city to finish on the red carpet. Emma enjoyed the faster pace of a short distance although lost a lot of time in transition not being able to get her wetsuit off. Good learning and more practice was had before her main event!

I had fun once I got over my nerves in the water, came out flying on the bike and had so much support, it wasn’t the usual thing to see, I flew past many others, managed to ride 17 mph and then the 4km run felt very long but the support was great.

Next up to focus on was the main event on Saturday. Wetsuit practice, run course checked out, bike set up, supporters accessories purchased.

Members of Team Stratford relaxing in the Bristol sunshine

The provisional results from last Sunday’s fixture show us as having finished in 5th place on the day.

Midland’s Track and Field League

Yate – Bristol

Report – Mike Sheppard

The provisional results from last Sunday’s fixture at Yate near Bristol show that we managed a very creditable 5th place finish on the day.

The results are particularly impressive given the very youthful nature of our squad. Our oldest female athlete was 21 and – with the exception of the three old stagers who thought they were attending to officiate or spectate – we had only one male athlete older than 18!

It was also great to see so many PB performances being recorded despite it being late season with many just back from holiday.

When the league points are totted up, the Division 2 league table should look like this with just the 7 September match remaining:

Bristol & West 22.5

Leamington 19.5

Newport 15.5

Stratford 13.75

Cannock 12.0

Birchfield 8.75

Tamworth 6.0

The league structure means that two teams will be promoted to Division 1 and three teams will be relegated to Division 3. This is likely to make the last match very competitive as only Bristol (guaranteed promotion) and Tamworth (guaranteed relegation) can afford to relax. Stratford has a decent chance of maintaining 4th spot and therefore remaining in Division 2 for next season but only if we can take something close to a full strength team to Tamworth. Therefore, if you have not done so already, please could you let me know if you are able to compete on Saturday 7 September.

The Summer Six

Members of the Stratford contingent.

Ade Mason

Sam Mercer and Max Ross

The ever smiling Pip Bell

James Coy and Owen Lewis

Mark Barker.
Only 6 miles – that’s a doddle

The Summer Six

Report – Ade Mason

It’s that time of year again when we get to host one of the WRRL races and arguably the best. Many club members came to the helm with numerous roles for support, volunteering and marshalling and as always we put on a good show.

This is a nice local race for me and usually provides the perfect warm-up with a trot across the fields and down the canal, but this year I roped in my wife and daughter for marshalling duties.

The race takes in a lovely loop of Wilmcote and its surroundings and finishes with a climb at mile six back up the hill we all ran down at the start, feeling a lot fresher.

Personally for me, I always knew it would be hard to break my own 2021 course record of 36:00 dead, but I finished in a respectable 17th in a time of 37:03, with a pick up of pace in the final 1km, thanks to family and SAC marshalling cheers of support and the in-form Sam Mercer closing in rapidly! :). Note to self – More hill training needed!

Ian Allen of Spa Striders finished over 2 minutes clear of 2nd place in a time of 30:53!! Must be close to a course record.

The full list of runners shown as SAC members in the results.
For the full results please follow this link:

https://www.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16418&RId=902&EId=1&dt=0&adv=1

Yet Another Medal.

Photos of Paula Williams and the GB 4 X 100m relay team, who won the bronze medal

Set

Great Britain comfortably won the B final, only for the Americans and Swedes to run quicker times in the A final.

Great Britain in the bronze medal position

The Stratford Herald acknowledge Paula’s achievement at being crowned World Champion

The Stratford vest at the World Championships. Apparently Paula had just stubbed her toe, hence the serious expression.

I’m guessing this was taken before tackling Larkstoke!

August Shakespeare Race

Wednesday night in Ilmington saw 41 members take on the challenge of Larkstoke in the August Shakespeare Race. Jamie Hall won his 4th successive Shakespeare race in a time of 25:36, just over a minute ahead of Tom Southall (26:38) in 2nd place. Matt Burdus-Cook (27:21) was 3rd followed by Drew Sambridge (28:54). Ade Mason (29.02) in 5th place has had a particularly busy few days. On Friday he competed in the Summer 6, Saturday morning saw him do the parkrun, Monday he was at the track and Wednesday he competed in the Shakespeare Race. He even found time to bash out a report for the newsletter. Time to rest those legs for a few days Ade.

Maisie-Joy Spriggs (32.03) was 1st female and first junior, indeed only junior.

Foe the full set of results please follow the link below:

https://www.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16418&RId=3113&EId=9

Help me if you can I’m feeling down.

Having started the newsletter with an Abba reference, it’s now time for a Beatles reference.

Sadly this week Karen Gisbourne has decided to give up her role supporting me in attempting to cajole, hassle, appeal to senior members to send race reports in to the newsletter after doing such a wonderful job.

If there is anyone else out who would be willing to take over this role I would be hugely grateful.

I know there is a regular cohort of you who do send in race reports and who I can pretty much rely on should they be asked but more reports are always welcome.