A fine day with that early morning chill in it, the new venue for the swim is where the old course took you up the gragual hill. The swim looked long and it was with most people swimming about 5-9 mins longer than normal. The bike ride took you on a different course too, taking you to the farthest point on the coast road where the little cafe is at the bottom of the big hill, then up the hill and back down the hill you normally go up, the left back to the bottom of the big hill round a cone and along the coast to one of the forts where again you encircled a cone if you could stay on! not me! then back along the coast up the gradual hill as normal back down the big hill, back along the coast and in. The run was three laps, initially up the gradual hill then left, left again onto the coast road and twicw again. The event was good as you came passed transision god knows how many times, lost count so gd for the spectators who poss get a little bored waiting to see people only at transition time.

The evening do was good, in one of the hotels we have been in before, however they seemed to take a while getting to serve everyone and clear up, leaving the presentations a bit rushed and then we were told that the bar was closing soon and the disco finished at the bewitching hour.

The prizes were good donated by a local cycle shop, and I got a spot prize of a helmet!

The overall winner was karl webster 2.16 , chris booker did it in 2.23 pete horn 2.42 and dunc maloy 2.21. The first lady whippet was in in 2.36 and I came in a steady 2.46 , 65th overall out of 112 and 6th lady I believe.

It was a good race with only one injury as I recall - one of the West Yorks lads took a corner short and had to miss a car and dislocated his shoulder but was ok, but found probs cutting his meat at the meal!!

The Dutch were on good form with Renne doing his usual speech, shame we had to leave early mon, missing the beach at petit bot! ps Rene sends his best to cathy and I ghave a present for her!

The weather was a bit overcast on our arrival, but got better and was lovely and sunny as the race was finishing! so icecreams had by all!!

Alas another season over!

Bob sends his best to all and hopes some more visit the island in 2003!

Bye, for now, Sarahx