Editor’s note: Matt Jones wrote this report for T-Zero before we heard about the death of Steve Newton, who died after getting into difficulties during the swim section of the event. On hearing the news we questioned whether or not we should publish this story as Matt’s positive experience jarred with the sombre outcome of the day. We decided to go ahead because, judging from the comments in the organiser’s statement on the tragedy (republished below), we felt Steve would not have wanted to jeopardise the future running of what sounds like a superb event, and we hope our reports help triathletes make informed decisions about which events they enter.
Unfortunately triathlon, like many other activities, does involve risks. It also brings many benefits, particularly in terms of fitness, health and lifestyle. It’s quite possible the risks of not doing triathlon (or other physical activity) outweigh the risks of taking part. Deaths are thankfully rare. When they do occur, they remind us of the need to look after ourselves and each other. No doubt there are plenty of 40 something men out there thinking, ‘that could have been me’.
Over the past two decades Ripon Triathlon has grown from a simple event into a fun family weekender. In addition to a well marshalled, challenging olympic distance triathlon, competitors, and their friends and family can enjoy a free weekend’s camping and a host of activities from pasta parties and a disco to a climbing wall and a fun run for the kids.
The Race
Ripon racecourse lies on the outskirts of the Yorkshire cathedral city, with acres of fields to accommodate free weekend camping and free race day parking. Registration is open from 9am until 12pm and was quiet when I arrived at 11.30am. On leaving registration I heard on the tannoy that there were places still available for registration after 12pm. The popularity of this event ensures it sells out before online entries close, but you can turn up on the day with your kit and you are virtually guaranteed a place as apparently it is not uncommon for 20% of the entrants to fail to show up on the day.
The transition area was secure, with only competitors allowed to enter. The area itself was fairly spacious, though the racks were a little cramped, squeezing 750 bikes into only four lanes. The race organisers and the race referee addressed the competitors for the race briefing at 1.30pm and the first wave of swimmers was in the water shortly before 2pm. The out and back route circumnavigated two small islands and plenty of large, bright yellow buoys meant that sighting was straight forward and the swim comfortable for someone new to open-water swimming such as myself. There were plenty of marshalls to help competitors up the concrete slipway at the end of the 1500m long course. This assistance was imperative as the wet concrete was very slippy, I was surprised there was nothing in place to alleviate this, a rubber mat or an old carpet would have probably done the trick.
The second 150-strong wave set off around the island.
The mounting point for the start of the cycle was close to 50m from the transition area, and I saw several competitors struggle with the rough gravel underfoot. The first half of the bike route covered some undulating country roads, stretches of which were whipped by a draining headwind. Later the course flattened out onto dual carriageways which were fairly busy with cars and lorries which would be expected with the afternoon race start. It was exciting to see the lead car out on the course with a roof-mounted stopwatch. The cycle route was advertised as being 44km and this together with the headwinds probably accounted for top times being slightly over the two-hour mark.
The first water station of the race was positioned at the entrance to the transition area, and there was plenty of assistance, although drinking out of paper cups whilst running is still a feat I am yet to master! The run section was winding and scenic, with clear markings every kilometre and another water station just past the half-way point. On a cooler day this could well be a run course on which to set a 10km PB owing to its flatness, that said there were two minor obstacles in the form of a hump-back bridge over the canal and a wide style across the path.
Overall, the race was very well organised and marshalled, though hopefully the race organisers will look into improving the surface of the slipway leading out of the lake, and the ground between the transition area and the cycle mounting point as these were the only blemishes on an otherwise spotless event. Georgie Rutherford won the Senior Women’s category with a time of 2:17:34 and the Senior Men’s category was won by Martin Cain who finished in 2:02:41. The father of Hollie Avil, one of Britains most promising young triatheltes proved he’s not the only serious triathlete in the family. Mark Avil pulled off a great time of 2:30:37 on his olympic distance debut.
The Rest of Ripon Triathlon: Family Fun Weekend
A sea of tents confirmed that hundreds of people had taken advantage of the free camping. A pre-race pasta party and a post-race barbecue were available but had to be booked online in advance. In addition entertainment included a supervised climbing wall, a kids fun-run, face-painting and a post-race disco. The event was well catered with hot and cold snacks and the licensed bar had Black Sheep Ale (one of the events sponsors) and plenty of other drinks on sale each evening and from 11am until midnight on race day. As well as pre and post race massages there were running, cycling and swimming clothing and accessories for sale on the day.
All in all the Ripon Triathlon is very well organised and well marshalled. It is a big event, with hundreds of people camping and making the race into a family weekend away. This was recommended to me by many triathletes on separate occasions and rightly so, it was an excellent introduction to olympic distance racing.
Do this race if :
- You are new to open water swimming and would prefer an easy to navigate swim course
- You have friends and family who may want to come along for the weekend, to support you and let their hair down afterwards.
Don’t do this race if:
- You prefer race distances to be ’standard’, the cycle leg is a 44km!
- You prefer to get a race started in the morning, the 2pm race start makes this event a whole day out whether you like it or not.
A message from Mark Rees: Event organiser of the ‘Black Sheep NYP Tri Ripon Triathlon 2010′ (Republished from NYP’s website: http://www.nyptri.freeuk.com/)
Dear competitor and those who helped,
I apologise for the delay in sending out this message. Everybody at NYP Tri and all those involved in hosting last Saturdays Ripon Triathlon are totally devastated by the loss of the life of Steve Newton who travelled to our event from Middlesex to compete with his friend Rob. Steve had trained hard for this, his first Triathlon, and the first leg of a triple challenge to complete a Triathlon, The Great North Run and the Great North Swim in 2010. He aimed to raise money for several charities and was very excited about his challenge. He trained each morning by swimming at Hampton Court open air swimming pool and he cycled to work and back each day. We met Stephen’s wife Marisa, his sister Nichola and his friend Rob at Ripon lake on Wednesday. It was of course a very emotional occasion and our very deepest sympathies go out to Marisa and Nichola, all of their family and to Steve’s many friends. The event on Saturday has been totally overshadowed by this tragedy for all of us at this club. The Ripon Triathlon has evolved to become the biggest club run Triathlon in the UK over the last decade and our motivation at this club is simply to provide happiness and pleasure to athletes and their families and promote health and well being.
The events of Saturday have rocked the very foundations of our club and all those involved with The Ripon Triathlon. Marisa has kindly told us that Steve would have been horrified if the event had been halted as the tragedy unfolded and that he would not approve in the slightest if we did not continue to provide athletes with this Triathlon. We have reviewed our safety and medical cover and we can assure you all that Steve was attended to promptly by experienced canoeists and divers with both oxygen and first aid training and then rushed to shore to our awaiting NHS ambulance and paramedics as swiftly as was possible.
Steve fell in to difficulties after approximately 1000 metres of the swim section between island 2 and island 1 on the return leg.
After spending 3 hours with Marisa, Nichola and Rob I feel that I almost know Steve, like many of us he wanted a challenge, he was determined to succeed and his very nature made it difficult for him to give up. He was appropriately looking forward to spending the evening in Masham (the home of The Black Sheep brewery) with his friend Rob and others. Our heart also goes out to Rob who completed the race in wave 2 before collected a mutual friend from the train station and driving directly to Masham. He did not learn about the tragedy until later that evening when his life long friend Steve failed to arrive. Many of you on Saturday were novice Triathletes and I know that many of you did not have the now rare luxury of training in a safe and controlled open water environment and I also know many of you will recognise in yourselves the spirit and determination that was ‘Steve Newton’.
Marisa and Nichola have kindly invited me to Steve’s funeral next Friday and I will represent all those at the club and all of you who love this event so much as well as those who so desperately tried to save his life. We have been overwhelmed with your E Mails about the weekend and I thank you all on behalf of the organisers for your kind words regarding the race and the weekend as a whole but please forgive us if we do not reply to you immediately as our thoughts and our energy are with Steve’s family and friends right now. We will attend to all of your enquiries about results and such like in time but please be patient. I wish to thank Marisa and Nichola for the strength they have shown to thank all of those involved in the attempts to save Steve’s life and for their encouragement to retain this event in the Triathlon calendar. If we do so, it will be in Steve’s memory.
For and on behalf of The NYP Tri Ripon Triathlon committee and everyone at NYP Tri.
Mark Rees
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