My Solent Triathlon Challenge on Friday 17th October

We set off from Ocean Village in Peter's Delbridge's fantastic Rib boat (hambleboatshed.com) at 5.50am heading down southampton water on our way to lepe beach further along the coast. It was a chilling 2 degrees with a a wind chill factor of about minus 15 when the boat really got going. I was accompanied by my brother-in-law Philip who was acting as chief motivator and video cameraman. 

Having waded to shore to start my attempt from the rib at 6.10am I was pleasanlty surprised to be met by Vivian the CET's Community officier who was sheduled to join me on the run if I got that far and also John Kuyser and his wife, one of Ruscrete's long standing customers and supporter of the CET.

Clad in my wet suit I started the swim in the dark, only lit by the full moon and the light on the boat. I have to say this was a real moment of intrepidation for me. With a mixture of fear and excitment I started to pull hard through the chilly sea water. Taking in the odd mouthful whilst as I got in to my metronomic stroke. I did let myself think on a couple of ocassions that I had a few hundred feet of water below me. These feelings soon past as I made good progress. The rib offered a supply of comfort as well as the odd lungful of diesel fumes. I was heading for Gurnard on the IOW with a excellant mark of the radio transmitter lit in the distance. As I reached about 3/4 of the distance across i realised the tide was really begining to rip through from right to left with a real danger of taking me off course. I increased my leg effort and pull hard on every stroke but I was still being taken by the tide. The possibility of landing at Gurnard beach slipped away as I was heading for the next headland of Eygpt Point now. I started making forward headway again and eventually hit the IOW after some 62 minutes of swiming and 3 miles later. It really was a great feeling to know that I had made it across the solent.

I was met by my collegue Jerry on the beach where I changed as soon as I could into my cycling gear. After a brief moment of public nudity, I headed off on the bike route. The air temp was cold and the wind chill factor kicked in as I built up speed. The inital part of the route took me from Cowes to Newport and then onto Ryde. This was least enjoyable part of the ride as it was traffic hour on the IOW and I was plagued by a little know sub-species called  Island drivers!!!!

As i ploughed on after Ryde through misty glades and a frosty sunrise, I soon realised why I had chosen the IOW for the ride as it was quite simply a perfect day and a perfect place to be.

I arrived for my first pit stop at Shanklin greeted by Jerry again and Radio Solent on the phone for a live intervew. The next stage of the ride was going to be technically the toughest. I had two big climbs ahead and also an undulating cliff ride to contend with. Having arrived at the summit of Blackgang where I encountered my support crew again I saw a quite amazing view of the west Wight stretched out before me.  This inspirational view set me on my way to what I had planned to be the final long stretch to Yarmouth however having climbed the cliffs around compton bay and freshwater I realised my pre planning from a milage perpective was a little out compared to truth of my cycle computer. I quickly planned a extra 14 mile loop on the West Wight to ensure I reached my target of 100KM.

I was greeted by the support crew and my Ma & Pa at Yarmouth as well as the boat that was to take me back to Lymington.

After a quick change into my running kit, I was soon speeding across the water to Lymington.

On arrival at Lymington the health and safety police from Wightlink would not let us land at our prefered spot so we had to go further down river to a private mooring to get ashore.

Once on dry land I met Viv again from the CET and we set off on the 16 mile run stage which was the final leg of the journey. It soon became apparent after about 5 miles that this was the point when I would meet the mental battle, the point where I had to find somthing that I had never asked my mind body to do before. At this stage my running partner was flying along like a young gazelle. A combienation of will and encouragement kept me going. After sererval water stops and a flyby visit past the CET headquaters the finishing line was nearing. We finally made it to the gates of Ruscrete. I was initally welcomed by Bev (Ruscrete employee) having a sneeky fag sat on the wall acting as chief sentry and look out.

I have to say having now recovered from the event it does make me smile thinking about what I managed to achieve. I want say a massive thank you to everyone who helped make this event possibe. We raised over £2000 for the Countryside Education Trust who I know will do great things with the money.

I now know that I nearly risked going to far and I did find out how far I could go!!! Until the next time.

And Finally:  I'm really looking forward to the next ferry trip to the IOW, saddling up to a passenger and saying " did you know the last time I came to the Island I swam across........."

 Solent Triathlon Challenge - 17th October - (Postponed from 3rd Oct due to adverse sea conditions)

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go"

As many of you who already know me will know, I am always up for a sporting challenge, especially when it involves raising money for a very deserving cause and has an element of whether I can actually achieve it at all.

The challenge this year involves swimming across the Solent from the Mainland to the Isle of Wight (4-5km depending on the tide), Cycling  a route around the Island (100km) and after a fast rib ride back to Lymington from Yarmouth I'll be running a half marathon route (20km) back to Ruscrete where I work, via the Countryside Education Trust in Beaulieu

Last year I managed to raise £3000 for Naomi House Hospice in Winchester with a cycle ride from Birmingham to Southampton. With the size of the challenge having gone up a notch or two, I would like to do even better this year with all your help.

The aim really is to survive the swim (and the reported jellyfish about at the moment), recover through the bike ride and beat the physical and mental battle when I reach the exhaustion stage near the end of the run.

l will be posting updates on my training blog on this site in the final few weeks leading up to the challenge so for the blood sweet and tears behind the challenge feel free to log in and see how I'm doing.

Ruscrete Ltd based in Totton Southampton (the south's leading supplier of hard landscaping materials) and the company I work for have recently be involved with the Countryside Education Trust in responding to a request for materials for their herb garden project. Ruscrete in conjunction with their suppliers not only donated nearly all the materials for the project, but  also enabled me to get involved with the construction alongside one of the our most experienced landscape contractors 'Teamwork's John Kyser'. Working with us was a team from a local Prince's Trust project and a group of young people from Totton College. Whilst working with the trust, I really could see the benefit in the fantastic work they do. Thousands of young people come through the centre each year and experience and are enriched by the experience. The Trust's Community Officer Vivien Drake is hoping to join me on the final leg of the event, the run. This which will provide me with a much needed boost  and a fresh pair of legs to chase.

Please give as much as you can as I know it will all make a difference to the many children's and adults lives and to the life of our beautiful countryside too.

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