With a week to go until one of the biggest sporting events on the property calendar – the Property Triathlon and Property Swim – you may be feeling nervous. But with 10 years of experienced triers, some veterans share their stories on how the race inspired them to take their sporting endeavours to the next level
Mel Barlow-Graham, Dron & Wright Property Consultants
“I entered the Property Triathlon in 2011 knowing nothing about the sport and not really having given the race much thought. I did not own a bike (not since my BMX days as a kid) and I could only do breaststroke. I had heard that Jenson Button attended the race and my motivation to do a triathlon was based on Jenson being at the finish line.
“I was already a regular gym goer and keen runner, and considered myself fairly fit, so had a blasé ‘how hard can it be?’ attitude. It did not take me long to realise that I was out of my depth. I decided to join a local triathlon club, particularly to learn to swim front crawl. It didn’t take me long to become hooked. I found out that I was better at the distance races (standard/Olympic distance) as it gave me time to make up for my poor swim. I have since qualified and competed in GB kit at the European and World Championships (as an age-grouper) in 2014 and 2015, with 2015 being my most successful year, achieving silver and bronze medals in the English and British Championships, and being placed ninth at the European Championships. I have also qualified for the European and World Championships in 2016, so hope to build on my successes next year. I am particularly looking forward to racing in Mexico at the Worlds.”
Paddy Sweetnam, retired but formerly Vanderbilt Homes
“I first competed in 2011 just after my 60th birthday, having taken up cycling the year before and been a reasonable runner many years ago. I could swim well enough to enjoy water sports but had little experience of front crawl. Some former colleagues at Berkeley Group mentioned the event so I thought I would give it try.
“As I am over 90kg, I probably don’t fit the stereotype of a lean, mean triathlete but I enjoyed it and managed to win my category. This ‘success’ prompted me to enter other events in 2011. That was where it all began.
“As a self-confessed sports fanatic, it was enervating to discover a new challenge in my 60s and particularly one which satisfied my need to compete.
“I realised another benefit in early 2012 when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery. My triathlon fitness helped my surgery and recovery and hopefully has been an encouragement to others who I have counselled in similar circumstances.
“I competed in the Property Triathlon only three months later and was delighted to secure third place in my category.
“In 2013, the standard was improving but I managed second place behind a better cyclist. Having joined a triathlon club in 2013, I realised that it was possible to enter qualifying events and seek selection for the GB Age Group teams. I improved my training over the rest of 2013 and qualified for the European Championships in Kitzbühel in May 2014 where I came 19th.
“Due to date clashes I could not compete in the Property Triathlon in July 2014 but I did return in 2015 and won the old man’s category again.
“In 2015 I qualified again for the European Championships in Geneva but withdrew, having got men’s semi and final tickets for Wimbledon. I also qualified for the World Championships in Chicago last September but again withdrew to see the start of the Rugby World Cup and also because of the expense.
“This year I have qualified for the European Championships in Lisbon in May, which is on my 65th birthday. This is a target and not just because I am hopefully more ‘chronologically gifted’ this year as I move up an age group.
I hope to defend my Property Tri title in July, which comes two days before one of the European qualifiers (for 2017) so I hope I have some energy left.”
David Marshall, Allsop
“The Property Triathlon was my first triathlon. I went on to compete in St Lucia where I was one of the few representing the Brits.
“I came first in the triathlon and got engaged on the finish line. If it wasn’t for the Property Triathlon, I would have never got into it.”
Gary Jones, Hareplain
“I was talked into doing my first triathlon in 2011 by Suzanne Tully and my wife, Luly. Her sister Rachel was organising the Property Triathlon at Dorney Lake in Windsor, Berkshire, and asked me if I would enter. With only a couple of months before the race, I taught myself to swim, borrowed a road bike and progressed to run approximately half of the 5K. I remember that feeling of achievement crossing the finishing line and although shattered and emotional, I realised I had been bitten by the bug.
“After the race I had a chat with double world champion and JLL-sponsored athlete Helen Jenkins, who I had watched race earlier that day. She inspired me to keep up the training. My next triathlon was just three weeks later, still with the borrowed bike. I came off the bike on a slippery corner and suffered bad road rash but went on to finish. I raced a few more sprints and a standard in that year.
“I have raced in the Property Triathlon every year since, with my best result in 2015 when I came fourth in my age group.
“My triathlon career has gone from strength to strength with every year progressing in races, distances, representing GB in my age group and in my new role as a triathlon coach.”
Samantha McClary, Estates Gazette
“I raced my first Property Triathlon in 2008. I couldn’t really swim. A dodgy breaststroke was all I could manage. I didn’t have a wetsuit so the day before the race, I rushed down to the sports shop on Embankment and bought the cheapest wetsuit I could find. Turns out the wetsuit I bought was for surfing, bodyboarding or water-skiing. Not for swimming. It was also difficult to get out of and I had to get help in T1 to get the thing off (I should have been disqualified for that). Needless to say, my first tri was not a fast one. But it did get me hooked.
“Since that first tri I have competed for GB at age-group level in various European and World championships – both in triathlon and duathlon – and embarked on a number of long-distance running and cycling challenges. I also campaigned for Estates Gazette to be media partner of the Property Triathlon, which happened in 2014. My swimming has progressed from breaststroke to front crawl and I have got a proper wetsuit now. But that’s about it when it comes to progression, which is why the introduction of the Property Duathlon last year caused a little whoop of joy from me. See you on the start line.”
