LASH REGATTA 2007

Fully equipped with Network Rail’s detailed map and train timetable for the route from London to Plymouth, Martin, Leon and Andy embarked on the journey to the homeland of the Ironman MMX to stay with Rich and join in with the Newton Ferrers Regatta, aka The Lash Regatta 2007. Rich met us at Plymouth station, and with Richie’s notoriously pace driving, we were at the house within no time.

While Martin and Leon showed off some epic football skills, these were not matched by Leaf and it was noted at this point that here was a discipline that they both outclassed him in. What’s more, the talent continued in to the pool where team GaunTiste simply out played Rich and Leaf in volley ball with a combination of lobs and drop shots. Meanwhile Mumsie and Pop’s ensured we all had superb preparation for the looming Lash Regatta, supplying us with a fantastic spread of lunch and drinks respectively.

At 4 p.m. and with the Regatta well underway, 240 miles east, Steve was somewhere between Dover and Calais putting in training for his cross channel swim. Martin and Leaf thought it a good idea to try to match Steve’s training with a swim to Noss Mayo. This swim was likened to Steve’s in so many ways; swimming across a channel, in one of the countries busiest shipping lanes, in salt water …, however the paltry 200m distance was no match and we were both well and truly outclassed.

It was all thoroughly entertaining stuff. The honours for the Regatta’s coxed fours flagship race were taken by Noss Mayo, but it appeared that this did not suppress the festivities in Newton Ferrers, as it appears that on the whole the Regatta is much more about the taking part that the winning.

As the evening rolled on, many pints of Butcombe were sunk, Newton Ferrers put on its finest firework displayed, Leon acquired himself a pair of stunning glasses and I’m sure the chat drifted towards the Ironman subject. All good preparation for the team training the following morning.

Rich had planned us a 6-7 mile route around the coast path, and although it was a training run, there was a degree of competition as Gaunt and Baptiste nailed it off at lightening pace. On a course likened to the Carnforth 20 Barriers race due to the number of obstacles we had to scale, it must be noted that this is the extreme version which has a swim at half way.

Once we got to the beach and into the sea, the challenge grew from a swim around the nearest boat, to a swim around the first red buoy, and there was some chat about a swim around the second red buoy (although this has been pencilled in for future).

With the swim complete and a few rolling hills to tackle, the focus moved to the final hill stage of the day, the Col D’avies. As the runners assembled at the foot of the hill it was anyone’s race. Foster and Gaunt flew off leaving Leaf to trail in 3^rd, and after sheer determination combined with some cunning ‘track placing’, Gaunt retained the polka dot jersey for the second year running.

As the weekend drew to a close, late news came through from Newton Ferrers with Davies snatching a 4^th place in the mixed fours. Once again, another cracking Ironman training weekend, with practice in ALL disciplines. Following discussions over the two days, the location of Ironman MMX still remains open. New Zealand stays in contention, as does Canada, although Brazil’s odds were lengthened due to issues with what food would be available. Martin’s school holiday timetable for his new job has also thrown a spanner in the works-it’s all still open for discussion.