The second half of the season has brought highs and lows for the Royal Navy’s Triathlon team.

The Inter-Service Standard Distance Championships (a 1500m open water swim, followed by a 40km bike and finishing with a10km run) was hosted by the RAF at Tallington Lakes.

It was going to be a difficult time for the Navy Elite team, as four of their top athletes were sidelined through injury and illness, including defending men’s champion Cpl Gary Gerrard (Cdo Logs RM).

Sgt Mark Goodridge (42 Cdo RM) was the strongest of the Navy Elite team in tenth.

In the ladies’ event current champion PO Vicki Norton was not at her healthiest and lost the title to Sgt Sonja Hurst (Army) over the last 4km to finish runner-up.

There was some consolation as the men’s veteran team reclaimed the title that has eluded them for a couple of years with good individual efforts from CPO Eamonn Masson (HMS Sultan) and Mne Joe Kerrigan (RM Stonehouse).

The Inter-Services Long Distance Championships (1900m open water swim, 90km bike and 21km run) was held in conjunction with the Half-Ironman UK at Llanberis, North Wales.

The harsh wind and rain added to the long distance, and undulating Snowdonia course proved to be a real challenge to the hardiest of endurance athletes, but this did not deter the Senior Service, who went one better than in the previous year to take the team title from last year’s winners the RAF.

This was matched by good performances from Mark Goodridge, third in the men’s Inter-Services competition, and Vicki Norton, who easily defended her ladies’ title and in the process finished seventh elite female from the main HIMUK race – quite an achievement, considering the calibre of international triathletes on show.

Navy Number One and current Combined Services sportsman of the year Gary Gerrard still managed to have a great season when he represented GB in the World Duathlon Age Group championships in Georgia, USA, where he won silver in the 35-39 category. Three weeks later he finished sixth in the World Triathlon Age Group championship in Cancun, Mexico.

Ironman specialist and 2002 RM Sportsman of the year, Sgt Mike Beaton (CTCRM), represented Great Britain in the World Long Triathlon Distance championships (4km open water swim, 120km bike and 30km run) in Nice, France, where he finished 43rd in the 30-34 category.

Closer to home POPT Sean Childs (BRNC) was selected to represent Wales where he finished fifth in the Home Nations Duathlon Championships at Skelmersdale.

Throughout the season, other athletes put in strong performances abroad and around the UK, included CPO Jason Sawyer (HMS Heron), CPO Craig Spring (HMS Nelson), Musn Phil Sykes (RM Band Portsmouth) and L/D Billy Holman (HMS Hurworth).

The AGM will take place in conjunction with the first training weekend at HMS Temeraire. Training weekends are confirmed and will take place under the supervision of team coach Stuart Dinwoodie as follows: January 25-26 (HMS Temeraire), February 22-23 (CTCRM) and March 29-30 (RNAS Yeovilton).

Further information regarding Triathlon in the Royal Navy is available from POPT Sean Childs on 93749 ext 7185 or 7186.