EP BIATHLON CHAMPS 27 OCTOBER 2007 ALLY GIDDY

EP Biathlon Champs in Port Elizabeth

Saturday 27th October. Ally & I had managed to be part of the EP Biathlon team at the Westbourne Oval and the Newton Park swimming pool. The Biathlon started with a March Past. The teams competing included SWD, Border, Free State and Western Cape. Mark Derry said a prayer for the opening of the ceremony. Then it was the turn of Chris Jansen who spoke about the Springbok win at rugby and opened the Biathlon.

Ally competes in the U11 group and did very well in her 800m run with a 3min 16 secs. John Kotze was also there and his son Greg managed under 3 minutes. Also competing were friends of Ally: Lara Odendaal, Meghan Derry and Amber Zeelie.

I was with the Old Ballies and managed to sneak under 4 minutes for 1000m. Fortunately I had an ally in the officials in Debby Derry who made sure that my time was recorded as 3.59! I had been chasing Chris. It is good for me to chase as it tends to improve my times. Marcus Burri also takes part in Biathlon together with his two boys, MC and Emilio. Marcus ran a 3.40 100m.

After the run we all moved over to the Newton Park Swim pool where Ally swam a very credible 38secs and Greg 37secs for their 50m swim. The senior vets (this is a polite way of saying the U60’s) swam 100m. The first length is not the problem but once we are into the second length it is all I can do to stay afloat. Marcus Burri swims in the same heat as us and he did 65secs while I was almost double that time in 1min & 52secs. After a day in the sun we were all pretty tired and home seemed like a good place to be.

The next morning (Sunday we had to be at Happy Valley at 07.30 for the Biathlo. This is a run, swim, run along the pathway, beach and a sea swim. The tide was exceptionally low and we could almost walk out to the buoy. In her event Ally came fourth in a strong field of competitors and I managed a third place. Unfortunately this was also last in a field of three. Davera and Michael were there with their niece and I agreed to forward her the Biathlon Program.

Biathlon is good not only for my athletic side of life but it also improves my Afrikaans. Die mees van die administrasie is in Afrikaans en n’ groot gedeelte van die deelneemers is Afrikaans spreekend. Ek moet in Afrikaans hardloop, swem en praat. Die volgende Biathlon vang plaas op die 19 Januarie 2008 op Gelvandale Stadium. Dit sal die proef (trials) wees vir die Interprovincial Byeenkoms in Oudtshoorn op die 2de Februarie 2008.