The King Sturge Property Triathlon - The Day

The inaugural King Sturge Property Triathlon which took place on
29 June 2007 at Dorney Lake Eton was a huge success with over 1300 competitors raising over £350,000 for charity. Our triathletes and all at PSW would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to everyone who supported our chosen charities and sponsored Mark, David, Euan, Oliver and Paul.

For those however who could not attend nor have heard the stories ad nauseam, we would like to share with you some of the highs and lows of the day.

The day of the triathlon dawned with a typically British demonstration of four seasons within the space of a few hours. Undeterred by the weather our triathletes and supporters braced themselves for the day ahead. Some clearly thinking of the finishing line whilst others were pondering on more practical matters such as where the bottle opener was located.

Competitors were divided into various “waves” dictated by age. Our first triathlete to brave the water (and the rather snug fitting tri-suits), was
Mark Spash our managing partner.


Categorised in the “veterans” group Mark was accompanied to the starting point by his Head of Department no doubt wanting to make sure he was in the right place at the right time. With the sun shining as he hit the water his swimming looked focused unlike many around him. Was he being nobbled by the competition we wondered? Had they heard of his finely honed technique? No, it was mere coincidence he had picked the busiest “channel” with flaying limbs all around him.




Out of the water and his wet suit (a well practised technique and not a telephone box in sight) and onto the bike to breeze along the course and dry out until the next downpour of rain.








Making good time into the final challenge the run, Mark was so enjoying himself he went for an extra jog around the last lap by mistake!







Still managing to make the best time of all our PSW entries, Mark just missed out on being named in the top three of his category. (We all knew we had a managing partner always prepared to go that extra mile!)






David Wadsworth was our next competitor to brave the course. David entered into the spirit of the day in true litigator style, hungry for success. Swimming was most definitely David’s forte although we thought we had lost him at one stage hearing that he had slipped coming out of the water.






Our concern was thankfully short lived as he was subsequently spotted merrily cycling along with the blustery wind speeding him on his way towards the final challenge – the run.








Finding time for a cheeky little wave as he passed the PSW cheerleaders, needless to say David’s time recording was in line with his usual excellent daily results!







Oliver Sharp’s group was next into the fray. Although professing that the swim would be his nemesis, he swam beautifully even avoiding the odd limb or two veering towards him from undisciplined but eager swimmers.





Out of the water and onto the bike; the weather was turning increasingly inclement with pouring rain soaking everyone unable to take cover. Oliver battled on and thankfully the rain stopped as he cycled through the penultimate challenge.





Spurred on by his mentor and boss (that Mark chap gets in everywhere),








Oliver ran through the finishing line with the biggest smile of the day on his face, or was it just sheer relief?





During the course of a long day our sympathy was growing for both Euan Mitchell and Paul Addington who had to wait to almost the bitter end before their heat commenced and they could enter the murky depths of Dorney Lake. Their usual cool, calm and collected demeanours (or so they tell us) were understandably a little unnerved.

Being a tall chap, Paul had a head start on Euan and once in the water cut a swathe through the competition.

The bike ride was a little more challenging; considering Paul had managed to borrow his bike only the day before the race...

and was sporting a helmet which looked as if it was a by product of the Second World War.

Paul did not let the side down, finally running through the finish line sporting his roomy and now much loved and lived in (pheeew) PSW track suit top.




 
Now perhaps this is a clue to the arm waving…..





Euan who usually prefers surfing on water (no, definitely not “walking on” despite what his clients may think) tried out his wet suit for the first time only a few days before the race. Perhaps a mistake or was it the extra weight that got the better of his normally whippet like physique – we will never know now but the swim was tough.







Undaunted, (like all of our property lawyers in the face of a challenge), he cycled and ran with the best of them,






regaining some of his lost time in the water.







As he was cheered through the finishing line no doubt with thoughts of the cold beer awaiting him on the other side we knew we could crack open the champagne as the PSW triathletes were all back in one piece……well very nearly!