With summer finally in full swing and many events returning after the pandemic, KLTC hit the seaside town of Wells in force for the North Norfolk Triathlon.

Continuing with another coastal village just around the corner, and adding another discipline The Norfolk Superhero quadrathlon. 

Two sportives, elevation heaven in Wales, and finally the London to Brighton ride.

Not content with the three disciplines of triathlon, Simon Able, Geraldine ‘G’ Jordan, Dan Guppy, and Dave Neale took on the Norfolk Superhero quadrathlon (four disciplines) event-based around Burnham Overy Staithe on the beautiful North Norfolk coast. 

Named after the village’s Hero Pub, the event has over the years grown from a small band of friends to over 200 competitors, all of whom raise money to support a Norfolk-based charity. 

This year, all funds raised from Norfolk Superhero 2022 will go to the funding of The Holt Youth Project, a North Norfolk charity that provides a safe environment for young people to socialise and learn vocational skills. They support young individuals with mental health, learning disabilities, NEET’s and Asperger’s or Autism.

The KLTC quartet began with a sea swim of 1 mile starting from Gun Hill to the quay at Burnham Overy Staithe with the incoming tide, followed by a Kayak Leg of 4 Miles through the winding creeks of Burnham Overy Staithe, the third discipline, a 45-mile cycle leg following a circular route on North Norfolk's most scenic roads, this demanding event concluded at Holkham running 8 miles across tracks, sand, mud and the marsh to the finish.

Team Jordan and Able, The Tortoise and the Hair finished the sixth team overall in a time of 04:47:22 and also won the Zimmer prize for being the fastest mixed team with a combined age of over 100. Team 107 Not Out, Guppy and Neale ran 05:23:35. Over £80.000 was raised for said charity on the day.

Just along the coast to another local favorite, Mark Fountain, Dan Guppy (Yes he did superhero the day before), Debbie James, Helen Melville, Karen Wood, Andre Delgado, Nicholas Lee, Juliette Meek, Jessica Brackenbury, Dan Brackenbury,  Abbie Dickens, Peter Mackle, and Alister Doig, all took on the North Norfolk Triathlon held in Wells-next-the-Sea and staged by the Wells Harbour maritime trust.

The start, transition and finish are all based in the picturesque quayside at Wells. Triathletes swam 1.5km in the tidal harbour of Wells, which is great for spectators to view as they can follow progress along the quayside, followed by the undulating course looping around the pleasant villages of North Norfolk. Fully sign posted and marshaled before returning to the quay. The event culminates with a mixed terrain 10k route. Starting on the quay heading down the coastal path and along the edge of the pine woods to Holkham, hopping on the beach for a few km on pure sand to runner's delight just before the mile straight to the finish line glory.

First across the line after his superhero ‘warm up' the previous day saw Guppy 02:14:14 5th place overall and 1st in A/G, back out of retirement  J.Brackenbury 02:29:03 2nd female home P34, Fountain P42 02:31:45, closely followed by Lee 02:32:17 P43, debuting at his first triathlon Richardson 02:37:35 P60, D.Brackenbury 02:38:45 P64, also her first triathlon Dickens 02:43:28 P84, Mackle 02:45:12 P94, Meek 02:45:12 P95 a course PB, Rastogi in his first Olympic distance 02:51:30 P112, Melville 02:52:17 P114, Delgado 02:57:57 P137, Doig 02:58:34 P142, Wood 03:01:25 P153, James attended and enjoyed the swim and the bike sections only.

Two new triathletes were born as they crossed the finish line at Wells in the form of Richardson and Dickens.

In an exclusive KLTC interview Dickens explains...

"I signed up for the North Norfolk triathlon back in the depths of winter when I was bored one evening and looking for a new challenge. As spring approached I started to think about training for the event and, after a few remarks from people that ‘Wells is a tough triathlon for your first one, most people start with a sprint triathlon.., I thought it might be a good idea to join KLTC to help me prepare! In addition to training at home, I started going to the swim sessions and took on board all the helpful advice other members had to offer."

"Feeling at least semi-prepared I arrived at the event feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement. The atmosphere at Wells was incredible - such a buzz and so many friendly people. The event itself ran so smoothly and I really enjoyed each section of the triathlon (even the swim which I was dreading..) and ended up finishing 6th in my category which I was so chuffed with!"

"Thank you to everyone in KLTC who has helped me on my way to my first triathlon, it was such a great experience and I’m now looking to book my next event. I’m hooked!"

Richardson is equally impressed with our club's awesomeness quoting...

"I am so pleased that this event was my first triathlon as it was enjoyable from start to finish.  The support by everyone at KLTC was nice. To the extent Juliette and Jess gave Abbie and me a transition crash course using flippers for the bike at 10 pm in St James swimming pool car park the week leading up to the event. A few people were giving us funny looks."

"Although some of the run was tough (soft sand mainly) I found the whole race had such great energy and will be for sure doing it again but for now I need to get faster! I feel I am hooked on Triathlons now!"

Judith Berry and Pauline Sparrow cycled the 54 miles between Clapham Common and the southeast seafront and completed the London to Brighton Bike Ride 2022. Accompanied by a gaggle of friends, Salina Cumbridge, Lucy McDowie, and local legend Gary Walker. The gang joined 14,000 riders fundraising for the Britsh Heart Foundation. The event also attracted London mayor Sadiq Khan and Jason Cooper, the drummer of British rock band The Cure. He was riding in memory of his former drum tech, Paul ‘Ricky’ Welton, who died after suffering a heart attack in 2019. All the money raised from the event went towards BHF’s lifesaving research, helping to support the 7.6 million around the country living with heart and circulatory disease.

Jason Blackwell with support from Paul Streets and Micheal Cooper (in preparation for up and coming Ironman) event took on some impressive elevation at the Dragon Ride Wales.

Blackwell and Streets opted for the ' Gran Fondo ' the most popular route on the Dragon Ride. A tough day’s cycling coming in at 213km with just under 3500m of ascent. 

Boasting a major challenge requiring high levels of fitness, strength, and fortitude. Anybody who manages to slay this beast has completed an amazing achievement. The pair were in the saddle for an eye-watering 11:37:23.

After checking Blackwell was still functioning the next day with a polite ' How are you?' he quoted...

"No can't walk. The backs of my legs are killing. But got it done. Serious hills like nothing in Norfolk. A 7-mile climb at one point. That's even more in km lol"

Cooper opted for the 'Medio Fondo'  but don’t let the name fool you, the “Medio” Fondo is still considerably tougher than most other sportive’s longest routes, coming in at 157km and 2396m of climbing. Cooper took on some of the most famous climbs the Dragon Ride has to offer and the sweeping scenery and quiet roads of the Brecon Beacons. Cooper rode for an equally impressive butt crunching 08:23:37, quoting he'd consider doing it again but with an 11-34 cassette upgrade.

The finishers medal quotes Geraint Howell Thomas OBE who is a Welsh professional racing cyclist with the words 

" You will have ups and downs - But believe anything is possible, with hard work. It can come off".