Oct 26 Combined JW - Flipbook - Page 47
Sport Hayling Herald
Dance
dreams
Five triathlons
ISLANDER Tricia Farnham has yet another
medal to add to her haul.
The 72-year-old completed all five triathlons in
the Tide Chaser Triathlon Series 2026.
The new, fun, mini-events took place this
summer in Portsmouth. They were devised and
expertly organised by Robert Piggott, of Believe
and Achieve Events and took place at the Andrew
Simpson Watersports Centre in Eastern Road,
Portsmouth.
There was a series of five events, each involving
a cycle, run and paddle. The bike riding was along
the Eastern Road cycleway, the run along the
new coastal path and the paddle, either kayaking
or stand up paddleboarding, was in Langstone
Harbour.
Each triathlon took place during a weekday
evening, from June to August.
Distances were short, also the cycle and run
were flat, making it an ideal event for novice triathletes and veterans; cycle 12km, run up to 4km
and paddle up to 1.5 km.
Tricia completed all five events this summer and
was the oldest competitor each time. A total of 32
people took part and Tricia won the Super Veteran 60+ category.
She said: ‘Rob is planning to repeat the series
next summer, so perhaps you might like to have a
go?’
To find details search ‘Portsmouth Tide Chaser
Triathlon Series 2027’ next year.
By Naomi Jones
WE are delighted that 24 students from Hayling Dance
Academy have passed between them a total of 38 exams
in ballet, tap, modern and acro.
We are so proud of the hard work put in by students
and parents to achieve these results.
Our adult ballet classes are returning this term– a firm
favourite for building strength, coordination and friendships.
We have had a busy start to the new academic year,
beginning work for our dance school show. We still have
some class spaces available if anyone wants to come and
shine on stage with us.
Visit haylingdanceacademy.co.uk
Hayling Billy track improvements
By Wilf Forrow from CycleHayling
HAMPSHIRE Country Council has announced that the Hayling Billy
Trail’s southern section is being upgraded this winter.
That’s from the Station Theatre northwards past the Denhill Close path
for as far as the £500,000 budget will stretch, and will give it the same
all-weather surface as the northern section got last year.
It’s being coordinated by Hampshire County Council’s Countryside Services, with Havant Borough Council’s civil engineering team behind them.
Work is hoped to run from November to finish in March or April. That’s
good, because that’s when it’s most boggy and hard to cycle, and it’s also
least disruptive to wildlife and nature. The final Golden Gravel surface
course needs warmer weather, so might be applied later, but that only
needs a week or two.
The northern section was criticised for leaving a skid risk with loose surface gravel. It gets crushed into the surface on roads, but bike tyres don’t do
that. Cycle Hayling supporters brushed some away at the corners, the high-
est skid risk, so we’ve asked if the council can sweep away the excess to save
us doing that again. While it’s closed, the detour is West Lane, but although
the traffic is fast, there are usually plenty of gaps for cars to pass cyclists, so
long as you’re visible. Flashing lights are best. And you can rejoin the Billy
Trail at West Lane’s northern elbow corner.
That will just leave the middle section of the Billy Trail to do, between
one and two kms, depending how far this year’s budget stretches. And the
bids have already been submitted to Active Travel England for it. We can
be fairly confident, as it’s on the Shipwright’s Way, and a key route in the
National Cycle Network, NCN2, which will eventually run from Dover to
Cornwall.
And it has the full backing of Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (previously Sustrans), who coordinate the NCN. The outline design work was done last
year, and the detailed design in happening now. So maybe we’ll see that
golden glow on the whole Billy Trail in the next year or two.
Happy cycling. See CycleHayling.org for help and advice.
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