Chris Playford set his sights very high on running and cycling too, and over the national 3 peaks, Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis all raising money for a local charity.

Playford fundraised for The Norfolk Hospice. Tapping house's vision is that every person living with or affected by a life-limiting condition will be offered a choice and access to excellent end-of-life and bereavement care. His challenge was set over five days. Playford planned to run up and over the UK peaks and then travel by bike between them.

Playford quotes ‘’Early 06.30 start on day one up Snowdon on the Pyg track.  Didn't take long to figure out how tough hill climbing was after my mountain training in Norfolk. We ran Snowdon in 4 hours and then started cycling.  In the first 50 miles, we climbed around 1800 metres with far too many climbs until it levelled off from around Flint up to Wigan.  We finished around 8 pm with 170km of cycling. Day 2 was hard, a steady 80 miles with several short steep climbs through to Windermere and Ambleside and then cycled (and pushed) up Wrynose and Hardnott Pass. 170km of cycling with 2500m of climbing before reaching Scafell Pike.  Day 3 and Day 4 were two days of cycling with 230km on Wednesday and 190 km Thursday.  This took us from Wasdale Head in the lakes via Gretna Green, Hamilton, Glasgow through to Fort William in Scotland, by this point every climb felt like a mountain. Day 5 and just a walk up Ben Nevis to finish.  Started walking around 6 am to beat the rain.  Really windy, struggling to stand up but we got amazing views all the way up and down except at the summit! The rain never arrived and we were blessed with loads of sunshine. My legs have ached like never before but the experience was epic. In numbers, 5 days, 479 miles of cycling with 7700 metres of climbing, 24 miles of walking with 3200m of ascent.  Donations can still be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/c-playford 

Maureen Wolfe set her sights on gaining yet another age place. This time racing in the Culford Sprint Triathlon run by Ipswich Triathlon Club. This event has been a firm favourite with beginners and experienced triathletes alike for 25 years. The format saw Wolfe start with a 300m pool-based swim,  a 3-lap bike course on country roads totalling 21km, and a 2-lap run totalling 4.2km within the school grounds.

The event provides a great opportunity for family and friends to support, with a friendly atmosphere and a well-stocked cake stall provided by the local church hall.

Wolfe narrowly missed out on a first place in her A/G gaining second place with 01:14:16, just losing time on the run and T1 transition.

Arthur Sargeant, Emma Thompson, and Jenna Gotts chose a cycling related event riding the RAFA rides. This charitable event was to raise money for the Royal Air Force Association, monies go towards injured service personnel or ex-service personnel who have fallen on difficult times. Overall 700 took part either by doing the 25  50, 75 or 100 mile routes. Since their first event in 2018, this cycling fundraising challenge has grown in success each year to become an incredible community event. Suitable for keen cyclists and amateur riders alike. Last year RAFA Riders raised a total of £125,000 to support the vital work of the RAF Association. Whatever your target, every pound and penny you raise will help improve the lives of people within the RAF community, and ensure they receive the help and support they deserve.

Sargeant and Thompson completed  the 100 miler as preparation for Ironman Bolton in 07:22:02 and Gotts did the 75 miler as part of her build up for Ironman Wales in 05:10:08

Sargeant quotes ‘’A very windy and undulating course but that's what we all needed as good training. An extremely well organised event with 3 feed stations on route including burger and chips at the end, oh and a free beer’’

Adrian Ebbs took on the Royal Windsor Olympic triathlon, which took place in the Queen’s home town of Windsor in Berkshire. starting with a swim in the River Thames, Ebbs then rode the bike route that heads through the streets of historic Windsor, passing Windsor Castle, and out into the surrounding countryside. Culminating with the run into Windsor Great Park and along the spectacular Long Walk in the shadow of the iconic castle. The first Royal Windsor Triathlon was created in 1991, and 29 editions later it is now firmly established as one of the top events in the triathlon calendar. Few triathlons can compare with the historical backdrop of Windsor Castle. Ebbs ran a 2:46:21 gaining 2nd in his A/G.

'' It was good fun but not a fast course. I think there were about 25 waves so very congested on bike and run ''

Over at the AJ Bell 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series, thousands of athletes, from amateurs to elites, took to the start line across the event weekend.

Set within the picturesque setting of Roundhay Park, Helen Melville, Charlie Wilson, and Paul Dunthorne took to the start line across the event weekend and experienced the same iconic blue carpet finish as all world class to first-time competitors. High winds, choppy open water swim in waterloo lake, a technical undulating course faced Melville and Dunthorne as they took on the Standard (1500/36.2/10k) times set were 03:08:18 and 03:15:53 respectively. Both triathletes were supported by Mrs Dunthorne on the day with cheering, clapping and pouring of wine afterwards.

Wilson with his first open water event took on the Go Tri over the same course (200/9.5km/2.5km) in 01:07:06

Unfortunately, the water temp was below Vicky Dunthorne's lower limits to compete. She spent her time supporting her hubby and depleting the wine reserves. She very kindly extracted a race report from her husband in epic Dunthorne style.

Mr Dunthorne quoted

'' Water (bleeping) cold and choppy, bloody windy, (bleeping) hilly and I'm now broken''