Redditch Sprint Triathlon

1st James Gillfillan 58:20
2nd Mike Cornes 59:15
3rd James Lock 59:55
4th Tom Curtis 59:55
5th Darren Treadaway 1:00:20
217 Finishers

Made a last minute decision to head up to Redditch for the first BTA sprint race of the year. The main reason for racing being that my team manager Robert Engers was racing and it was a chance to test out my new steed again.

My swim was sound and certainly better than Lisbon so this is moving in the right direction. I then set about riding through the field and worked my way up to 2nd place but had several guys strung out down the road hanging onto my wheel. I gave a few dirty looks which didn't seem to do anything, then said a few words and they seemed to drop back then a few seconds later they were back on again, where were the bloody draft busters!

Very uncharacteristically for me I lost some time on the run and ended up 5th. The legs were heavy on the run which was to be expected with the volume of training that's going in also the fact I carried the guys behind round the bike course meant they had fresher legs than I did! Anyway I got what I wanted out of the day and that was to have a blast on the new bike and it was awesome rewarding me with 2nd fastest bike split to James Gillfillan and we were the only riders in the field to dip below 31:00.

First win on new bike and more publicity

Brickendon Midweek Time trial

My first ever win at Brickendon! A wet and windy evening, I think with more riding on my new bike and better conditions I will go 21 this year.

Darren Treadaway 22:24
Dave Candy 22.32
Ian Coles 23.26
Mike Bridge 23.35
Nick Ison 23.37
Darren Rochford 23.43

Barnet Borough Times 17/05/2007

Run helps top finish

New Barnet triathlete Darren Treadaway finished an excellent 16th in the Lisbon Half Ironman event.

Treadaway, who has just turned semi-professional in a bid to make an even bigger impact in the sport, was up against professional athletes from all over Europe, making his achievement even more remarkable.

The gruelling event was made up of a 1.9km swim (80 lengths), a 90k cycle and a half marathon run (21k).

Treadaway finished in a time of just over four hours, just behind two of the UK's top professional triathletes.

The super-fit Barnet star actually finished the half marathon in a time of 1 hr 16 mins, which was some going after the other two disciplines.

Treadaway, a member of Hertfordshire-based Tri-Force, now benefits from the sponsorship of Potters Bar and Finchley-based bike shop Shorter Rochford and Hunters Estate Agents of Hertfordshire, his employers.

The Arctic Shorter Rochford cycling team, of which Treadaway is also a member, has one of the best pedigrees in the country and has historically enticed some of the best of the UK's cyclists on to its books.

They will be supplying Treadaway with a custom- bike worth thousands of pounds and a race kit.

Though primarily a triathlete, Treadaway's all-round ability means he is able to compete at the highest level in both cycling and running as single-sport events. He recently finished 33rd at the Reading Half Marathon and 13th at the Watford Half Marathon.

Tri-Force chairman Howard Davies said: "Darren is a force to be reckoned with in triathlon. As well as being an incredible asset for the county's profile in triathlon, he is a hardworking and very humble member of Tri-Force, who always has time to pass on support and expertise to newer members."

Tri-Force is Hertfordshire's top triathlon club and welcomes new members of all standards and experience, including juniors. For further information, log on to the Tri-Force website at www.tri-force.org

My new bike is here!

A big thank you to Darren and Alan Rochford from Shorter Rochford Cycles. Ive been out on it tonight and its so so quick!! Looking forward to Brickendon tomorrow night!

Lisboa International Triathlon

1 Johnsen, Jimmy DEN 03:45:48
2 Koefoed, Jens DEN 03:48:17
3 Sundberg, Swen GER 03:50:03
4 Cartmell, Fraser UK 03:50:23
5 Benocs, Zoltan HUN 03:51:44
6 Monteiro, Frederico BRA 03:56:14
7 Gomes, Pedro POR 03:55:20
8 Woodward, Alun ENG 03:56:26
9 Saunders, Nick ENG 03:56:40
10 Hovgaard, Esben DEN 03:58:05
11 Petersen-Bach, Jens DEN 03:58:18
12 Kaczmarek, Finn DEN 03:58:43
13 Hugelshofer, Patrik SUI 04:00:20
14 António, Custódio POR 04:03:23
15 Hecht, Mathias SUI 04:03:48
16 Treadaway, Darren ENG 04:03:54

Right the quick version is that I am really pleased with the result and feel I am getting closer to the best guys in the world so the extra time commitment is clearly paying off and I hope the result is something I can build on. Looking at last years results I felt the top 10 was achievable and last year I would have placed top 10 but this year the race moved up in class with athletes from 19 countries, some as far away as Brazil turned up! It truly was a world class field with the reigning European champion and various Ironman winners and World Cup athletes.

It wasn't however all plane sailing and ive really until now kept this under my hat but my ankle injury didn't clear up as quick as I thought it had and in hindsight I rushed back too quickly so my head was a mess leading upto the race but ive come through it ok and if anything my run will get stronger in the next race.

Onto the race. In the race itinery it said that the Elites were going to get their own start so I didn't really stress about fighting for position, so I waited and waited hanging onto the pontoon and nothing. Suddenly out of the blue the claxon went! and it looked like we were off. I managed to get clear water a little too easily then realised that all the fast guys had started on the far side so I had to cut across to try and get on the back of the chasing group, which I never caught and found myself swimming in no mans land for most of the race. Anyway it probably cost me a minute, no big deal in a race this long, maybe a lesson learned for next time.

The bike for me was the most enjoyable ride ive had in triathlon, I felt so strong with my new position and the extra miles had made a huge difference. I started catching people very quickly and felt well within my comfort zone and worked hard going out into the wind and got my bars and gels down me coming back with the wind behind me. On each of the 4 laps you go into the town centre where the atmosphere was electric and a big lift each time you came round.

I was relishing starting the run as I already knew I was having a good race and was looking forward to my usual blast through the field on the final run but it didn't happen as it normally does I think possibly for two reasons, the first being that at this level everyone runs fast and secondly I had maybe lost a little run fitness with the injury. I started on the first lap rather cautiously, probably a little too cautiously as I was worried about blowing to pieces as the temperature was hotting up, I eventually settled into my rhythm and laps 2 and 3 were solid and lap 4 was about hanging on with some useful encouragement from Rob as I passed him. I needed a shouting at as the wheels were starting to fall off so thanks Rob!h

Thank you to Laurence from Tri Force for accompanying me on the trip and well done on finishing despite not being at your best, lesser men would have pulled out!

I will be back next year, fitter, stronger and ready to go top 10 under 4 hours!

You can now post comments on here so feel free! Just want to make sure that at least someone reads my waffle!

Herts Advertiser 10th May

Triumph for star
10 May 2007
EDITORIAL - herts.advertiser@archant.co.uk

IMPRESSIVE triathlete Darren Treadway has been making his mark on the sport this month.In the Portuguese National Championships in Lisbon at the weekend, Treadway came 16th in the long course event (1.9k swim, 90k bike and a 21k run) with a world class time of 4.03.54. It was an impressive field including several Ironmen winners and the current European Champion.

The senior section of Tri Force took part in the club organised Where? Triathlon - the name a reminder of its inception as a last minute replacement for cancellation of the Ware triathlon many years ago.

Rising star Treadway took the win, completing the 400m swim, 21km bike ride and 6km run in a time of 1.01.21, 50 seconds ahead of second placed FVS star Mark Racher. The club honours for first and second woman across the line were reversed with FVS' Kerrie Renshaw finishing in 1.10.50, a full three and a half minutes ahead of Tri Forces' Tamsyn Allen. Tri Force newcomer Emma Tempstra made an impressive debut for the club, clinching third place in a time of 1 hour 17 minutes.

Tri Force Juniors had an early season triathlon to warm them up for the coming season at Sandridge School. There were 22 youngsters aged between eight and 16 in the swim, cycle, run competition.

New members are welcome to join the club and for further information on Tri Force log on to www.tri-force.org

Herts Advertiser 26th April

Lisbon test for star
26 April 2007
EDITORIAL - herts.advertiser@archant.co.uk

DARREN Treadaway of Tri-Force takes on his first serious international challenge of the year at the Lisbon Half Ironman on Saturday, May 5.Tri Force Chairman Howard Davies is predicting big things for Treadaway, who turned semi-professional at the start of 2007. He said: "Darren is a force to be recognised with in Triathlon. As well as being an incredible asset for the county's profile in triathlon he is a hard-working and very humble member of Tri-Force, who always has time to pass on support and expertise to newer members. We should all wish him well in Lisbon."

Treadaway has had valuable assistance from bike shop Shorter Rochford and the Arctic Shorter Rochford cycling team which has historically recruited some of the best cyclists in the country. Shorter Rochford will be supplying a custom bike and essential race kit.

Triathlete Treadaway also competes at the very highest level in both cycling and running as single sport events. In his first outing for the team he placed 11th in the North Road Hardriders among a classy field and has already set several personal bests in running, recording a half marathon time of 1:12:54 when he finished 33rd in the Reading Half Marathon, placing him 17th in the South of England championships. Other highlights include his 13th place at the Watford Half Marathon.

For more information about Hertfordshire Triathlon Club Tri-Force log on to the website at www.tri-force.org

Fall at Southern 12 Stage Relays

Ok first up I think the picture probably looks worse than it is and I will hopefully be resuming light exercise within the next couple of days and maybe lay off the running for a week or so.

Right will start at the beginning. We were lying pretty much where I would have expected us to be after stage 10 which was somewhere in the late 20's and still had an outside chance of qualifying for the National so I was looking forward to a good run and hopefully pick off a few places for the team. gfshjgfsjfsjgsfjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjsgjfsjjsgjsgj

The first half of the race was very fast indeed assisted by a strong tail wind, it was when I started to come back into the head wind that disaster struck. I was leaning into the wind hard so as to try and stay in the middle of the path and out of nowhere the wind suddenly stopped and I clipped the curb and went over on the ankle. Now under any other circumstances I would have aborted the race unless it was one of my A races to avoid further damage but I had 11 other guys relying on me to finish so I had to bite my tongue and shut out the pain and limp home for the last 2 miles in the hope that we could still salvage something. gfjgfjfgjjjjjjjjjjffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffgjsffjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjsgjfgj

I still ended up running 27:36 for 5 miles but in a lot of pain at the finish and whisked into the St Johns Ambulance at the end and luckily my Dad was with me to drive me home. The good news is after closer inspection it is not broken and I should bounce back soon. It is already feeling a little better. gfjssssssssssssssssssssggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggsgfjjgjfgjgjsgjfgjjs

I am 5 weeks out from Portugal so I hope to God I can come back quick form this one.