Dextro Energy @ Hyde Park

What a weekend to be an official.

After attending the ITU level 2 course in February. I have officiated at BBP prior to Hyde Park. I have watched the nations best battle it out in front of the small crowds and sheep several times. It was no where in comparison to what I was going to encounter on Saturday.
With 150 of the worlds best triathletes descending on the nations capital. The greatest field since the Olympics some 53 weeks prior. Everyone's eyes were watching live courtesy of the BBC. I arrived on the Friday picked up my uniform and accreditation I managed to mingle amongst the workmen and watch the site transform into the stage for the following days racing.

I am assigned to officiate in the Swim section with Tom "The Rocketman" Roberts and we begin at 7 with the inspection of the swim course making sure the distance is accurate, buoys are marked and located correctly and that every eventuality is covered. This is race 5 of the world series and nothing can go wrong especially as it is 3 years until the Olympics and the first time we have played in our new location. My role during the race was assist with measurements distance and temp as well as officiating around the first two turn buoys of each lap.

What a bun fight in both races, after the swim was over I was then able to catch the rest of the races on the big screen and what a race. Helen Jenkins and Jodie Stimpson both running in contention until the pace was upped and only 3 remained including the WC Jenkins. The men's race had more dramas. Slipping on the pontoon and missing the prime, two athletes missing the bell and doing an extra lap and lots of crashes including Ossie Brad Kad and Spaniard Gomez. Brownlee Snr pulled away for race win 4 of 5 and the series title.

After the male race it was on to more serious business. The Dextro Para-Triathlon was going to be a show case event for the ITU as well as trying for inclusion t the Olympics (2016). Having now worked with the handling team for a while it was great to see new faces coming to join the team. The only problem was the design of the exit ramp. It was floating 2.4 m above to bottom of the lake and required a new procedure for lifting the athletes. With the whole team pulling together we were able to devise a new plan and assist everyone fairly.

Apart from watching the drama and assisting in the Para-tri I have to say that the highlight of the weekend was meeting Hugh Porter and his wife Anita Lonsborough. Whilst the commentary on BBC1 was poor at the venue he was on top form just like all the British athletes.

I have now been invited to to more races next year where I intend to increase my ITU technical portfolio.