All blogged out

Gary Jones - Jersey Commonwealth Games Team Manager
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

This will be the last entry on this site. We've had a real blast and I'm all blogged out ...... It's time to enjoy the rest of the games. I hope you've enjoyed the comments and pictures, the race itself was worth all that was gone through to get here - we'll back in dribs and drabs between now and the end of April - and when we are all back we'll do a full debrief on the lessons learned and how we can plan for the future - which could be extremley exciting for everyone involved in the Jersey Triathlon Club

My new royal best friend

My new royal best friend
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

Now there's a story behind this photo which involves your correspondent polishing the royal throne. However, as I dont want to be sent to The Tower of London for treason, that story will have to wait till I get home!!!!

New best friends

New best friends
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

The woman on the left is Lesley Buchanan, of the International Triathlon Union and is now our newest best friend. However, she really is our new best friend and for reasons which may have huge implications for the Jersey Triathlon Club. more will be revealed when i get home!!!!

Terry Sheldrake, is also our bet friend, and he has let Tim race!!!

The sacrifices managers have to make

The sacrifices managers have to make
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

I have had to move into the kitchen/lounge due to my incessant snoring which has been keeping Tim awake. As I've got no curtains etc it gets light pretty early and as such dont get much sleep.

Anyway tomorrow is race day, everyone is looking forward to the race, which will have less competitors than our duathlons, but about 200,000 more spectators!!!


PS
The Games almost came to a halt today, as one of the capuccino machines broke down in the village, there was almost a storm in a tea-cup!!

Paul gets ready for the opening ceremony

Paul in his post race party outfit
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

Well we finally made it to the opening ceremony, not though till we ensured Paul got changed and put the team uniform on. The ceremony itself was awesome, 90,000 aussies made alot of noise when the aussie team came in. It was a loong night with plenty of hanging around, but loads of fun and everyone agreed justified all the work that's been put in.

Now for the serious business of race preparations and race day itself.

Tim racing Hamish Carter

Tim racing Hamish Carter
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

Well Tim is out of plaster one day and he ends up racing Hamish Carter, the Olympic champion in the training pool, ok Hamish didnt know it was a race and Tim did have fins on but.... a race is a race. Anyway, Tim is out of plaster, is now in strapping, and we're only one fitness test away from Tim racing. Who says managers dont do any work.... actually the credit is all Tim's. Look out for us in the opening ceremony, we're on near the beginning and will be wearing red jackets!!! (again)

Melbourne's St Caths pier - well St Kilda pier really

Melbourne's St Caths pier
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

We had a major setback today, it rained and we had to wait before we could go training till 11.45 am. Ah the challenges of being a full-time athlete.

We've been on the course again, with the guys practising transitions, followed by a good session in the pool this pm.

Tim's family has arrived, which has brought some sanity to the proceedings, and we've met up down at St Kilda.

The real work starts tomorrow with technical meetings, appointments with doctors as we try and make sure that Tim can race, he's fit he could do it, we just need to make sure doctors, race referees etc are all happy.

We should know by Tuesday evening your time - so let's keep our fingers crossed, he's worked so hard and been so positive.

Gary

The manager and his athletes

The four bandidos - guess who is the manager
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

The boys did a good work-out down in St Kilda, all 3 looking strong, with Tim being an absolute credit to himself with his continued commitment and determination.

It's been a tough day - swim, bike and run training for the boys - plus meeting loads of new friends - the welsh triathletes, Chris from Ghana. We then headed off for coffee at a mobbed cafe, followed by a bit of shopping at an olympic champion's bike shop. Tonight it is the Aussies rules football, life as a pro-manager/athlete is tough!!!

Have a look at the photos on www.flickr.com/photos/garyrjones

Twinning with Antigua and Barbuda

Twinning with Antigua and Barbuda
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

I'm sure you will be glad to know that your President has been working tirelessly to make contacts around the world, and I am delighted to announce that we have twinned the JTC with Antigua and Barbuda. It was a tough decision, and was the result of much painful neogtiation, but I feel that we could benefit from several visits to check out faciliites in advance of the Island Games. By the way this is my new best friend Owen, triathlon manager for Antigua and Barbuda, and he is as big as he looks!!!

The Blues Brothers (for the colour blind)

The Blues Brothers for the colour blind
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

What a day, in the food hall at 5.00 am and Tim and I were the only people there (see the video). We've had our first trip to the race course at St Kilda, and it may be a non-wetsuit swim. It's a fantastic venue, great views of the city and a very flat and fast run/bike course.

The most famous people we've seen today are Olympic gold medallists Chris Hoy and Jason Queally. Though the big news today is that Scott's had an extension, to his bed that is!!!!

We've just been to Jersey welcome ceremony where the flag was raised, quite distressing as I had to do some shirt ironing in preparation. These jackets are very red, though all we need to do is to get rid of the jacket, and give us a white waist coat, and Saturday Night Fever here we come.

Hope all is well

Gary

The boys poolside at the main competition pool

The boys poolside
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

Have to say the boys have been over enthusiastic with the kit swaps, and this is all they have got left. Have to say they look better in the pink than in the red competition suit.

Seriously, we made it to the main competition pool and had it virtually to ourselves. The big question - can you spot who spent the winter in Jersey and then got sunburnt on his first day in the pool.

Gary

Stress in the Village

Tim is hopefully today going to find out whether he can come out of the cast, which if he does will mean he has an increased chance of racing. However, he's a bit stressed at the moment due to my snoring and the cleaners hoovering outside the flat at 2pm this morning. I should be trying to organise cars etc for the cycling, instead I'm trying to get hold os some ear defenders for Tim.

Paul and Scott are settled in their love nest, and have been running this morning. We're off to the pool this pm - which is the training pool for the proper swimmers!!!! 9000 seats to watch folk swim - although Ian Thorpe has withdrawn.

Anyway must go and try and save Tim's sanity !!!

Free the Jersey One

There was a time, when anyone from the Jersey Triathlon Club travelled abroad they were accompanied by Triathlon Ted.  Ted's picture was taken in some unique places, Isle of Man, Austria, Guernsey and Frankfurt.  The question is now - who has Triathlon Ted, can he be released from imprisonment and join the boys out here in Melbourne.  If you have Triathlon Ted, come forward and release him into the hands of Sharon Rogers, so Ted can be in his rightful place on Saturday 18 March. Release Ted Now!!!

--
Gary Jones

We've made the village at last

Well this has been a funny old day. Started off with a Mcdonalds breakfast and a wifi hotspot uploading more photos. Then it was off to the pool to watch Scott and Tim train. Spent a bit of time with my new best mate, Bill Davoren, the Australian National Coach, which was interesting. Then it was off to the barbers to have a proper shave, with a cut throat razor. After that it was let's tidy up the apartment, amazing how messy it can get in 4 days. The onto our minibus to the Gold Coast airport ( minibus and trailer as we were with the Guernsey folks - 7 bags plus 6 bike bags needs more than your usual taxi) and 2 hr flight to Melbourne - then we had the fun with accreditaiton, where we had a police outrider take us to the Village. Makes you feel like a rockstar!!!

The village is fantastic - brand new and we have a great position - right by the food hall, transport hub and the medical services - between all of the guys - we need all the medical help we can get.

Then off to the food hall - Paul and Scott were bewildered by the choice and spent 10 minutes just walking round the place

Anway must go and try and blag my way into something

Something for the ladies.JPG

Something for the ladies.JPG
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

We think this is a slightly more flattering kit - which shows the boys off in their best light

Let us know which kit you prefer -

Red and Proud

Red and proud.JPG
Originally uploaded by garyrichardjones.

Well you can see how well our boys have prepared for the big day - lean mean and highly dedicated athletes - who are more than happy to wear red and be proud of their physiques!!!

See the alternative black kit

The Gold Coast

Well we made it, four flights, a very large number of Emirates in-flight meals and we finally got to The Gold Coast.  What do we find when we get here, rain and more rain.  It's hardly stopped since we got here, so we are spending more of our time in shopping malls and thinking this could be Orlando, Florida.....

We have already struck fear into the Aussies triathletes, Greg Bennett 4th in the Olympics has withdrawn from the Games, due to injury. Personally, I think we had him worried that Tim was going to be next to him on the pontoon, and either talk him to death or club him with his cast in the swim.

The boys are competing tomorrow in the Luke Harrop Memorial Triathlon in our black, red and brown race kits.  Now you are thinking, where did the brown come from, well the boys will be swimming slightly faster tomorrow, as its a sea swim outside of the SHARK nets.  Thats right SHARKS.  If Tim swims, again no shark will come anywhere near him, as they will be clubbed to death.

Must go, Jenny O'Brien is coming up to visit us from Sydney, so we should have loads of support for tomorrow's race.  Don't forget to check jerseytrimelbourne.blogspot.com for all the race reports and email us on jerseytrimelbourne@googlemail.com for private briefings!!!

Gary

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Gary Jones