English
What a hectic couple of weeks I’m having – just got to dash this off between a spot of R and R on beach and my next events! Although I had my European competition on the horizon (well the next day actually) I decided to keep training up to the last. I had a choice between the Bryn Bach Youth Tri or a Weymouth World Series biathle: I have to say I bottled the Tri and went for an extra hour in bed and the Biathle: Really I didnt want to risk a bike accident the day before, and I know the Bryn Bach course is a bit twisty… but I’ll be back (or should that be Bach ?) 
As it turned out it was just as well I did, although it was really ‘just for fun’ (is it ever ?) I still had to work hard, now being at the bottom of the age group. I came in 4th, not wanting to overdo it with the Europeans ahead of me, but to my pleasant surprise I still got a medal. At the dinner afterwards I was presented with my UIPM World Series silver medal from last year! That was a nice start to the week.
I then had a hectic week in Portugal with Modern Pentathlon – flying out with the British Team from Bristol. It was a great feeling with us all in our matching GB Tracksuits: nearly as good as the feeling of getting my luggage on board under the weight limit ! – I must be getting better at this: I used my trusty dhb Elsted large rollalong case- just the job for a week away in the sun.
The trip out went smoothly and we were soon at our hotel. It was out in the country, with quite a rustic flavour: We were staying at Abrantes in the middle of Portugal. We had several events including the Swim and Combined (run/shoot/run) Event over three days, and there were lots of competitors, including observers and token athletes from the US and Canada.
We had a few days to acclimatise, which was just as well as the humidity was quite disabling on the first day. I had a fair swim – trying out my new Tyr competition swimming costume followed by a good run, with an even better shoot: getting my five bulls eyes in the first round, at last ! I came in at 28th in the individual girls event: which given the standard of the competition I was quite pleased with.
The girls event was followed by the boys the next day, then the team event and finally the relay. So that everyone had a chance I was dropped out of the relay, but it was only fair because we came home with a European silver medal for the Team event!
So – two silver medals in one week, not bad – but there’s still plenty more opportunities on the horizon: biathle Nationals and then World Champs in Monaco with more Triathlons, the National Aquathon (followed by the Eite Tri !!) and the National schools biathlon invitational which is running alongside the Modern Pentathlon World Champs at Crystal Palace in the middle of August! Time to go and learn from the experts!