MARK Syvret and Mike Norbury proved local talent is more than capable of hanging with some of the world’s best, after recently representing Team GB in this year’s European Triathlon Middle Distance Championships in Pamploma, Spain.
The Jersey duo left their mark on the race with Syvret and Norbury finishing third and tenth in their respective age groups. Wearing the Team GB kit is a career goal for many athletes, and the honour wasn’t lost on either of the Islanders.
Despite competing in some high-level events, Syvret was making his debut with the GB squad, saying: “It’s absolutely amazing. Just to have the GBR kit on is pretty brilliant.
“This is like nothing I’ve ever done before.
“I’ve been to Iron Man World Championships, but representing your country is something different entirely.
“It’s a great honour to put on the GBR kit, have your name on it and pretend to be like the pros on TV for a couple of hours, it’s great fun.”
This wasn’t alien territory for Norbury, however, who was making his second outing under the GB banner: “Even though it’s my second time, the honour to represent your country is still immense and the atmosphere was incredible.
“For me personally, competing for your country really focuses training and brings that extra pressure. You just want to perform the best you can.”
Norbury qualified automatically after finishing in the top ten of last year’s event, while Syvret qualified through submitting his Iron Man event times from the past two years.
What lay ahead of the Islanders was a 1.9km swim, an 84.81km cycle and a 21km run back to back.
The race began at 1.30pm under the intense Spanish sun, adding a new layer to the challenge as it created conditions “unlike what we’re used to”.
Norbury was first to step up, determined to improve upon last year’s performance in the 45-49 Open Age Group. Last year would be a tough act to follow, as he finished ninth among competitors in the 40-44 Open AG in Coimbra, Portugal.
The Jerseyman started on the right foot, showing his ability in the swim to come out the water in 12th place, just three minutes behind the race leader.
But the bike threw a spanner in the works, as he found it “hard to get into any kind of flow.”
Following the brutal cycle, Norbury saw his rank tumble down to 28th. However, hopes were high to turn his fortunes around, as the run is his strongest discipline.
Even though it’s a real strength of his, Norbury knew it wasn’t going to be easy: “The run was very tough, as the course was full of cobbles, hills and hardly any straights. Especially in the heat, it was brutal.”
In the face of such trials and tribulations, Norbury was unfazed by the external factors, putting in a herculean effort to climb up 18 places and finish 10th, with a time of 4 hours 37 mins 27 seconds.
“That had to be the toughest race I’ve had. The course was very tough and conditions weren’t ideal,” said Norbury. “I would have liked a higher finish, but I’m happy with how I did, especially in the swim, which was way better than I expected. It was a great experience all around, and I’m looking forward to next year’s race.”
The Jersey Tri Club have been very supportive of their athletes, with both Syvret and Norbury members.
“It really is a great club to be part of, as everyone’s very open and supportive,” said Norbury.
“There’s always someone who’s happy to help and give advice, no egos get in the way at all. I couldn’t recommend the club enough. If anyone wants to get into the sport they’re definitely the ones to contact.”
Syvret added: “It’s a great community, and for such a small club they’re incredibly active, more so than some in the UK.”
GB debutant Mark Syvret started ten minutes later, eager to make a memorable first impression in the 50-54 Open Age Group.
Syvret put in an admirable effort to tackle the 1.9km swim, but there was work to do, as he came out 20th. Next up was the bike, and with Syvret’s teammate calling him “an incredible cyclist”, the odds were in his favour to climb the rankings.
Although aspirations were high for his bike, Syvret smashed expectations, clocking an incredible 2:18:02 cycle on his way to get off the bike in third place. Now in the podium, the brutal run lay ahead, with the demanding course making it his “toughest run to date”.
Right in the thick of it, Syvret showed resilience and grit to hang on and finish third, completing the course in 4:37:05.
“To be up against this level of competitors, from all different countries, it’s a great result to finish third,” said Syvret. “This event was definitely the hardest I’ve ever done, but what an amazing experience.”
“Now that I’ve automatically qualified for next year’s event, it’s all about getting better and improving on this year.”
Both train under the tutelage of local coach Nick Saunders, which is clear through the measly 22 seconds separating their finish times.
Training together certainly brings its perks, as Norbury explains: “Training with Mark is brilliant. We work off each other so well in training. Our strengths differ. He’s an incredible cyclist and I’m a decent runner, so we push each other to be the best we can.”
Syvret added: “I really enjoy it, training’s hard but it’s incredibly rewarding. We push each other, but as well as that there’s a bit of healthy competition when we’re competing, both of us are competitive, especially with the age difference.”
Looking ahead, both hope their involvement with Team GB will help inspire more to get involved locally, with more GB-calibre athletes coming from the Island.
“Getting more people to qualify would be great for Jersey, and others have already expressed an interest,” said Syvret.
“There’s definitely the capability for more to get involved, as a lot don’t realise they can make the team if their times are good for the age group. I’m going to try and hopefully get more people to apply. I just need to wait and see for their results.”
