It's a particularly appropriate time for me to give an end of season report because we have just finished the season in glorious sunshine (Sept 13/14) with our own branch Tet competition to which we had an outstanding entry from 20 different branches. Our venues were first class; the X/C at Priory Farm was kindly prepared by Jack Bucknell, and several parents also generously helped to prepare the course with me. For the first time we also had a branch (The Berkeley) who camped with their horses over night on Saturday at Priory. Thanks to Jack and Sandra Bucknell's support, I hope to make this a future feature of our own Tet competition as we ourselves have enjoyed camping away at competitions for the past two years. The Sunday venue for the Shoot , Swim and Run is also in a wonderful setting at Bradfield College and was appreciated by all.

Our members aquitted themselves as follows;

Novice Girls Tet ie the class providing an intermediary between Junior and Senior standard for a two year trial period nationally, Terri Jackson 3rd and Nicole Shepheard 6th.

Junior Boys Tet - Simon Daniels 6th.

Junior Girls Tet - Kayleigh Blackburn and Zoe Daniels in a mixed branch team came 8th out of 9 teams with the New Forest winning.

Mini Boys Tet - Edward McKeown 3rd individually, with Best Swim (5 lengths 11metres) and a team-mate of the winning mixed branch team. He received the best SBPC member's trophy.

Mini Girls Tet - Team of Rebecca Blackburn, Elizabeth Frank, Charlotte Shepheard and Rebecca Steljes in 3rd place (on a points total of 11,838). Surrey Union won this class with a total of 12,636. Charlotte was our own best member and received the branch "trophy."

Mixed Mini Triathletes. There was such a large entry for this class that we divided the class into two based on the average age of each team entered. We had 4 teams entered and the computerized division by age placed two teams in each section. Sophie Harris, Ben Cookson, Kristian Callaghan and Jaqui Herbert came 4th Stefan and Rhiannon Honey, Matthew Hick and Hannah Tooze came 6th in the older section. Luke Faithful, Georgina Best and Freddy Mills came 2nd. Natalie Steljes, Georgia Misson, Rebecca Mayle and Stephanie Beglin came 3rd in the younger section with Freddy and Luke 4th and 5th respectively as individuals. The Best South Berks girl was Sophie Harris and the Best Boy, Freddy Mills.

Biathletes are under 8 years on the day of the competition and are therefore competing in the Run and Swim. Philippa McKeown came 5th and Jamie Innes 2nd with the Best Run of the class.

The Junior Area 13 Tetrathlon Championship was won by Wokingham (boys) and by Chiddingfold (girls).

Many congratulations everyone, with so many entries you had some very good competition and you have done very well.

VERY IMPORTANT INVITATION TO ALL PARENTS !!!!

As usual after the competition, SBPC competitors and parents adjourned to the Six Bells at Beenham for supper. Such is the level of enthusiasm and enjoyment that we are INVITING ALL TET STEWARDS, PAST AND PRESENT AND ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT TET, TRI AND BIATHLON, TO THE SIX BELLS ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1ST FROM 7PM. To have SUPPER TOGETHER AT 7.30 and then to split into groups (eg.run/swim/shoot/ride/admin/scoring/catering/health and safety,) in order to fine tune our considerable expertise and to generate new ideas for best practice in each area. The conclusion of these discussions at say 9.15pm should benefit the future organization of the twice yearly competitions that our branch hosts. Please reply to Jan Jackson on 0118 966 5902 or e-mail me rodjbanjo@aol.com also with any comments and suggestions if you are unable to come.

We have a break from our weekly Thursday 6pm swimming practice at Willink Leisure Centre in Burghfield Common until January 8th 2004 but John Sharman is happy to continue shooting practice at The Englefield Barn in Bradfield for our new beginners and any other new members who would like to have a go. This will enable John to give tuition to the appropriate level with smaller numbers of participants.

The pub would really appreciate it if I let them know in advance an estimate of numbers. They can then cater for us efficiently, ie get extra kitchen staff so that we can have choices from their main menu as we will be en masse!! So PLEASE indicate your intention to come to Jan ASAP.