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Crewe & Nantwich Memorial Sprint Triathlon Sunday 21st July 2002

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Thirteen family members and friends from 'Team Taig' of Merseyside Triathlon Club have taken part in the Crewe & Nantwich sprint triathlon event held on Sunday 21st July 2002 as a memorial event to raise funds for the Lee Sykes National Centre (Birkenhead) for Children with Cerebral Palsy, Charity No. 1063667. The centre provides conductive education for all children free of charge. They receive no funding from the statutory bodies and rely on the much-needed funds to improve the lives of these children. With this financial support and the expertise of the staff some of these children may walk for the first time in their lives and some may enjoy their lives much more as they grow older.

At a special presentation day on Friday 04.10.02 a plaque was unveiled to the memory of two dearly missed family members, Steve Fewtrell and Andrea Martin, and the new 'STEAM ROOM' classroom was officially opened for use. A cheque for £1,800.00 was also presented to staff at the centre towards their ongoing appeals giving children with cerebral palsy the vital 'step up' in life they so richly deserve.

The Team manager William Hanlon would like to thank everyone involved with this event for their time, energy and support with the added satisfaction of knowing that the funds raised are going directly towards benefiting local children at a local centre.

Mersey Tri PIMBO Speed Demon Sunday 30th March 2003

Across Mersey Swim Saturday 16th August 2003 Fundraising for Liverpool Heartbeat

TEAM TAIG WILLIAM HANLON MEMORIAL DIP WICKLOW HARBOUR Saturday 17th May 2003

SEVENTEEN RETURN TO HONOUR MEMORY OF LOCAL MAN

If you were in the harbour area of Wicklow Town at 8am on Saturday 17th May you may have been roused by the small semi naked gathering toasting whiskey and relating ancient Gaelic blessings on a somewhat bleak pebbled beach. You could hear the painful screams from far across the bay as the ice waters of the harbour gripped at the bare skin of its unsuspecting victim's thrashing towards the hundred-meter marker buoy. You could also be forgiven for thinking 'what a load of Taig's!' And the truth of the matter is you are probably right.

The Seventeen Taig's were family and friends from Team Taig of Merseyside Triathlon Club taking part in the second WILLIAM HANLON MEMORIAL DIP. The team was formed out of remembrance and friendship for loved ones that have passed away. The team take part in swim, bike and run events whilst fundraising for various charities.

WILLIAM HANLON was born at 4 Convent Road in Wicklow Town in April 1912, and left at the age of fifteen for a life at sea. After chasing the wind to the four corners of the world he finally married and settled down just outside the 'capital of Ireland' on the Wirral Merseyside. He passed away on 7th May 2000 aged 88 years a much loved and respected gentleman by his wife Helen their five children and twenty-two grandchildren. Following his death the family returned to Wicklow for a remembrance service at St Patrick's overlooking the bay before assembling on a windblown murrough to scatter his ashes over the green grass of his home.

As I watched that cloud of dust fall gently to the ground only to be lifted up and sent dancing ever higher swirling on the wind towards the town, it was as if 'it' knew the place, and had to be gone, as if he were on his way home. With the words of granddad's favourite poem' IF' filling my thoughts I was proud to be in this place where the stories he had related to me as a child had been born then lived. The tales of his own father who had spent his whole life stoking the furnace at the old gas works that 'kept the town alive', and of much slower days spent in and around the harbour climbing the masts and rigging of the many long forgotten ships that would frequent the town. Playing football on the murrough with his pals, the harsh teaching's by the Christian brothers and the arrival of the Black and Tans, of sadder days standing in the rain under the canopy of the Mariners saying farewell to his father, breaking his mothers heart to be leaving the town 'where he had nothing!'

To swim in that harbour in the early morn and face the town and hills beyond the bay, I find a peace in my own heritage and identity. God bless you granddad! We are all true Taig's! Liam A. J. Hanlon

TSUNAMI Triathlon Dublin Sunday 18th May 2003 Fundraising for the Bubble Gum Fund

Bala Middle Distance Triathlon Sunday 1st June 2003

Longest Day Triathlon Sunday 20th July 2003

Bryan Cullen & Dave Roberts arrive in style. Followed by Liam Hanlon & Chris Fewtrell.

End of Season Presentation Dinner Friday 12th September 2003

Fundraising for the Stick 'n' Step appeal 'Getting the ABILITY out of disability'

Thirty 'Team Taig' members & friends attended an End of Season Charity Function held at the Grange County Club in Neston. A silver service banquet followed the limousine transport from the Shrewsbury Arms public house in Oxton Village. A whole host of presentaions were awarded by our guest speaker for the evening Mr Alan Kirkham. The in-house entertainment kept all amused well into the early hours, before a short strut on the dance floor left only enough time for the limousine transport home. 'DON'T GIVE UP TILL IT'S OVER'. The charity raffle raised £180.00 for the Stick 'n' Step appeal, presented on Saturday 13th September 2003

Boxing Day Dip 2003 Fundraising towards the 'DIPPER' mini bus appeal.

New Stick 'n' Step Center Opening Day Tuesday 27th April 2004

Event Director Liam Hanlon attended the opening day of the new center on behalf of the tri-4-life team. It was great to meet the fantastic network of support this center has and to see the results of everyones hard work to date.

Local footballer Steve Macmanaman presents the original Team Taig 'STEAM' room plaque to the new Stick'n'Step centre in New Ferry on behalf of the tri-4-life European Challenge 2006 team. The team would like to thank Barbara Poole and Rob Palmer for making them so welcome and look forward to their involvement in our event.

Team Promotion Event with the 'DIPPER' mini bus and West Derby Rotary Club Wednesday 12th May 2004

The tri-4-life team assemble at the Albert Dock in Liverpool in their new Asics sponsored apparel to celebrate the aquisition of the new 'DIPPER' mini bus by Robin Baynes of Liverpool Heartbeat.

The tri-4-life team joined the President, Vice-president, Chairman and Secretary from West Derby Rotary Club in commending Robin for his efforts with the project in raising the funds for a lasting tribute to his close friend Kenny 'Dipper' O'Toole.

The 'Dipper' will be available to local school and community groups within the ethos of the 'Dipper' appeal. The tri-4-life team send good wishes for the future and would like to thank Robin and the West Derby Rotary Club for their continued support towards their European Challenge in 2006.

BBC Radio Merseyside Tuesday 25th May 2004

tri-4-life team manager Bill Hanlon, fundraising coordinator Robin Baynes and event director Liam Hanlon promote tri-4-life European Challenge 2006 on a live radio broadcast. Interviewed by Roger Phillips for BBC Radio Merseyside they explained the detail and vision of this unique event. The catalyst for the Challenge, the individuals within the team and their plans for fundraising and training towards 2006.

Across Mersey Swim Saturday 14th August 2004

This years Across Mersey Swim was the second designated team prerequisite event in preparation for the Channel relay attempt in 2006.

Fourteen team members completed the swim in near perfect conditions. Congratulations to Ryan Hanlon, the youngest tri-4-life team member, on completing the last four hundred meters of the crossing as his debut to open water swimming.

All swimmers involved in this event were raising funds for local charity Liverpool Heartbeat in memory of local swimmer Kenny 'Dipper' O'Toole. This year the event is supporting and raising funds for the tri-4-life European Challenge 2006. The team would like to thank Robin Baynes, Jim Tinsley and Bob Jones for organising the event, the crews and paddlers of the safety boat cover, the time keepers and officials, the patrons of the Admiral PH in Rock Park and all the swimmers for their effort with the fundraising.

Steve Parry Wins Olympic 200m Butterfly Bronze Medal in Athens Tuesday 17th August 2004

The tri-4-life team congratulate Steve on a great performance.

L1310K Exhibition City Exchange Liverpool Saturday 9th October

Ten team members attended the L1310K Exhibition, based at the Liverpool City Exchange Centre, to promote the tri-4-life event. This was the first exhibition of its kind for the team. Technical director Chris Fewtrell premiered the first edition of the tri-4-life European Challenge promotional DVD. The images and backing tracks ensured a steady flow of interest from those in attendance. Amongst many of those showing their support were legendary runner Ron Hill and the Lord Mayor of Hale David Hudson.

The huge digital screen provided an eye-catching backdrop for the team manager Bill Hanlon to rotate the team members, from the static turbo cycle trainer and open water swimwear, to question answering and event explanations. The event proved a huge success for the team, our charities and sponsors.

The Team Training Mileage Challenge also proved a huge success. Congratulations! go to Neil Howell, of Wakefield Yorkshire, for the nearest guess as to the total yearly accumulated team training mileage. His guess of 32,100k was nearest to the actual 33,658k revealed on the day. The team would like to thank Alan Rothwell from L1310K for sponsoring the exhibition stand, Asics as the main event sponsor, The Liverpool Echo and Daily Post for the publicity, Robin Baynes and Keith Rigby from Liverpool Heartbeat for the logistic support and the tri-4-life team for making this whole thing possible.

Presentation Fundraising Evening Friday 12th November

Ode to the Triathlete

Now that the season has come to an end, We have driven our families quite round the bend.

All over the country, the wind and the rain, Another weekend, here we go again.
Trunks, socks and lycra, in the washing machine, The smell from the hero, is quite obscene.

Glowing red, relaxed, the face is a mystery Let's now re-live the true race history.

A glorious day, the sun shinning bright, Wetsuit and swim hat, everything skin tight.

Chains oiled, tyres pumped, WD40 the smell, Lean forward, keep focused, let's hope all goes well.

Goggles on, long stretch, gaze over the lake. Get set, hear the gun, what time shall we make.

Deep breaths, blood pumps, fight through the waves Muscles tight, long distance, endorphins we crave.

Transition, split times, let's head for the road, Helmet on, grab bike, time to be bold.

Cleats in, legs spin, gears grind up the slope, Race line, corner fast, tyres hold I hope.

Time check, wave at friends, dismount at the line, Helmet off, shoes on, everything's fine.

Feeling hot, get cramp, oh no start to limp, Call yourselves Ironmen, nah, that is for wimps.

Time check, wave at friends, dismount at the line, Helmet off, shoes on, everything's fine.

Feeling hot, get cramp, oh no start to limp, Call yourselves Ironmen, nah, that is for wimps.

Think big, see Liam, an event to organise, From Scotland to Brussels, charity's the prize.

Real event, Tri-4-Life, raise money for kids, Take the challenge, I'll be there July 2006.

Boxing Day Dip! Sunday 26th December 2004

Boxing Day Dip 2004 fundraising for tri-4-life European Challenge 2006

Team event - meet at 1100hrs on the slipway at the dock.
It is hoped that Steve Parry will be making a presentation on behalf of Liverpool Heartbeat to the tri-4-life team. Media is expected. It is hoped that Jonny Mac will provide the pre dip entertainment so bring all the family for a post Christmas festive fundraiser.

January 2005 Liverpool Hope University Seven Week Physiological Testing Programme

In preparation for their Ironman Lanzorote challenge on May 21st Tim, Paul, Chris, Liam, Ian, Bill, Ryan and Scott enroll for a seven week testing protocol at Liverpool Hope University. The progressive incremental testing pushed each to their physical limit recording Heart Rate, Vo2 MAX and lactate tolerance.

Once the initial habituation tests were complete testing focused on various percentages of power to weight ratios culminating in two16k time trials. Thanks to Mark 'Travis' Wells and his team for their time and commitment in providing us with valuable data on which to base our training schedules.

Boxing Fundraising Dinner Friday 11th March 2005