TSP10: Thinking Of France
At the moment I’m working on a podcast episode about the French Grand Prix Series. It’s history, the current format and some memories from my first year racing it in 1996. For GT Vesoul 70.
I should have it done in a few weeks. But it’s taking longer than expected as I really want to get the details right about the wacky points system that they used in the mid and late-1980s.
But to get you ready, today I’m covering some back story about how I got interested in the French triathlon scene. Essentially by reading two articles published in Tri-Athlete (UK) in 1988.
But once this interest was sparked and I started to know a bit about how triathlon worked in France, starting in 1992 my parents would build summer holidays around French racing experiences.
We’d send away to the French Triathlon Federation in Paris to get hold of a paper race calendar. Use the key on the first page to work out the distances and the importance of the race. And then we’d spread out a paper map of France to locate the regions and towns.
My mum knew enough French to be able to call the race organisers to get entry forms for me and my brother. Then there’d be a few weeks of waiting as stamped-addressed envelopes and money-orders were exchanged. We’d often travel to the race venues still not really knowing if our entries had made it. But things always seemed to work out.
For some nostalgia, here’s a 1993 calendar. Note that for people into the Kona qualifying process. In 1993 there were only 20 venues world-wide to qualify for the Hawaii Ironman. And only 2 of those were in Europe.
Roth and Lanzarote.
Images: Tri-Athlete (UK) August 1988
The first article that got my attention was from Glenn Cook’s regular column, Cook’s Watch, published in Tri-Athlete (UK) in the August 1988.
I was only 16 but my triathlon plan was to pass my driving test and get a car to travel the country following the Le Coq Sportif Grand Prix circuit. Eventually getting good enough to win small prize purses to fund my racing.
However, Glenn Cook wrote that to make more serious money back then you had to race regularly on the continent. Cook’s Watch explained that he had perfected the logistics of this.
Leaving near midnight on Thursday from his Devonshire home, he’d fly from Heathrow into Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands or France. He’d check out the race course on Saturday and race on Sunday. After collecting his cheque for winning or placing he’d make his way home on Monday.
I never really did any of this. Preferring to eventually move full-time to France. However, it did open my eyes to future racing opportunities outside of Swindon, Wakefield, Southend and Milton Keynes.
Images: Tri-Athlete (UK) October/November 1988
The second article was written by Carolyn Beardsley and published in the October / November 1988 issue of Tri-Athlete. The article is above. But read the whole thing in the podcast audio at the top of the page.
The piece tells the story of her experience racing for a French club. Carolyn describes the club structure at Poissy Triathlon that provided kit, camps, accommodation, expenses and coaching. And a beautifully complicated method of classifying races and determining your national ranking.
Importantly, she also discussed the prize money that was available and ways to get some by avoiding the top athletes.
Carolyn’s contact at Poissy was Kevin O’Neil. I’m pretty sure Kevin was the first British athlete to get deep into the French triathlon scene. From about 1984 onwards. I’d love to chat to him, and Carolyn Beardsley, about making contact with clubs and racing in France in the mid-80s.
I couldn’t speak French at the time and realistically had to get some A-Levels and maybe a degree. But finding a club in France, getting paid and avoiding classic employment was already on the docket.
