Might have a playmate for you @Mark Brown

Chatting with Charlie today and I had just had a look to see what the history looked like for us. The first edition I missed as I couldn't think of anything less suited to my wee chunky bod. 2103 got the call up from Stuart MacLeod to support. Stuart is basically the guy who came up with the idea for the race and the course design. Our Rogues gallery with the learning from it over the years So hopefully I haven't missed anyone ( All Blue T's unless stated0 2013 Stuart 3rd place ( 1st vet) 2014 Stuart 3rd place ( 1st vet, vet course record) 2015 Robin MacLeod, Bobby Fergusson, Keith Maclure, Stuart Brice (W) 2016 George Noble, Scott Marriot, Vasilis Toxavadis ( DNF) 2017 Chris Stirling (1st), Keith Maclure, John Young, Richard Frame, Joanne Forbes (W) 2018 Craig Hamilton (6th) Keith again, Duncan Arthur ( if not me who and if not now , when aged 57 n 3/4) Greg Roachford 2019 Calum McIntyre, Barry Middleton, Keith again( red shirt), Liam Perks, Alasdair Watson, Dave McIntosh, Claire Cameron ( DNF) 2021 Ewan Brown (1st) Davy Jones, Graeme Veitch (1st SV), Geddes Murray, Alan cardwell, Stewart Kerr, Stuart Macgregor, James allan (1st Vint, course record) Rachael Butcher, Suzi Matonti, Leoni Kirk ( ladies all top ten), Stuart Galbraith (DNF) 2022 Matty Matonti 8th, Ian Moore, Ian Hockey, Robin Mcleod, Steven Small, Suzi Matonti, Sarah Osborne, Helen Winton (1st FVint) ( ladies all top ten again). Stuart Galbraith (W), Dave Fairbrother ( DNF) 2023 Rich Higgins (10th) Ian Moore Matty Dave Fairbrother Stephen Brown Chris Higgins Craig Hogg(W) Stuart Galbraith (W) 2024 Matty 11th, Craig Hogg, Ewa Piscroyk (W), Masha Mott (W) 2025 Robert Cartwright 8th, Ewa 7th, Ian Moore, Ruben Wolf (W), Jill Robbie (W) Zoe Newsam (DNF) Quick count up its 70 attempts. What is clear that many many people underestimate what it takes to have a good day at the race. Several of our crew had attempted the race prior to coming on board and managed to either upgrade from DNF to white or white to Blue. I guess the famous one is our Chris who had 5 attempts with 3 podiums before coming on board ( and then winning this, Canadaman and the Brutal).

My position is unequivocally off all day every day and twice on sundays

@Jose Carlos Sarmiento ah you made it. Welcome aboard Charlie

@Duncan Martin cause and effect!

@Zoe Newsam I find it useful to have the head up when breathing in. Not sure what you mean?

You mean lifting it out of the water I'm guessing. So the head never moves. You look slightly forward and down. When you rotate to breathe the head keeps the same connection with the body, same alignment but you switch the neck muscles on and allow the head to roll with the body. When you roll round it's like your head is resting on a pillow