Whilst some were busting certain parts of their anatomy at Box Hill last weekend and others were aiming to qualify for this year’s European Duathlon Championships at Clumber Park, about fifty or so triathletes of all ages, shapes and sizes, descended on Yeovil in Somerset for the 2007 launch of Team Tri-UK Gatorade.

It was an early start for most, with kit collection kicking off at 9.00am. This year’s team sponsors remain relatively unchanged, though the addition of Craft, who are supplying the trisuit, was greeted with much enthusiasm as the kit was tried on for size. Once everybody had been kitted out, it was time for the individual photos with three different shots which will be sent out to team members to use in their quest for media exposure. As tradition has it, this year’s team launch was bathed in glorious sunshine and so it was no hardship for the entire team to head outside for the team photo. Those team members lucky enough to be provided with a sponsored Cannondale bike, including our resident columnist Bob Holloway, were then photographed separately behind a gorgeous Cannondale Ironman Slice with top of the range Oval Concepts tribars, forks, etc.

After a spot of lunch, it was time for Ali Boon and Richard Wallace to give their annual pep talk and to welcome the new members of the team. It was also an opportunity for the team’s sponsors to explain their products, including representatives from MET, Aquasphere, Oval, Craft and our very own Paul Shanley, representing Tri247.

And, just in case you are wondering how the sponsorship deal with Tri-UK works and what you get for your hard-earned money, we have it on good authority that Bob’s next blog will be a no holds barred exposé of what was in the boot of his car on the way home from Yeovil!