PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS//
Jill Dowson
Faircote House Day Matron Jill Dowson represented Team
GB in a triathlon over half term, finishing among the top in
her age group at the European Championships event in Ibiza.
Jill swam 1.5 miles, cycled 56 miles and ran a half marathon
(13.1 miles) in 4 hours, 25 minutes despite atrocious weather
conditions. She finished fifth out of 15 in her age group and
was the 3rd British woman home in the 55-60 age category.
Her feat was all the more notable because she broke a toe in
a fall after the first stage of the middle distance triathlon and
still notched up impressive performances in the cycling and
running stages of the event.
She said: “I’m proud to have competed in a Team GB shirt and
really pleased with my finishing time and position. It just shows that
nothing’s out of reach: you just have to set a target and go for it.”
Triathlon contestants from all over Europe and across the age
groups had to brave heavy rain and stormy seas to swim out
to and around a neighbouring island, cycle around Ibiza and
then complete three laps of Ibiza town. Surface water on the
course delayed starting times and many runners, including Jill,
finished in the dark.
She broke her toe as she slipped over while getting onto her
bike for the second stage of the event but didn’t realise until she
pulled off her trainers at the end. “My second toe was completely
black and obviously broken but the adrenalin had kept me going,”
she recalled.
Jill, who has three children and three grandchildren, says the
best part of the event was being cheered on by bystanders
who spotted the British flag on her shirt – and recognising her
grandchildren, family and best friend waiting at the finishing
line. “The noise of people cheering was unbelievable; I still get
goosepimples thinking about it,” she added.
It’s a world away from her day job as Day Matron of Faircote
House, looking after the health and wellbeing of girl boarders,
but Jill has always been a keen cyclist and has competed in
several iron man and marathon events over the years.
“I trained hard for this,” she said. “I knew the cycling would be fine
but I had to up my running pace compared with marathons, so I took
on a local trainer who worked me really hard for the two months leading
up to the triathlon.
“As I say to the boarding house girls, you have to set a goal and work
towards it in realistic stages. If you miss a target, just keep going until
you get there - which you will - and move on from there.”
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THE POCKLINGTONIAN
Jill was selected for Team GB after notching up impressive
times at triathlon and endurance events around the country.
After minor surgery on her foot, she will be back in training
early next year and has several middle distance triathlon
events lined up. She has also been asked to compete for Team
GB in the same Multisport Triathlon Ibiza Festival next year.
Headmaster Mark Ronan said: “Jill is an inspiration! Triathlon
is gruelling at the best of times but to keep going despite torrential rain
and a broken toe shows real grit and determination. She has done her
country and the School proud; and I’m not at all surprised to hear she
already has new competitions in her sights.”