Steve saddles up for European championships
It’s Portugal here I come for Steve Dines, as he makes himself temporarily unavailable as a volunteer deputy launching authority for Cowes lifeboat, while he participates in the European Triathlon Championships.
Steve, who lives in Gurnard and runs his own garden maintenance business, is one of five people from the Island’s Wight Tri Club taking part in the event, being staged in Lisbon. Aged 60 this year, he will be involved in the 60-64 years category, comprising a 1,500 metre open water swim in the sea, a 40 kilometre bike race and a 10 kilometre run.
Although Steve’s competition takes place next Sunday (29 May) he and his wife, Anne – hon treasurer of both Wight Tri and Cowes lifeboat – will be making the most of their trip by spending a few extra days in the Portuguese capital.
Steve is among around 300 people from the United Kingdom taking part in the championships, having qualified for inclusion as a result of creditable places in two UK triathlons. Last year Steve was manager of the Isle of Wight’s triathlon team at the Island Games in Jersey. Since 2001, he has also been a British Cycling Club coach.
Before becoming a DLA Steve had, starting in 1986, crewed on the local lifeboat when the operation was independent of the RNLI.
The other Island members involved in the European championships are Liz Dunlop, Daron Perkins, Stuart Dyer and Natalie Bee.
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