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.”
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.”
Please click here to view photographs from the event in a Flickr album.