Story by Lee Hwee Cheng. Pictures by Leslie Tan.

So, the Red Sports Crew decided to work overtime on the weekend at the Inter-Collegiate and Schools Biathlon Challenge last week.  For once, we had the chance to tog out in shorts and flip-flops for work,  catch a tan ourselves at the beach with the lithe-limbed, brown-skinned biathletes some of whom were as young as seven-years-old.  We also had the enthusiastic company of Victoria Cambell, Singapore’s fastest woman triathlete, who gladly gave us her precious Saturday afternoon to grace our first-ever RedSportsTV episode with a guest athlete (Ed: Coming up soon! Watch out for it on this space!).  Suddenly, "working overtime" didn’t sound as bad as it is usually made out to be.

We got down to East Coast Park, all lively and excited to be greeted by a motley crowd of fussing parents running around with video cameras in hand, frenzied little kids being ushered around by equally, if not more, frenzied adults, unruffled older kids lounging around with their MP3s in their pre-race mode, and the ever-stressed-out race officials dashing from station to station, shouting into their walkie-talkies.  The booming music over the speakers and the spontaneous chatter of Justin, the M.C. of the event, only set the whole affair abuzz, making it look more like a funfair than anything else.  The only things missing were a couple of hotdogs and some lemonade.

We got a little held up by the frantic search for precious parking space, but still we made it to the beach in time for the flag-off of the first races of the afternoon – the Junior ‘C’ Boys and Girls (Under-8), followed by the Junior ‘B’ Boys and Girls (Under-10).  The Red Crew, with our own video-camera in hand, had to squeeze through the crowd to the front to get a good view of the kids lined up at the starting line; somehow we seemed to blend in with the throngs of mothers beaming with pride and shoving their cameras towards the kids, except that none of those kids belonged to us.  Looking at the nervous and worried faces of those participants barely half our heights, we wondered what they might be thinking as they faced the choppy waters ahead.  A 200m-swim and 1km-run race would probably sound daunting to me as well, if I were a seven-year-old.

Next to be flagged off were the Junior ‘A’ Boys and Girls (Under-12) whose race consisted of a 200m-swim and a 2km-run.  The transition stage for the Junior races was probably that part of the afternoon that delighted the Red Sports Crew the most.  Kids who zig-zagged out of the water as they made their way along the red carpet to the transition area.  Kids who looked like they were still in a daze as they looked all around for their shoes.  Kids who looked like they were about to cry as they got lost amidst the hundreds of instructions coming in from beyond the barricades.  Kids who sat down and wore their socks and tied their laces like they were on their leisure way to school.  One smart kid brought along a tiny foldable stool. 

Next up were the Senior ‘C’ Boys and Girls (Under-14) and the Senior ‘B’ Boys and Girls (Under-16) waves, followed by the Junior College ‘A’ Boys and Girls (Under-18) and the Tertiary Men and Women divisions, all of whom had to tackle a 800m-swim and a 5km-run route.  Many of these participants, as we found out from Vicky our guest athlete, were already race-veterans in their own right, having had open-category experience in major local or international triathlons.  That very last statement does sound very impressive on a fifteen-year-old’s sporting resume, doesn’t it?

These well-trained and experienced participants, some of whom are in fact National Youth Triathletes, probably wanted to gain more open-sea experience and to better their individual race timings.  But more importantly, they brought along their schoolmates, some of whom would otherwise never have had the impetus to participate in a biathlon.  We bumped into Team NYP, who divulged that they were just a bunch of friends who played different sports in school but came together for the first time as a team to participate in their first biathlon race.  We like that attitude, and that spirit.  Way to go, dudes!

The Red Sports Crew have never seen a busier prize-giving ceremony at any other biathlon or triathlon event than we did that afternoon:  little boys and girls, some still in their tiny tri-suits, standing on the podium, raising their trophies high up in the air, as Mommy and Daddy started snapping away at their cameras.

Congratulations to all the winners of the day, and the Red Sports Crew look forward to seeing you again next year!

Here are the results of the races:

Junior ‘C’ Boys
1.  005  Bryan Anthony Fuchs (St. Andrew’s Junior School) – S: 03:02m, R: 04:39m, T: 07:41m
2.  003  Mark Holianto Adi (Shuqun Primary School) – S: 03:29m, R: 05:02m, T: 08:31m
3.  022  Jotham Tan Jia Sheng (Nanyang Primary School) – S: 04:03m, R: 05:49m, T: 09:52m

Junior ‘C’ Girls
1.  030  Rebecca Lambrou (Eton House Int’l Pri School) – S: 04:42m, R: 06:20m, T: 11:01m
2.  033  Yanagawa Mana (Eton House Int’l Pri School) – S: 04:47m, R: 06:26m, T: 11:12m
3.  040  Jazmin A. Zastera (UWC of S.E.A.) – S: 05:08m, R: 07:07m, T: 12:14m

Junior ‘B’ Boys
1.  069  Tan Tze-E (ACS Primary) – S: 02:50m, R: 04:37m, T: 07:26m
2.  050  Phuripong Ngampakdeepanich (ACS Primary) – S: 03:09m, R: 04:23m, T: 07:32m
3.  058  Scott Ho Hao Yi (Catholic High School) – S: 03:01m, R: 04:35m, T: 07:36m

Junior ‘B’ Girls
1.  104  Chloe Wang Wenyi (MGS Primary) – S: 02:54m, R: 04:35m, T: 07:28m
2.  123  Lum Ke En (CHIJ Katong Primary) – S: 03:00m, R: 04:35m, T: 07:34m
3.  125  Denise Chia (SCGS Primary) – S: 03:19m, R: 04:44m, T: 08:03m

Junior ‘A’ Boys
1.  132  Thitikorn Ngampakdeepanich (River Valley Pri School) – S: 02:52m, R: 08:26m, T: 11:17m
2.  190  Matthieus Lim (ACS Junior) – S: 02:47m, R: 08:44m, T: 11:31m
3.  144  Reuben Devaprasad (North Spring Pri School) – S: 03:44m, R: 08:00m, T: 11:44m

Junior ‘A’ Girls
1.  214  Chelsea Lin Fuchs (CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’) – S: 02:49m, R: 08:31m, T: 11:19m
2.  220  Chan Ying Ying (Anderson Pri School) – S: 02:51m, R: 08:58m, T: 11:48m
3.  226  Phyllis Yeo Xinbi (Kong Hwa School) – S: 02:58m, R: 09:00m, T: 11:58m

Junior ‘C’ Girls Team
1.  R006  Juliette Sirgant & Emilie Benghozi (French Sch of S’pore) – S: 03:54m, R: 04:53m, T: 08:46m
2.  R008  Elizabeth Lee & Andrea Ong (Nanyang Primary) – S: 03:34m, R: 06:05m, T: 09:39m

Junior ‘B’ Boys Team
1.  R020  Terry Neo & Marvin Choo (ACS Junior) – S: 03:07m, R: 04:10m, T: 07:17m
2.  R021  Ho Say Kiat & Timothy Lee (Nanyang Primary) – S: 03:19m, R: 04:29m, T: 07:48m
3.  R024  Emeric Bucaille & Louis Lebegue (French Sch of S’pore) – S: 03:37m, R: 04:19m, T: 07:55m

Junior ‘B’ Girls Team
1.  R034  Oceane Blayo & Sarah Mountassir (French Sch of S’pore) – S: 04:13m, R: 03:50m, T: 08:02m
2.  R031  Samantha Koh & Rachel Koh (MGS Primary) – S: 03:09m, R: 04:54m, T: 08:03m
3.  R032  Dilys Hor & Elissa Ong (Nanyang Primary) – S: 03:37m, 05:05m, T: 08:41m

Junior ‘A’ Boys Team
1.  R051  Joseph Schooling & Nicholas Phay (ACS Junior) – S: 02:23m, R: 08:27m, T: 10:49m
2.  R061  Sean Wee & Lee Wei Sheng (Nanyang Primary) – S: 03:17m, R: 07:49m, T: 11:06m
3.  R056  Walter Soh & Khoo Wee Meng (Maha Bodhi School) – S: 02:56m, R: 08:24m, T: 11:19m

Junior ‘A’ Girls Team
1.  R082  Victoria Lebegue & Charlotte Gingell (French Sch of S’pore) – S: 03:34m, R: 09:16m, T: 12:49m
2.  R080  Hamizah Bte Jemain & Siti Amirah Bte Ramli (West Grove Pri) – S: 03:12m, R: 10:23m, T: 13:34m
3.  R079  Aetheline Chua & Chan Yi Zhen (Nanyang Primary) – S: 03:58m, R: 10:15m, T: 14:13m

Senior ‘C’ Boys
1.  285  Kenneth Lim Duan Le (RI) – S: 10:53m, R: 21:46m, T: 32:39m
2.  265  Scott Ang Yi Qiang (SSP) – S: 11:09m, R: 22:25m, T: 33:34m
3.  263  Joel Wang Pinwen (ACS-Ind) – S: 12:30m, R: 21:56m, T: 34:25m

Senior ‘C’ Girls
1.  309  Wong Wan Qi Clara (MGS) – S: 11:48m, R: 23:43m, T: 35:30m
2.  305  Mok Ying Rong (RGS) – S: 13:42m, R: 22:11m, T: 35:53m
3.  301  Orisa (MGS) – S: 12:41m, R: 26:58m, T: 39:39m

Senior ‘B’ Boys
1.  346  Araunah Wei (RI) – S: 11:17m, R: 20:18m, T: 31:35m
2.  345  Lim Zhi Ming (RI) – S: 12:44m, R: 18:57m, T: 31:40m
3.  344  Tay You Wei Adriel (RI) – S: 11:08m, R: 20:43m, T: 31:50m

Senior ‘B’ Girls
1.  366  Christel Fung Shufen (MGS) – S: 10:46m, R: 24:59m, T: 35:45m
2.  363  Pamela Chan Xin Yi (RGS) – S: 13:20m, R: 25:34m, T: 38:53m
3.  362  Julia-Ann Lee Ting Yan (MGS) – S: 12:38m,  R: 26:38m, T: 39:16m

Senior ‘C’ Boys Team
1.  R095  Ng Tze Yang & Lee Guan Lin (RI) – S: 11:07m, R: 19:44m, T: 30:50m
2.  R097  Daniel Tan & Tay Yi Yan (RI) – S: 11:11m, R: 20:47m, T: 31:58m
3.  R094  Teo Zhen Ren & Ang Chen Xiang (RI) – S: 10:54m, R: 23:03m, T: 33:56m

Senior ‘C’ Girls Team
1.  R107  Chloe Chan & Wan Zahrah Bte Ahmad (CG) – S: 12:34m, R: 20:59m, T: 33:32m
2.  R109  Rachel Goh & Alexandria Wong (MGS) – S: 11:57m, R: 21:50m, T: 33:46m
3.  R111  Sherlynn Teo & Janell Tan (MGS) – S: 12:31m, R: 22:19m, T: 34:49m

Senior ‘B’ Boys Team
1.  R137  Raizer Ng & Yong Shi Kai (RI) – S: 09:55m, R: 18:36m, T: 28:30m
2.  R136  Ng Tze Kong & Lee Yang Kevin Mark (RI) – S: 09:56m, R: 19:22m, T: 29:18m
3.  R134  Daniel Tay & Sean Lim (RI) – S: 10:40m, R: 19:34m, T: 30:13m

Senior ‘B’ Girls Team
1.  R145  Loke En Yuan & Sheryl Teo (MGS) – S: 12:10m, R: 22:58m, T: 35:07m
2.  R148  Sherlynn Tan & Charissa Ong (MGS) – S: 12:34m, R: 23:19m, T: 35:53m
3.  R146  Selene Bay & Danielle Sim (MGS) – S: 16:05m, R: 23:11m, T: 39:16m

Junior College Division Senior ‘A’ Boys
1.  389  Lim Biyao Samuel (CJC) – S: 12:46m, R: 22:27m, T: 35:12m
2.  385  Dexter Leong Zhong Ming (SSP) – S: 12:26m, R: 23:14m, T: 35:40m
3.  395  Ting Zhuo Min (VJC) – S: 16:17m, R: 19:26m, T: 35:42m

Junior College Division Senior ‘A’ Girls
1.  400  Samantha Koh Shi Man (HCI) – S: 12:20m, R: 24:46m, T: 37:06m
2.  407  Christine Boo Xiaoying (RJC) – S: 12:10m, R: 25:10m, T: 37:20m
3.  406  Tan Hui Min Clarissa (RJC) – S: 13:36m, R: 23:58m, T: 37:33m

Junior College Division Senior ‘A’ Boys Team
1.  R170  Lucas Ong & Ng Wei Wen (RJC) – S: 10:25m, R: 17:13m, T: 27:37m
2.  R167  Daryl Tan & Lim Chin Kai (TJC) – S: 11:07m, R: 17:52m, T: 28:59m
3.  R162  Tan Si Jay & Allan Teng (ACJC) – S: 11:43m, R: 17:36m, T: 29:19m

Junior College Division Senior ‘A’ Girls Team
1.  R177  Wei Lisi Arabelle & Divya Moorthy (RJC) – S: 11:29m, R: 23:32m, T: 35:00m
2.  R181  Michelle Ooi & Tan Shi Jun (RJC) – S: 12:13m, R: 22:55m, T: 35:08m
3.  R178  Grace Choy & Darinne Ko (RJC) – S: 12:09m, R: 23:28m, T: 35:36m

Tertiary Division Men
1.  424  Sikhander Singh (NUS) – S: 11:37m, R: 18:05m, T: 29:42m
2.  437  Chow Sheng-Ren Clement (NP) – S: 10:34m, R: 20:46m, T: 31:20m
3.  425  Lee Zhixiang (NUS) – S: 11:57m, R: 22:47m, T: 34:44m

Tertiary Division Women
1.  486  Chia Xian Fang Patricia (HCI) – S: 12:41m, R: 23:23m, T: 36:04m
2.  475  Tay May San Dora (NP) – S: 16:18m, R: 24:09m, T: 40:26m
3.  477  Lee Jue Er Amanda (NP) – S: 13:21m, R: 30:06m, T: 43:27m

Tertiary Division Men Team
1.  R197  Chan Xian En & Matthew Lim (NP) – S: 12:15m, R: 18:32m, T: 30:47m
2.  R193  Kenny Chong & Teo Hong (TP) – S: 12:08m, R: 19:01m, T: 31:09m
3.  R190  Chang Kai Lun & Kevin Kok (NUS) – S: 11:38m, R: 19:53m, T: 31:31m

Tertiary Division Women Team
1.  R209  Tan Hui Min & Nur Radhiyah Bte Mohd (TP) – S: 14:26m, R: 24:11m, T: 38:36m
2.  R205  Neo Puay Yong & Ang Yen Yin (NUS) – S: 14:02m, R: 25:49m, T: 39:50m
3.  R212  Natalie Cheong & Felicia Lim (NP) – S: 13:25m, R: 26:43m, T: 40:08m

Senior Division Championship Boys
Raffles Institution – Total Team Time (Best of 2 individuals & 2 relays):  2:01:02
1.  R137  Raizer Ng & Yong Shi Kai (Senior ‘B’ Relay) – 00:28:30
2.  R136  Ng Tze Kong & Mark Lee (Senior ‘B’ Relay) – 00:29:18
3.  346  Araunah Wei (Senior ‘B’ Individual) – 00:31:35
4.  345  Lim Zhi MIng (Senior ‘B’ Individual) – 00:31:40)

Senior Division Championship Girls
Methodist Girls’ School – Total Team Time (Best of 2 individuals & 2 relays):  2:19:49
1.  R109  Rachel Goh & Alexandria Wong (Senior ‘C’ Relay) – 00:33:46
2.  R111  Sherlynn Teo & Janell Tan (Senior ‘C’ Relay) – 00:34:49
3.  309  Wong Wan Qi Clara (Senior ‘C’ Individual) – 00:35:30
4.  366  Christel Fung (Senior ‘B’ Individual) – 00:35:45

Junior College Division Championship Boys
Victoria Junior College – Total Team Time (Best of 3 individuals & 2 relays):  3:02:36
1.  R173  Goh Shao Sheng & Farrell Chan (Senior ‘A’ Relay) – 00:30:34
2.  R172  Samuel Lim & Jonathan Edward (Senior ‘A’ Relay) – 00:32:58
3.  395  Ting Zhuo Min (Senior ‘A’ Individual) – 00:35:42
4.  399  Tan Yiwen (Senior ‘A’ Individual) – 00:40:27
5.  397  Wong Wen Hui (Senior ‘A’ Individual) – 00:42:57

Tertiary Division Championship Men
National University of Singapore – Total Team Time (Best of 2 individuals & 2 relays):  2:45:07
1.  R190  Chang Kai Lun & Kevin Kok – 00:31:31
2.  R191  Erwin Chua & Jason Chen – 00:32:12
3.  424  Sikhander Singh – 00:29:42
4.  425  Lee Zhixiang – 00:34:44
5.  426  Paul Leong – 00:37:00

Tertiary Division Championship Women
Temasek Polytechnic – Total Team Time (Best of 2 individuals & 2 relays):  3:48:26
1.  R209  Tan Hui Min & Nur Radhiyah Bte Mohd – 00:38:36
2.  R210  Yvonne Kui & Yeo Yan Ting – 00:41:04
3.  485  Yang Hui Yi Annette – 00:48:15
4.  484  Chai Mei Zhi – 00:49:06
5.  482  Tang Kai Wen – 00:51:28

PHEW!

Editor:  If you do recognize yourselves or any of your friends in these pictures, let us know and we’ll update the captions.  Thanks!