Early Bird Triathlon & Duathlon and Colonel By Classic Run – A Wrap Up
Wow, what a morning at Carleton University on Saturday May 17!   More than 850 participants – a record – enjoyed a break in the weather and participated in the 200 season opening triathlon and associated events.

A record number of first time triathlon participants contributed to the enthusiasm of the day, Take a look at http://www.somersault.ca/results.htm for the results and photo record of the day, or download your certificate. ZoomPhoto.ca took a record number of photos of the Early Bird – 11,000 of them.

Race Director Eric Collard had this to say. “I want to thank the 100 or so volunteers and workers for their contribution to a very successful day. The Somersault Crew, the Canadian Ski Patrol, Somersault Motorcycle Patrol Group, Bytown Storm, Alzheimer Society of Ottawa, Carleton University and the keen volunteers made it happen.

June - A Big Somersault Event Month – Enter Now!
The young event season is just getting started and there is a 4 week break in the event schedule, but things start hopping by mid –month. Here is the schedule and how you can learn more about these events, or enter.

June 14 – Britannia Beach
· Ottawa Riverkeeper Triathlon & Duathlon – http://www.somersault.ca/eventottawariverkeeper.htm
· Britannia Beach 5Km Run - http://www.somersault.ca/eventottawariverkeeperrun.htm
· Wylie Ryan Quick Kids’ 2Km - http://www.somersault.ca/eventwylieryanqk2k.htm

June 21 – Canada Aviation Museum
· Emilie’s Run for Women Only - http://www.somersault.ca/eventrunnerswebwomen.htm
· Wylie Ryan Aviation Museum 1Km Run for Kids - http://www.somersault.ca/eventwylieryan.htm

June 22 – Smiths Falls Lower Reach Park
· Smiths Falls classic Triathlon & Duathlon – http://www.somersault.ca/eventsmithsfallsclassic.htm
· Smiths’ Falls Figure Eight Run - http://www.somersault.ca/eventsmithsfallsclassicrun.htm
· Wylie Ryan smiths Falls 2 Km Run for Kids - http://www.somersault.ca/eventwylieryansf2k.htm

June 29 – Greater Napanee Conservation Park
· Greater Napanee Triathlon & Duathlon – http://www.somersault.ca/eventgreaternapanee.htm
· Greater Napanee Run –
http://www.somersault.ca/eventgreaternapanee5k.htm

A New Race Director for the Ottawa Riverkeeper
We are pleased that Fred Hasle has agreed to act as interim Race Director of the Ottawa Riverkeeper while Geordie McConnell takes a hiatus to try his talents at the Canadian Championships this year.

Somersault Race Crew Additions
We are just as pleased to be retaining on full time term contracts, two long time Somersault Crew members, who will help shoulder the load of a growing event program.

Please welcome Brian Aboud (brian@somersault.ca) to our team in a marketing capacity, and Paul (McGiver) Daroszewski (paul@somersault.ca) as a point man for us in the logistics are. Don’t worry they both double in several other capacities as we are all generalists here!

New Sponsors
We welcome aboard two newly signed sponsors who have renewed their involvement with us, and are helping to make the Somersault Series a classy one.
Rogers Community Television
CHIMO Inn

The Massart Message - A Training & Preparation Feature Column
Click here to read Trish’s great April Article on “Swim Practice without Water”. You can contact Trish Massart at tmassart@rogers.com

Champions Challenge
The Champions Challenge is in place and we are excited about the changes we have introduced in it this year to allow more participants to contest for bragging rights.

The first rankings will be posted following the Ottawa Riverkeeper and Britannia Beach Run. So don’t worry, the battles will begin in mid-June when those first rankings appear. Remember all tris, dus, and runs, except for he Try A Tri, the Super Sprint Tri, and Run under 3Km are part of the 2008 Challenge.

Bytown Storm Sunset Series
We are really pleased to be supporting the Bytown Storm Triathlon Team in the introduction of their Sunset Series. This mid-week program is for kids from 7-19 an doffers both clinics (for the younger ones) and time trials in swimming, cycling and/or running for the older ones.

Check it out at http://www.somersault.ca/bytowntriathlon.htm

For Triing Out Loud… Just Du It and Sorry Gotta Run souvenir Shirts
Look for these cool signature souvenir shirts at all Somersault events this summer. They are only $15. Look too for Triathlon Belts and other accessories at each Somersault event. If you want something added to our event offerings, just email us, and we may add it.